Somebody asked me recently if I knew what a Cape Cod bracelet was. Although I have written about heart bracelets and charm bracelets and I know what tennis bracelets and Italian charm bracelets are, this was something I had not heard of before. My answer was that I assumed it was a bracelet from Cape Cod in Massachusetts and probably had some sort of sea related charm on it.

While my answer was partly right, in that this bracelet originates in Cape Cod, I was completely wrong in my assumption that it maybe has a nautical theme. To satisfy my curiosity I decided to do some research and find out exactly what a Cape Cod bracelet looks like.

The first results I came across were for online retailers and of course these sites had a photograph of their bracelets. What I found is that the Cape Cod bracelet is basic, simple, understated and very appealing. It is a plain sterling silver or gold wire secured by a “screwball” fastening. Along with the image of the original bracelets there were others showing similar style bracelets with different kinds of clasps which did seem to have a “sea” theme, such as sea shells and lobster claws.

I decided to look further into the origins of the bracelet and to see if there were other fasteners to choose from. What I found out was that a genuine Cape Cod bracelet is only available from one source and that is from the store of the original designer and maker, John Carey, in Cape Cod. John Carey and his wife Eve opened a shop to sell their artwork that consisted of pottery, sculpture, stained glass and jewelry. About thirty years ago one of his customers was looking for a bracelet for her daughter that wouldn’t slip off her wrist and that is when John came up with his simple yet unique design. The bracelets are hand made and carefully measured to fit the wearer’s wrist so it is not just a case of one size fits all. They are guaranteed not to fall off or twist round the wrist and the Screwball fastening always remains on the top of the wrist.

Although the basic design has just one “screwball” you can get them with two or even three “screwballs”. There is also a choice of silver with a silver ball, silver with a gold ball, gold with a gold ball or gold with a silver ball. To complete the look you can also get matching earrings, ring and necklace.

Originally it was Cape Cod residents who were the main customers for these bracelets although visitors to Cape Cod also bought them. They really took off in popularity when Amy Jo Johnson, a graduate from Dennis High School where the Carey’s shop is located, was seen wearing one in the TV series “Felicity”. When demand grew for the bracelet John Carey could no longer make all the bracelets himself and so enlisted the help of other family members.

Even though their products are more sought after than ever the family do not sell online or do mail order and it is strictly a store only business. However, a branch of the family moved to the Pacific Northwest and was given permission to open a branch there and they have an online side to the business. Although no other jewelry maker or outlet is authorized to manufacture or sell the genuine Carey Cape Cod screwball bracelets, there are other jewelry and craft stores in the Cape Cod area that offer replica pieces for sale.

The genuine bracelets now have a tag on them to prove their authenticity. For something similar and very stylish, click on the images at the side of this post to see products that make great gifts and are beautiful to wear. This simple yet elegant bracelet is suitable for, and loved by women of all ages from young girls to Grandmothers and makes the wearer feel special because it was made just for her.

So if you are looking for something unique and different from the usual diamond bracelets or charm bracelets maybe this is something to consider.

Heart jewelry to begin with: a really nice present for a husband to give to his wife, or a boyfriend to give to his girlfriend, would be a gold heart charm either on a chain or on a bracelet.  There are many different ones to choose from, even some with inscriptions on them such as “I loved you from the start” or the simple message every woman wants to hear from her man “I love you”.  But what will make the one you give to your loved one unique is the personal message you have inscribed on it – a message that may be even more welcome than the two mentioned above.  This could be the date you met or the event that brought you together or a few words from “your song” or any other sentiment that comes from the heart to show her just how much she means to you.

Of course, jewelry and particularly heart jewelry makes an ideal Christmas present for any female member of the family or close friend.  Heart earrings customized with her birthstone would be well received by a friend and a heart locket engraved with a message from her child is sure to bring a smile and tears of joy to any Mom.  Having an item of jewelry designed and handmade for you or you making it yourself would make the gift even more special.

Looking beyond jewelry, it is a fact that handmade gifts are always well received because of the love that goes into the making of them.  I remember one year my daughter and son in law were struggling for money and didn’t want to go into debt so instead they decided to make presents for their family and friends.  For my parents they cooked some of their favorite dishes for them to put in their freezer, they made candles for some of their friends, they made gift boxes and filled them with toiletries, they also designed and printed their own gift cards offering their time to do errands and chores.  All of these gifts were gratefully received as they had tailored them to the individuals.

