A scapular is a devotional piece worn over the chest as a sign of dedication to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It began as two pieces of cloth joined by cords and today is almost always worn in gold, in the form of a double medal: Our Lady of Mount Carmel on one side and the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the other. In this guide, we explain where it comes from, what it means, and why those two sides are not a design choice.
From the Carmelite habit to the jewelry
The word comes from the Latin scapulae, meaning shoulders. In monastic life, the scapular was — and still is — a long band of cloth that falls in front and behind the body, over the habit. The Carmelites, the order born on the slopes of Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, wore it as part of their clothing since the Middle Ages.
According to Carmelite tradition, on July 16, 1251, the Virgin appeared to Saint Simon Stock, the order’s prior general, and gave him the scapular as a sign of protection and belonging. From there began what would later be called the Carmelite scapular: the possibility for a layperson, without entering the convent, to spiritually participate in the Carmelite family by wearing in miniature what the friars wore in full size.
It is worth stating this precisely because it is honest: the written accounts of that apparition are quite a bit later than the event, and the Church has always been careful when speaking about it. What is beyond dispute is the strength and continuity of the devotion: eight centuries of people putting the scapular around their necks.
What it means to wear a scapular
The scapular does not work as a talisman. It does not protect by wearing it: it reminds the wearer of something. In classical terms, it is a miniature habit. Whoever imposes it on themselves agrees to live under a certain gaze, that of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and to renew trust every day.
That is why, in the Catholic tradition, the scapular is imposed — not simply bought — and blessed. And that is also why it is not a piece worn as a fashion statement: those who choose it usually know exactly why they choose it.
Why does the gold scapular have two sides?
This is the question we get asked most in the store, and it has a clear answer.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the use of the fabric scapular had become so widespread that it posed a practical problem: the wool would unravel, get dirty, and get lost. In 1910, Saint Pius X authorized replacing the fabric scapular with a metal scapular medal. He also established how it should be: on one side, the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; on the other, the image of the Virgin.
This is where the pair seen in all our 18-carat gold scapulars comes from: Virgin of Carmen and Sacred Heart of Jesus. These are not two images chosen for aesthetic reasons. They are the exact metal translation of the two fabrics of the original scapular: the one that falls in front and the one that falls behind.
When worn, the most common custom is for the Virgin to face outward and the Heart toward the body, although there is no strict rule and each family has its own tradition.
The most chosen in the collection
If we had to highlight a single piece, it would be the 14 mm beveled scapular. It is the best seller both in-store and online, and there is a simple reason: 14 mm is the size that works equally well for a communion or for an adult who wants to wear it under their shirt, and the bevel—that frame surrounding the two medals—protects the images from everyday wear. It is the piece bought by those who don’t want to go wrong.
The finishes: smooth, carved, polished, and beveled
All our scapulars are handcrafted in Spain in 18-carat gold, with the 750 hallmark stamped on the piece itself. The differences between them lie in the finish:
- Smooth. Clean and polished surface. The timeless classic and the most requested for communion: 12 mm, 14 mm, 16 mm, 18 mm, 20 mm, and 22 mm.
- Carved. It features chisel work that outlines the reliefs and captures the light as it moves. This is the finish of the 8 mm mini scapular, the smallest piece we make.
- Bezel. Adds a frame around the image that frames and protects it from rubbing. From the 10 mm bezel and the 12 mm bezel up to the men's sizes of 24 mm and 26 mm.
- Helix and openwork helix. The most artisanal work: a carved border, sometimes openwork, that enlarges the piece without adding much weight. Available in 16 mm, 18 mm, 20 mm, 22 mm, 24 mm, 26 mm, 28 mm and 30 mm.
