Q: Is it okay to wear a Star of David if you're not religious?
A: Yes. The Magen David is not a religious obligation and it is not a badge of observance. It is a symbol of a people. It carries no commandment, no ritual role and no requirement to keep anything in particular, which is exactly why it belongs as much to a secular Jew as to an observant one. It is also worth knowing that it is a relatively modern emblem. It became a widespread Jewish symbol over the last few centuries rather than a biblical one, was adopted by the Zionist movement in the late nineteenth century, was forced onto Jews as a badge during the Holocaust, and now sits on the flag of Israel. That history is about peoplehood, not piety. If you are Jewish and you want to wear it, it is yours. You do not owe anyone a level of observance to earn it.
Do I need to be observant? No. There is no religious requirement attached to wearing it.
Is it disrespectful if I am secular? No. It marks belonging, not belief.
Can a non-Jew wear one? That is a different question, and a more sensitive one. Most people would say wear it thoughtfully, if at all.
Should I be worried about wearing it in public?
Some people are, and that fear is real and is not paranoia. Plenty of Jews have quietly tucked a necklace into a shirt over the last couple of years, and plenty of others have deliberately started wearing one where it can be seen. Both are legitimate. This is a personal safety judgment about your own city, your own commute and your own comfort, and nobody else gets to make it for you or to score you on it. If you want the symbol close without it being visible, a piece worn under a collar, or an engraved ring or bangle instead of a pendant, does that job.
Is a discreet option a cop-out? No. Wearing it at all is the point.
What is a subtler alternative? An engraved Hebrew phrase. See Jewish jewelry.
Can I wear it under my shirt? Of course. Many people do, and always have.
What do you actually make?
To be straight with you: we are not a Star of David shop. We make one Star of David pendant, and it is a good one. What The Honest Jeweler is actually known for is Hebrew, engraved and made to order in real metal, with the letterforms proofed before they are cut. So if you came looking for a wall of Magen David designs, we would rather tell you now than waste your time. If you want a Hebrew phrase that means something to you, that is the thing we do properly.
Do you make Hebrew name necklaces? Yes, made to order. See Jewish jewelry for women.
Is the shop Jewish-owned? Yes.
Sources: The Magen David's adoption as a Jewish emblem in the modern era, its use by the Zionist movement, the Holocaust-era badge, and its place on the flag of Israel are matters of historical record; catalog details from The Honest Jeweler.
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