There is no end of gift ideas that you can make yourself or as a family.  One really great idea I saw as a gift for Grandma was an apron (every one knows that Grandmas are the best cooks!) with a family photograph on it and hand prints round the bottom.  Yet another one in a similar vein was a T shirt with children’s footprints on it and an inscription saying “my grandkids walk all over me”.  This would be a superb gift for the doting Grandpa.

Do you know someone who likes to encourage birds into their garden?  If so then a bird bath made of terracotta pots and clay saucers, then hand painted, would make a welcome addition to that yard.  Added to this could be handmade stepping stones to further personalize a garden.  You don’t have to be artistic to make your own presents – there are lots of craft books, kits and online ideas with step by step instructions to help you create that special gift.

There is nothing nicer than receiving a personalized gift as it shows that the giver has given a lot of thought and taken the time to choose an individual present. Whether you decide to buy the people on your list a piece of jewelry such as a heart necklace or a gold heart charm or instead you opt to make a unique handmade present, you can be sure it will bring joy to whoever receives it.

14K Yellow Gold Domed Heart Plain Locket

Some pieces of jewelry are simply attractive or particularly beautiful items that make the wearer look even more attractive and add to her (or sometimes his!) appearance, adding sophistication and charm to the impression they make.  But some pieces of jewelry have more significance and history attached to them, even if it not at first obvious.  And this is especially true of that excellent example of heart jewelry, the gold heart locket, because it exhibits highly emotive symbolism to reinforce it’s intrinsic charm.

One fundamental image that it brings to mind is love, because for centuries, the heart has been considered the seat of the emotions.  Poems have been written about it, songs have been sung, plays have been performed.  The heart has been, and continues to be, the enduring symbol of love.  Be it the love between friends, the love of friendship generally or the love felt in a romantic relationship, the heart symbol is easily recognizable throughout the word as a declaration of feeling.  The shape itself crosses boundaries of language and culture to impart a familiar message.  It is no wonder, then, that the heart shape remains a popular staple of fashion.

So heart jewelry has become an increasingly popular way to show that a person is loved.  Be it simple or elaborate, heart jewelry makes a clear statement to all that see it.  Finding the right piece can be difficult because dozens, if not hundreds, of designs exist, and many carry very specific meanings. Pieces that are appropriate for a family member may be inappropriate for a friend; some pieces contain specifically romantic meanings that would be inappropriate for a casual gift. Some pieces of heart jewelry tend to be excessively “showy”, while other pieces are quite understated.  With the dizzying variety of pieces available, making a decision is not a simple task.  For those seeking a more classic look, a simple gold heart locket may be the right choice.

One of the key advantages of this particular sort of locket is the simple, understated message.  A locket symbolizes not only affection in and of itself, but it also shows that the wearer is keeping someone or something close their heart.  Superficially, it may seem to share quite a bit with heart pendants, especially as a general expression of affection or of love.  Unlike a pendant, though, the gold heart locket draws attention not to the composition of the element itself but to the deeper meaning held by the piece.

Lockets are also deeply personal, infinitely customizable pieces.  Classically characterized by containing either small pictures or engraved messages, the locket can be tailored to a specific person, event, or period of time.  The traditional image is of a locket bearing the photograph of a spouse or close family member; these images can be powerful reminders of a person or place in one’s lifetime.  Rather than being a transient gift, meant only to set off a specific outfit or a certain fashion trend, an item of this sort is intended to be a jewelry piece that lasts a lifetime.

As a gold piece, the heart locket also carries a certain amount of value apart from the emotional core.  These lockets can become valuable family heirlooms if they are taken care of properly.  Even the simplest of gold lockets carries a great deal of emotional value for family and friends – for example, who cannot recall the cliché movie scenes of a person finding a long lost locket with the picture of a forgotten love? In addition, passing the locket down through generations is a common enough tradition amongst many families.