Which scapular size to choose
Our scale goes from 8 to 42 mm. This is what we have recommended in-store for decades:
| Size | For whom | Common reference |
|---|---|---|
| 8–10 mm | Newborn and baptism | Mini carved 8 mm · Bezel 10 mm |
| 12–14 mm | Small child and first daily use piece | Plain 12 mm · Bezel 14 mm |
| 16–20 mm | Communion, confirmation, and adult | Plain 16 mm · Plain 18 mm · Plain 20 mm |
| 24–30 mm | Man, visible piece with thick chain | Bezel 24 mm · Helix 28 mm |
A practical note: the chain is sold separately, not for commercial reasons, but because its thickness must be proportional to the weight of the medal. A 24 mm scapular on a thin chain ends up breaking the chain. For children and communion, the best size is the 45 cm chain. If you have doubts, write to us and we will tell you which link corresponds to the piece you are looking at.
Beyond Carmen: other advocations
Although the Virgin of Mount Carmel and Sacred Heart pair is the canonical form of the scapular, Spanish tradition brought other advocations into the same double medal format. In our collection you will find:
- The scapular of Saint Benedict, with the Benedictine cross and its Latin inscriptions, one of the most requested in the house. Also available in plain 14 mm, beveled 16 mm, and monk 20 mm.
- The scapular of Our Lady of El Rocío, in a mini 8 mm size.
- The scapular of Our Lady of Candelaria, patron saint of the Canary Islands, and that of the Christ of La Laguna with Our Lady of Candelaria, the two most venerated images of Tenerife.
- The scapular of the Covadonga shield with the Victory Cross, for those who have Asturias at home.
- The scapular of the Gran Poder and La Macarena, of Sevillian devotion.
- The scapular of Our Lady of Zújar, much loved in the Guadix and Baza region.
If you are looking for the patronage of your name or your land and don’t find it here, check our 18k gold Virgin medals: it is the most extensive collection in the house.
Who gives it and when
The scapular is, in Spain, one of the three or four gifts that withstand changing fashions.
It is given as a gift at baptism, in a small size, often alongside the crib medal, and kept until the child can wear it. It is given at communion, probably the most common occasion: it is the piece the child wears for the first time that day and then wears for years. It is given at confirmation, now in adult size. And it is given to those who leave — to study away, to sail, to work far from home — because Our Lady of Mount Carmel is also the patron saint of seafarers.
There is also a tradition we especially like: the inherited scapular. We receive pieces from the fifties and sixties to restore, with a grandmother’s name engraved on the back, which a grandchild will wear for the first time. That is exactly what the gold was made for.
If you prefer the piece on the wrist instead of the neck, we also have 925 sterling silver scapular bracelets.
The engraving
Almost all scapulars allow engraving on the smooth back. The most common is the name and date—of baptism, communion—and more fits than people think. If you want a short phrase, tell us before buying and we will confirm how many characters fit in that specific size.
Frequently asked questions about the scapular
Does the scapular need to be blessed?
In Catholic tradition, yes: the scapular medal is blessed and ideally imposed. Any priest can do this. The piece leaves our store unblessed because that is the parish’s responsibility, not the jeweler’s.
Can a baby wear it?
Yes, and it’s very common. For babies, we recommend sizes from 8 to 12 mm with a short chain, or simply keeping the piece and pinning it to clothing until they are old enough. Many families place it first in the crib and later move it to the neck.
Fabric or gold scapular?
They don’t compete. The fabric one is the original and the one worn in the Carmen brotherhoods. The gold one is the authorized version since 1910 for daily use, resistant to water, sweat, and time. Many devout people have both.
Can the scapular be removed?
Yes. The commitment of the scapular is internal, not material: it can be removed for sleeping, surgery, or going to sea without any significance. The 18-carat gold perfectly withstands saltwater, so if you don’t want to take it off at the beach, there’s no need to.
When is Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s day?
July 16th. It is also the day of the maritime processions along almost the entire Spanish coast, and our busiest week of the year for scapulars.
Why does the scapular have two medals?
Because it reproduces in metal the two fabrics of the original scapular, the front and the back. Since 1910, the authorized form has featured the Sacred Heart of Jesus on one side and Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the other.
Sanchis Salcedo is a family-owned jewelry and silversmith business founded in 1944 on Calle de la Paz in Valencia, specializing in sacramental and devotional jewelry. If you have doubts about which size or finish to choose, write to us: we have been answering that exact question for eighty years.
