Viking Vegvísir Bead: The Icelandic Compass
Specifications
| Color | Bronze |
| Material | Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish |
| Dimensions | Height: 10 mm | Diameter: 8 mm | Hole: 6 mm |
| For | Unisex |
- For: men and women (adults)
- Zinc alloy, patinated bronze finish
- 6 mm hole · worn on a beard or hair braid
- Sold individually, height 10 mm, diameter 8 mm
- Free shipping from 49€ · secure payment
The Vegvísir — and what it really is
The eight-armed circle engraved in a cartouche, on a beard and hair bead made of bronze-patinated alloy. It is the most requested symbol in the entire shop, and the one about which the most nonsense is written: let's set the record straight right away.
Find this model in our collection of Viking beard and hair beads.
What sets this beard bead apart
- Eight branches, each ending differently — this is what distinguishes it from the Ægishjálmur, whose eight arms are identical.
- A graphic design that is dense yet perfectly legible at the size of a bead, which is far from the case for all sigils.
- A slide-on, not a clasp: the bead slides onto the lock before braiding. It is the thickness of the braid that keeps it in place, so there is nothing that can break.
- Approx. 6 mm hole: the only criterion that truly matters. It should be slightly narrower than the finished braid and slightly wider than the loose lock.
Specifications
- Material: Zinc alloy, bronze-patinated finish
- Internal hole: approx. 6 mm
- Dimensions: approx. 10 mm in height, 8 mm in diameter
- Usage: beard, mustache, or hair, on a braided lock
- Sold: individually
Did you know?
The Vegvísir is not Viking. It appears in only one document: the Huld Manuscript, a collection of Icelandic sigils compiled by Geir Vigfússon in Akureyri in 1860 — that is, eight centuries after the end of the Viking Age. The formula that accompanies it promises that "the one who carries this sign will never lose their way, even in a storm, even if they do not know their destination." It is a beautiful Icelandic magical tradition, real and documented. It is simply not an ancient Scandinavian tradition, and no Viking sailor ever carved it onto a ship's prow.
To go further, our Viking hairstyle guide details cuts, braids, and beards, with sources provided, and our Futhark alphabet guide covers each sign one by one.
Complete your collection
Is the Vegvísir a Viking symbol?
No. It only appears in the Huld manuscript, compiled in Iceland in 1860, eight centuries after the Viking Age. It is a late Icelandic sigil, not an ancient Scandinavian symbol.
How is it different from the Ægishjálmur?
Both have eight arms and are often confused. The Vegvísir's arms each end differently; the Ægishjálmur's are identical and radiate from a single center.
What does the Vegvísir mean?
Its name means “the one who shows the way.” The formula in the Huld manuscript promises its bearer that they will not lose their way, even in bad weather.
What strand thickness does this bead fit?
The hole is about 6 mm: a beard braid of medium thickness, or a thin braid of hair.
Delivery — Allow 7 to 15 business days for mainland France, 10 to 20 days for the European Union. Free delivery on orders over €49.
Delivery guarantee — If your parcel is not delivered within 60 business days, we will provide an immediate reshipment or a full refund.
14-day returns — You have 14 calendar days from receipt to request an exchange or refund. The item must be returned within this period, in its original packaging.
Legal guarantees — All our products are covered by the legal guarantee of conformity and the guarantee against hidden defects, in accordance with the Consumer Code and the Civil Code.