By combining the timeless symbol of the heart, the tasteful and understated look of gold, and the emotional weight of the enclosed inscriptions or images, a gold heart locket is a unique piece of jewelry.  Rather than relying on flashy effects, the locket is very much an accessory that has substance and meaning.  This does not, however, mean that the piece is not appealing on its own merits – rather, the simplicity and elegance, along with the mystery of exactly what is held inside, will attract attention without overwhelming the rest of any given ensemble.

All of these ways in which the images and associations combine together mean that, in so many ways, a gold heart locket can be the perfect piece for any occasion.

The glitter and movement of a quality gold heart bracelet attracts the eye of all who see this beautiful piece of jewelry. With every movement of the hand, the gold charm dances, delighting both the people watching the show and the person putting it on.

On the other hand, the more factual and down to earth person might regard it as a statement of wealth and affection combined. So what is the truth, if there is one?

Well, these symbols of the heart-shaped charm, the bracelet and the gold, represent many different things depending upon the relationship between the lovely person wearing this prize and the giver of this thoughtful gift.  Does that mean that we can look at each component of the gold heart bracelet to get a better idea?

First of all, the heart: this has been used to symbolize love and passion between lovers, desire from a suitor, devotion between friends, commitment between husband and wife and a symbol of the emotion, good health and goodwill towards all living things. Used as a charm this becomes a tangible reminder of good memories from the past, pleasant things of today and golden hopes of the future. Heart jewelry brings a smile to the lips and a warm feeling to the body because this symbol says “I love you” in whatever context it is meant.

Next, the bracelet, which is worn on the wrist near the hand; it is a physical reminder that someone is emotionally holding on to you. The touch of the bracelet gives the person wearing it the assurance of someone else’s support and caring. This treasure may have been won by a hard-fought battle in the business world, a thank you for a personal favor or for a major accomplishment. Each time the wearer puts it on, looks at it, touches it or thinks about it, that person will remember when this glimmering, shiny adornment was received, why it was given and especially the person that was kind enough and thoughtful enough to present such a wonderful gift.

Finally, gold: this is one of the most precious metals and has been worshiped and treasured for centuries. The glistening of gold never diminishes; this precious metal does not tarnish and does not need to be polished to keep its luster. It does not corrode or rust. This shine remains true, rich and deep.

100% pure gold is very soft. It does not make good jewelry because it is easy to dent, scratch and bend. Through trial and error, professional goldsmiths have discovered mixing it with different alloys increases its strength and can change its color. Gold can be yellow in color, white or a rosy hue. White gold is usually plated with rhodium, an extremely hard, shiny white metal. Rose gold uses a larger portion of copper to get its beautiful pink color.

Gold is rated by karats; 24 karats is 100% gold. Gold jewelry is made from 18 karats gold which is 75% gold and 14 karats which is 58.3% gold. Most bracelet clasps are made from 14 karat gold; it is stronger and more durable. The craftsmanship of gold jewelry and the weight of the gold determine the value. Unique, intricate works of art are more expensive, more interesting and more valued by the owner.

Overall, heart jewelry, especially a gold heart bracelet, is easy to care for. Chlorine, which is often found in drinking water, and harsh cleaning fluids are not good for gold. Cleaning this precious jewelry is easy, these treasures can be put in a solution of lukewarm water and detergent free soap and washed very gently with a soft bristled brush. The pieces should be stored in the soft cloth bags or original boxes between wearing.

So maybe after all, the meaning of a gold heart bracelet is very simple.  Someone values the person who is wearing this treasure and offers this person their support even when they are far away. The feeling of the bracelet on the wrist is like a tender touch of a caring hand. Romantic or down to earth, the giving of such a trinket is a statement of love and affection from the giver. And the wearer indicates that she is equally receptive to the feelings given.

You will see the weight variations in the silver lockets as well. This also refers to how much silver was used in making the final piece, although the weight increments may be different from those used for gold. This weight will only apply to the locket itself and not to the chain to which it is attached. The chain will often be the same material and weight as the heart locket is, but it can also be different. Most silver hearts are placed on sterling silver chains to create a coordinated and flowing design and a sterling silver heart locket is a favorite too . A silver heart locket can come as a highly polished item with only the silver used as the outer surface or it can have some accent items on it.

