Ladders are not the most graceful pieces of equipment to look at, even when they feature in fashion shoots (see earlier blog posts), but some jewellery designers have used them as a source of inspiration for their pieces. As someone in the team here keeps reminding me (they shall remain nameless!), it’s almost time to start thinking about Christmas gifts and these delicate ladder themed jewels can make ideal presents.

As well as being the creative idea behind pieces of jewellery, the ladder has been used, on a smaller scale, as a way of storing necklaces to stop them getting tangled up. Other items of jewellery can be hung on the ladder and it makes them easier to find. A romantic ladder themed gift might be a jewellery ladder with a ladder themed necklace hanging from it (not that we’re obsessed with ladders here!).

The jewellery company Vinosus has a lovely ladder necklace made from rectangles of sterling silver and fourteen carat gold, held together by silver rings. The design is inspired by the rungs of a ladder and it was created by Marty Kneeland.

Zazzle has a sweet little pendant featuring the word ‘success’ as the rungs of a step ladder. This ladder of success necklace would be a lovely present for someone graduating or starting university, or starting a new job. There are several options, so you can have this on a round or square pendant, as a locket or with a gold finish. Zazzle also has a range of ladder themed pendants with pictures of interesting ladders from around the world, as well as one with a cat on a ladder!

Jeweller Samira Alston created a hand chain (which is like a bracelet except parts of it extend down the back of the hand and around the fingers) made from gold, which has a ladder like design. The chains from the bracelet to the fingers are string together with three gold chains, which form the rungs of a ladder. This is a very unusual piece and would make a great gift for an 18th or 21st birthday.

Dear Bearcat, a jewellery store on Etsy, has a similar hand chain with more rungs, as well as ankle chains with the same sort of design, where the rungs drape over the tops of the foot. They look very elegant with low cut heels.

Designer Verameat has created a gold bracelet in the shape of a ladder: the ladder wraps around the wrist, but apart from the circular shape, looks like an ordinary ladder (albeit smaller!).

Memphis based jewellery designer Becca Belz has used slices of polished agate, a semi-precious stone, suspended between a single chain that drapes around the neck and over the chest, to create a ladder inspired necklace. The ends of the chain after the bottom ‘rung’ are not linked so it really does look a lot like a ladder. This is a lovely present for anyone who likes rocks and geology (or ladders!).

ShopOnlyPosh, an American online store, has a ladder body chain. This is a sort of necklace that extends a long way down the front of the body, with chains that go around the waist and connect behind the back. The ladder design one has chains that form rungs strung in between the main chains, that sits in the centre of the chest. This is certainly an unusual piece and would look good with a little black dress (or so I’m told!).

Jeweller Maggie Bokor created a ‘Bird on a Branch’ collection of silver necklaces, one of which is a small silver pendant shaped like a wooden branch ladder. This design is available as just the ladder or with a small silver bird perched on the top rung. The whimsical nature of this piece makes it perfect for those with a strong connection to nature.