Coats of arms and family crests are rich with history, identity, and symbolism. What exactly do they represent? Often mistaken as the same thing, the "coat of arms" refers to the entire heraldic ...

On a coat of arms, the crest is found above the shield, usually on top of a helmet. The crest can be used alone as a symbol for the holder/family or a shortcut for the coat of arms.

After discovering that her ancestor had invented his own coat of arms in the 16th century, Mattie Kahn enlisted jeweler Briony Raymond to turn the family crest into a modern heirloom.

"A design for a coat of arms needs to be suitable, tasteful, and timeless," he said. "Modern day apparel and equipment may not look very good in 50 or 100 years." ...