Accenting items can be gemstones. You will find several styles of hearts with various birthstones placed as a single accent on the heart’s surface. The gems are usually positioned in the center of the heart and may have etched designs around them such as radiating lines or curved filigree. The etched styles are also available without gems placed in the surface. These can have delicate etchings of flowers, scrolling leaves or even the person’s name. Some designs are reminiscent of Renaissance styles, while others can have a more baroque appearance. Some heart designs will have a mother of pearl inlay on the surface area that creates a very distinctive and elegant style.

The heart lockets available for young girls can also come in a few unique designs. If your child is an animal lover, you could select one of the styles with paw prints on the heart’s surface. A dainty flower etching is also appropriate for this age as is a birthstone setting. These themed styles also make great Mother’s Day gifts and can be found with the word “Mom” engraved in the surface or set in with an alternate type of metal. The two-toned hearts can be made with a silver surface that has gold inlays around the edges or used as a special ornamental design such as a flower in the center.

Both the gold heart locket and silver locket are available with assorted diamond accents. A diamond can be a single stone accent or several stones created as a band across the front of the piece. Several styles have the entire front section covered with tiny diamonds. This style makes a great bridal necklace as well as a nice anniversary gift. The various lockets will come with one or two inner compartments. The basic design has the locket open to reveal two interior sections into which you can place small photos. The two-compartment style will have an additional divider so the locket opens into four segments to hold four separate photos.

You can find all of these magnificent heart jewelry items available at various department and jewelry stores as well as online.  Whichever one you use, make sure that the retailer is happy to offer a refund ir at the very least an exchange (most are) and you will have a new jewelry item to be proud of – whether it is a gift for a loved one or a treasured item that you have bought for yourself.

Why choose a sterling silver heart necklace?  There are many reasons why one should choose a sterling silver heart necklace over other options in necklaces. To begin with, these necklaces are less expensive than other necklaces such as those made from gold. The heart shaped pendant is ideal to be given to one’s beloved since women have been found to fall in love at first sight with a sterling silver heart pendant necklace. If maintained properly, sterling silver retains its charm and beauty for years. In addition, even if the silver is tarnished after years of wear, one can easily get it polished and make it appear as new as it was in the beginning.

There are many designs available within these heart necklaces. For example, there are double heart pendant designs in which two intertwined hearts, symbolizing the love between two souls, are asymmetrically interconnected. Now, with a sterling silver heart charm necklace, one can also personalize the pendant by getting one’s own and one’s beloved’s name engraved on each of the hearts along with birthstones. Another beautiful design is the one where a solid heart dangles through a hollow heart. With this pendant, one can easily adjust how deep the solid heart drops on one’s neck.

In addition to these popular designs, one can also find a number of sterling silver necklaces of different lengths with a pendant decorated with different stones. Though depending on the stone used, these necklace pendants will cost you more; they are worth considering because of their sheer timeless beauty.

Whom would these necklaces suit?  Heart sterling silver necklaces are meant for both adult women and teenage girls. Since sterling silver has an elegant white shine, these necklaces would suit females of all skin colors, whether white, dusky or dark. These necklaces are perfect for not only big parties and events, they can even be worn to casual dates and parties and even to office as well. These pendant necklaces go well with all kinds of dresses as well, be it an expensive evening gown or a casual party dress.

If you are a male and are looking for a beautiful piece of jewelry to give to any woman in your life, be it your mother, wife, girlfriend or daughter, then you need not look further than these sophisticated heart shaped silver necklaces and pendants. Not only will the woman you give the necklace to be pleasantly surprised and genuinely grateful for your gift, even you would feel a sense of satisfaction seeing the heart shaped mark of your love and affection adorning her beautiful neck and bringing a smile to her face.

Where should you buy these necklaces?  You can easily buy a beautiful heart pendant and sterling silver necklace as well as other types of heart jewelry from a jewelry store. However, a better place to look for it is the web, because it will allow you to check out the available products at different sites and compare prices. Many companies will offer you a 30-day money back guarantee on your purchase, so it is also safe to buy a pendant necklace online. Buying online will also avoid you moving away from the comfort of your own home, as the necklace would be delivered at your doorstep in a couple of days.

So take a look at the sterling silver heart necklace choices you have the next time you decide to buy and do yourself a favor!

