Many French and Swiss Protestants (women) wear the Huguenot Cross. These may be purchased in several places in France, especially at the Musée du Désert, in Mialet. The museum published a booklet by Pierre Bourget which tells the significance of this cross. Here are some excerpts:

What is this piece of jewelry, of gold, silver, all kinds of metals, even wood or pottery, which bears the name, the Huguenot Cross (or, rarely, the CÈvenol Cross)? It has been in much demand as of the beginning of the 20th century in the old Protestant regions of France, especially the Gard and the LozËre. They sell across the border to other countries, especially Holland. Since when does it exist? Who created it? What is its significance?

It is commonly known that many types of crosses exist, in many different shapes, often with tendentious relationship to the Christian faith. Here, we should begin with the Cross of Malta, thus named because it was the insignia of the Knights of Malta, descendants of the hospice-keepers of St John of Jerusalem. It is contained in a square. This design was popular, known as early as 1100 AD. In Poitier, various cavalries recognized this cross. The same design could be found on wrought-iron stairways, window clasps and old wardrobes.

December 31, 1578, Henri III, desiring to prove that he was a good Catholic, and wanting to mark his kingship on Pentecost Sunday, founded the Order of the Knights of the Holy Spirit. Naturally, only Roman Catholics could aspire to this privilege. The insignia of the order was the Cross of Malta, hanging from a blue ribbon. At the center of the Holy Spirit Cross was a dove, with the slogan, "By the Head and by the Spirit."

April 9, 1693, Louis XIV inaugurated the Order of Saint-Louis, for the purpose of rewarding the military valor of his officers. But, again, the King stipulated that it was only open to those who, "made profession of the catholic, apostolic and roman religion." Like its predecessor, this order was suppressed at the Revolutions of 1789 and 1830.

March 10, 1759, Louis XV created the Medal of Military Merit, which could be earned by Protestant officers, as long as they were not French. Although this has little significance anyway, since the date is much later than the period of Huguenot prime.

What is the connection to Protestants, then? From the realm of honorary decorations let us go briefly to that of jewelry, now. The emblem of the dove has been used for a long time in various regions of France, both Protestant and Catholic, as a Christian symbol. Protestants, however, having been excluded from the great military orders, looked nevertheless to wear a sign that was recognizable, Christian, yet not identical to the official one.

Two basic forms exist. The first is a Maltese Cross with a phial, or drop of anointing oil, hanging from it. The second is the Maltese Cross with the dove, or symbol of the Holy Spirit hanging from it.

The first Huguenot Cross, that is, the Cross of Malta, plus the phial, appeared in the latter half of the 17th century. The best guess is that it was made especially for the Huguenots (Protestants, from the word, "Eidgenossen," or confederates) by a jeweler from Lyon. It seems also that various Southern jewelers began to make these crosses at the same time.

What makes it specifically Protestant? Only two hypotheses are considered valid. The first is that the phial meant Protestants were obedient to the King, despite his persecuting them. The second is coincidence, that is, jewelers sold these to Protestants until they became simply the only clients for it.

The cross with the dove is easier to explain. It was created by a jeweler from Nomes, named Maystre, around 1688. Protestants had repugnance for the normal Latin cross, but they could accept the Maltese Cross. And they were particularly attached to the Holy Spirit, especially when the prophetic movement began, during persecutions. Lay people depended on the Spirit to lead the church, and so Maystre and others seized the occasion for their business. Many varieties of these crosses exist. More research on the subject is needed, and would be worthwhile. But essentially these crosses are popular simply because Protestants became enthusiastic about them then, and now.