A memorable part of Dean Winchester's look throughout Supernatural is his golden amulet, which is not only a creative costuming detail, but also carries a deeper meaning. Supernatural is a horror-mystery series that ran for 15 seasons on the CW. The show follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they travel around the country fighting monsters ranging from vampires and werewolves to Lucifer himself.

Dean's amulet makes a variety of appearances throughout the 15 seasons of Supernatural. First and foremost, Dean wears the necklace for every episode of the series from seasons 1 to 4, and afterward, it makes frequent cameos. The amulet is strung on a black cord and has a golden pendant on it. The pendant appears to be a humanoid head with bull-like horns and other adornments. While the piece of jewelry certainly fits the aesthetic of Supernatural, it is revealed to have much more meaning attached to it in season 3 of the series.

The Amulet Represents Dean and Sam’s Relationship

Sam and Dean in Supernatural

In Supernatural season 3, episode 8, it is revealed in a flashback that the amulet was a Christmas gift to Dean from Sam. The eight-year-old Sam got the amulet from Supernatural's Bobby Singer and intended to give it to his father, John Winchester. However, when John missed Christmas, Sam gave it to Dean instead. It seems that from then on, Dean never took the necklace off. Even when he died at the end of season 3, Sam kept the necklace and returned it when Dean was resurrected.

Though the necklace may seem like just a simple keepsake or gift, it really means much more to the Winchester brothers. At the very start of Supernatural, the brothers are pretty much estranged and on a path to living very different lives, and yet Dean continues to wear the amulet Sam gave him in their childhood. This shows that even though Sam left to pursue a life outside of hunting, Dean never stopped caring about him like John might have done. Furthermore, the emotional importance of the necklace may have even contributed to it being used by Castiel as a tool to find God in season 5.

What Happened to Dean’s Amulet In Supernatural

Castiel looking serious standing in front of a blue car in Supernatural

During season 5, episode 2, the Supernatural's angel Castiel tells the Winchesters that Dean's amulet actually holds a lot of power, and it may actually glow in the presence of God. Dean lets Castiel borrow the amulet but unfortunately, it's later revealed that the necklace won't help them and is useless. In despair about how they're going to stop the Apocalypse, Dean throws the amulet away in a trash bin at a motel. Though this move may seem a bit heartless, much later in the series, Dean explains that he doesn't need an object to represent how he feels about his brother, which is why he got rid of the amulet.

Although Dean's necklace may seem like the work of a costume department, the amulet actually has lore and meaning connected to it throughout the series. It not only shows Dean's long-lasting loyalty to his brother, but it also shows the passing of time for Dean as he faces more and more dangers in Supernatural that threaten him and Sam. Though the loss of the amulet is sad, it shows that Dean has found emotional strength within himself rather than in relics from the past.