What if you had been spending a long time trying to come up with an original idea for a present for your significant other for Valentine’s Day (whether she’s your wife or girlfriend) and you are drawing a blank?  You’ve already bought her all of the routine gifts that guys buy, such as flowers and chocolates and champagne.  You’ve been together for a few years so you’ve also bought her the other stuff that men buy for their ladies – clothes, DVDs and CDs, underwear (nervously because you didn’t want to appear stupid in front of the sales assistants!) and perfume.  In fact, you’ve bought each of those more than once, taking into account birthdays and Christmas presents and “just because” gifts.  So it’s becoming a little routine and casual. She’s a smart, professional lady running her own business, so she has to look good and elegant and presentable at all times.  She has some jewelry that she wears on business occasions but some of is is a little too “over the top” for day to day affairs.  Well, how about a white gold heart necklace?  It will express your love and affection for her and it will also be a pretty and effective piece that she can co-ordinate with other items in her jewelry box.  You can buy other heart jewelry pieces for gift buying occasions in the future.

But what if Christmas was approaching and you just couldn’t think what to buy for your Mom?  She’s not only a mom but a Grandma also.  She has three children of her own and five grandchildren, so she’s had a lot of presents bought for her over the years.  She doesn’t have a very active social life because of her age but she does have all of the clothes she could ever wear – her wardrobe it bulging – so clothes are out.  She’s not a great movie or television fan, preferring just a few tried and tested programs such as Frasier that she watches repeatedly, so there’s not too much mileage there.  And book-wise, she is quite religiously minded so you’re always worried about buying the modern tomes with lavish amounts of sex scenes in them  that you know will offend her.  She enjoys reminiscing about her past life and the joys of being with her family.  Ok, how about a heart locket?  You can add in a photo of her husband or her favorite grandchildren and she can remember them every time she looks in the mirror and sees the locket hanging there.

So what if you then need to find a gift for your daughter’s birthday that’s just around the corner?  She’s a typical early teenage years girl.  She loves pop music, boys and chatting with her girl friends.  She has all of the music and movies that she wants – and in any event, how can you possibly figure out what’s currently in and what’s currently out?  The same applies to clothes – whatever Mom and Dad like, she doesn’t.  Everything revolves around IPods, text messaging and romance.  Maybe you can buy her a sterling silver heart charm bracelet.  Include a traditional locked heart charm to symbolize romance.  Buy her more charms for subsequent birthdays and gift buying occasions.  She can wear it for social outings and casual times with her friends and she will come to treasure it as more charms are added over the years.

Do you have any more “what if” moments like these?  Give some thought to heart bracelets, heart brooches and heart necklaces and you may be able to solve some gift buying problems of your own.

I would choose a heart charm because it is such a versatile piece of jewelry.  If I added it to a chain to wear as a necklace it is suitable to wear every day with work clothes or at weekends with more casual outfits.  For more formal events it would complement other pieces of jewelry like earrings, watch and bracelet as well as the little black dress that most women have in their closet.  The look could be changed by having different lengths of chains to wear with different necklines.

Another way I would choose to wear it is by adding it to a bracelet and I particularly like a sterling silver charm bracelet.   This could be added to with either more heart charms – not necessarily just sterling silver, maybe some other types if they are complementary – or some of the other beautiful and unusual charms that are available.  If I chose to continue with a heart charm theme I may look for different styles of heart shaped charms like an open heart design, one with my birthstone set into it, perhaps a heart locket charm that could contain a picture of my family.  Or I might decide to collect all the same sort of heart charms to give it a more uniform look.

Alternatively, a heart shaped “I love New York” charm could be the first one on a charm bracelet that could be added to as a reminder of places and events that are special to me. Because I love to travel, finding charms of the places I visit would be a great reminder of the special memories I have from these vacations.  I would have charms of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building in New York, and the Capitol and the White House in Washington DC.  Then there would be one of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and a casino in Las Vegas.  From trips to Europe I would add Buckingham Palace in London, the Acropolis in Athens and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the list is endless. All of these and more would bring back the happiness I felt when vacationing in these places.

On the other hand, I might decide to choose to have a Disney heart charm and collect other Disney charms to make a fun charm bracelet.  As my favorite books as a child were Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne, I would probably start my bracelet with a Winnie the Pooh heart charm and then add charms of all the wonderful characters in the books like Piglet, Tigger, Eyore, Owl and Christopher Robin just to name a few.  Of course there are lots of other Disney characters to choose from so you could make a charm bracelet with your favorites.

Then again, a heart charm commemorating a special event in my life could lead to a collection of lots of different charms charting other momentous occasions.  Some of the ones I can think of are: reaching the age of majority charm, a graduation charm, a wedding cake charm to celebrate marriage, a baby carriage or baby footprint charm to mark the birth of children, a silver wedding anniversary charm, a Mom charm or Grandma charm.  Everybody has different events in their lives and there are any number of charms  you can buy to celebrate them.

So you see, if I could only have one piece of heart jewelry I would have to choose a heart charm because there are so many ways you can add to it that will evoke lasting memories.  What piece of heart jewelry would you choose and why?

18k Yellow Gold Plated Sterling Silver Ruby and Diamond Accent Heart Earrings

When you want to express your appreciation for someone, words are not always enough to convey how much you value them.  Often it is nice to give them a gift to show them how much you care and a gift of jewelry makes the ideal gift for women of all ages.   Although heart jewelry is usually associated with love between a man and a woman, it is also ideal to give to others who you care deeply about such as a sister, daughter, Mom, Grandma or special friend.

There is an amazingly varied range of heart jewelry on the market to suit any style and virtually any taste.  Whether her style is traditional, contemporary, or maybe just young at heart, there will be a pair of gold heart earrings, a heart locket necklace or gold heart bracelet to precisely fit her style and taste.

Jewelry is particularly suitable to give to members of a wedding party.  For instance, a pair of gold heart earrings would be a very loving wedding treasure for the bride if given by her parents to show that although her heart now belongs to another she is still in their heart. A piece of heart jewelry is a thoughtful memento for a bride to give to her bridesmaids to say thank you to them for being such a special part of her wedding. For grown up bridesmaids an open heart pendant or sterling silver heart bracelet would make a lovely present.  And for the younger girls, a dainty silver heart locket or a silver heart charm with a fine chain or perhaps worn on a ribbon to complement their gown would fit the bill.

What better way to express your love and appreciation for Mom or Grandma than a gift of heart jewelry?  While a diamond heart shaped pendant would be ideal, there are a large selection of heart jewelry items which are far easier on the finances. Heart necklaces can be purchased in various metals, including yellow gold, white gold or silver and can be set with genuine or man-made gems. Since the choice is vast you’re sure to be able to find the perfect heart jewelry gift for those special ladies.  To ensure you get something that will complement her other pieces of jewelry take a note of the other jewelry she has in her collection to see which precious metal she usually wears.

The great thing about giving heart jewelry is that you don’t need a special day to give it.  It makes a wonderful “just because” or “thank you” gift.  If you have been going through a particularly difficult time and, say, your sister or friend have been there for you giving them a gift of jewelry will reinforce how grateful you are for their support. Practically all girls like earrings and heart earrings can easily be bought in silver or gold and can also be set with diamonds if you wish to be extravagant. Obviously you have to take into account the individual personality of the lady who will receive the surprise. Hoops and dangly earrings are great for the extrovert person whereas a pair of delicate stud earrings may be more practical for wearing to work. Take notice of the kind of jewelry she already wears as this can provide an idea of the colors and styles she favors.

A classic gold or silver heart design charm bracelet makes a magnificent gift for a young woman that she’s going to always treasure.  Most are sold with many charms actually positioned and this can be a great choice if you’re buying for a girl who wants to keep up with the latest trends.  The original locked heart is one “must have” adornment to the old classic form of charm bracelet in which charms are added gradually over a period of time. This particular approach makes it easy to buy further gifts for that girl later on because she would want to collect fresh charms to attach to her bracelet.

Finally, it doesn’t take too much thought to realize that an item of heart design jewelry can make the perfect gift when you want to show someone how much you value and care for them. Even here though the wide selection of items available can be so enormous that you need to give think carefully before deciding exactly what piece of jewelry you should get. While you cannot go wrong if you choose gold heart earrings, there are a limitless amount of other pieces of heart jewelry such as heart charms, heart rings and heart bracelets which will convey the message just as well.

Oval Link Heart Charm Bracelet in Sterling Silver

Most little girls from a very early age dream of being a princess like Cinderella or Ariel or Belle, especially if they have watched the Disney movies.  They love to dress up as their favorite character either in specially bought dressing up clothes or, as I used to do when I was little, in Mom’s clothes.  And of course every princess needs lots of sparkling romantic heart jewelry to wear with her beautiful gown for when she meets her prince at the ball.

If your little princess has been fortunate enough to visit Disney World, or the huge Disney store in Downtown Disney in Florida, then she may have had the opportunity to visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to have her hair, make up and nails done just like a real princess.  If money is no object (it could be as much as $200) then you will want to add all the extras such as her favorite princess’s dress, shoes and a photograph to commemorate the event.  Then of course she needs a tiara and all the other jewelry to match, such as a necklace, ring, earrings and bracelet. Depending on her age and your budget (if you haven’t overspent already!) the jewelry can be a mixture of cheap and cheerful glass beads with perhaps something more elaborate, like a silver heart charm bracelet, a silver heart locket, or a silver heart ring.

These items of jewelry can be a memento of her magical vacation but they can also be something to wear as she gets older.  For example, if you choose to buy a silver heart charm bracelet she can add a new charm from every place that she goes on vacation as a child and as an adult.  Charms could include a flip flop charm to remind her of a beach vacation or perhaps a charm of the Tower of London or the Eiffel Tower if she visited Europe.  Just imagine what memories it will evoke and what an interesting topic of conversation it will be when people admire it when she wears it as she gets older.  Disney pins on a lanyard may be great for when you are wanting to trade them but are hardly the height of elegance, whereas a silver heart charm bracelet can be worn with casual or formal outfits.

Obviously as she grows from a child into an adult she will accumulate a lot more jewelry to add to her collection whether it is fashion jewelry that she has bought for herself or more personal items that other people have bought for her on birthdays and other special days. And while she will not be playing at “dressing up” any more she will still enjoy the feeling of looking like a princess when she dresses in the gown she has chosen for special events such as her junior or senior prom.

But then the “Big Day” arrives and the little girl’s dream turns into reality and she really is a princess walking down the aisle to marry her prince.  All eyes are on her as she glides into the room wearing the most beautiful wedding dress and the most sparkling jewelry.  This time the jewelry may have been bought for her by her future husband and may consist of a heart shaped engagement ring, gold heart earrings, a gold heart necklace and a gold heart bracelet which he has given her as a token of his undying love. The great thing about heart jewelry is that it can be worn everyday even after the big event.  It looks equally good when worn to the office or for a posh night out or even when you are wearing casual clothes such as jeans and sweatshirt.

And why not start a tradition among the other princesses in the family – buy each of them a heart charm bracelet when they are young and let them choose the theme they want to continue  on it over time.  These items of jewelry will be great to hand down over the generations as they will have such a story to tell.

But let’s focus for a few minutes on those gifts that you buy because you want to express your love for someone.  You have many choices – too many, really, in this day and age and often so many that it becomes confusing.  However, one tried and true way to express your love for a lady (and maybe even a man, depending on your relationship and his particular style!) is to give a piece of heart jewelry.

Even if you haven’t given much thought to it before, it is easy to see why a piece of heart shaped jewelry can make the right gift for your loved one. However, there is an enormous variety of pieces and it can be so extensive that you simply must give some thought to what specific piece of jewelry you should buy. So should you buy a gold heart necklace, a silver heart bracelet or a simple heart brooch?

In fact, the answer is really obvious, isn’t it?  For the maximum impact and to deliver the message you really want to send, you need to match the gift to the lucky recipient.  For example:

• If your woman favors silver or white gold, then a white gold heart necklace or a sterling silver heart locket could be a perfect option.

• Or what about a vintage heart locket that contains your photo as an ultimate depiction of your feelings for her?

• Practically all ladies like earrings and heart design earrings can easily be bought in silver or gold and can also be encrusted with gems if you want to be extravagant.

Naturally you need to think about the individual taste of the woman who will receive the surprise. Take notice of the kind of jewelry she already wears as this can provide an idea of the colors and styles she favors.  Here are some further thoughts to help you along:

• One major trend that many observers have commented on is the increasing popularity of silver heart jewelry.  Sterling silver’s physical qualities allow it to be made into an almost limitless range of jewelry designs, ranging from delicate silver heart earrings to big bracelets and chains. One big advantage that silver has is that it’s color gives the appearance of white gold or platinum at a fraction of the cost. Silver creates a superb setting for nearly any color of gem, making it an ideal choice for moderately priced heart pendants, rings and earrings with either precious or semi-precious stones. A range of birthstones such as amethyst, garnet and topaz regularly appear in stunning silver heart jewelry designs. Nowadays, synthetic and created jewels look so good that once set in silver they can look as if they cost an absolute fortune.

• As mentioned before, the beauty of heart jewelry is that you are not limited to just one type of metal or just one style of jewelry – and this variety results in jewelry products that can match almost any budget.  Despite the likelihood that a diamond heart pendant would be perfect for the lady in your life, there are a huge selection of other heart jewelry items which can be much easier on the finances. Heart shaped necklaces can be found in various precious metals, such as white and yellow gold or sterling silver and can be set with real or artificial gemstones. As the selection is so diverse, you’re certain to manage to discover the perfect heart jewelry gift for a loved one.

• A particular celebration to which a piece of heart jewelry is best suited is a wedding anniversary. It’s a gift which will demonstrate to your wife how much you really care. Take note of whether she usually wears silver or white gold or if perhaps she prefers classic yellow gold. A little detective work in advance will ensure you opt for the ultimate heart shaped jewelry gift.

• A timeless silver or gold charm bracelet makes a fantastic gift for a girl that she’ll treasure forever. These vintage jewelry items are experiencing great demand because they have become the favorites of celebrities. The traditional heart design lock is the essential accent to the vintage form of charm bracelet where the charms are usually added gradually over time. That type makes it easy to buy gifts for the young lady later on as she would want to acquire new charms to increase her bracelet. Although, the modern epoch of designer heart charm bracelets come with several charms actually in position and it is a top selection for the designer conscious female.

So as you can see – whether it’s a gold heart necklace, a pair of silver heart earrings or a diamond heart pendant, heart jewelry can indeed solve your problems when you need a special gift for that special person!

That was a lesson I learned recently when I was finding it increasingly difficult to choose original gifts for my very-young-at-heart 87 year old mother.  After all, there are only so many sweaters, tops, skirts and purses you can buy and besides she has no room in her closet for any more!  And she has absolutely no interest in designer shoes or designer handbags.

However, even though my Mom has never been a great one for wearing jewelry there are a couple of her tops and dresses that cry out for a bit of adornment around the neck to finish the outfit off.  Gaudy, flashy costume jewelry would not be suitable and she’s not a pearls and twin-set kind of person and she doesn’t wear sliver earrings or gold bracelets.

After having looked at lots of different designs for necklaces, a heart chain seemed to be the most appropriate. For example, these heart chains from Things Remembered pictured above and right (click on the pictures for more details) would be perfect.The heart symbol represents love and trust and as I am very close to my Mom it seemed to be the right design to show how much she means to me.  Heart jewelry was my choice!

Heart chains can be found in gold, white gold, platinum and silver so there is a huge range to choose from.  As she only wears gold jewelry – her wedding ring and a beautiful diamond engagement ring that my father bought her as a sixtieth wedding anniversary gift – I decided that whatever I chose had to compliment these.  Another consideration to bear in mind is the fact that my Mom is a petite lady so something dainty rather than big and bold was the way to go.

The necklace I finally chose was a 10K open gold heart with a small diamond on the point and it hangs on a fine rope chain.  It is very pretty and sets off her clothes nicely and – just as important – she loves it. I’m sure she will be getting other pieces of jewelry to commemorate special days like birthdays and Mother’s Day.

This experience made me realize that even someone who does not wear a great amount of jewelry appreciates the fact that you have taken the time to choose a special gift just for them.  So it is very important to think about the person you are buying for and take such things as age, clothes style and character into consideration.

So the next time you are looking for something special to give to your Mom or Grandma as a special gift, no matter what their age, remember they are never too old to appreciate a new piece of jewelry – especially one that symbolizes everlasting love like a heart chain.