heart earrings

Mother’s Day is only a couple of weeks away and once again kids of all ages are wracking their brains for a suitable gift to give to their Mom. Flowers, plants, chocolates, clothing and jewelry are all items that I’m sure she would appreciate but if you are looking for something truly unique that she is bound to love, then why not make her an item of heart jewelry – how about a pair of heart charm earrings?

I made these earrings to complement the heart charm bracelet I made a few weeks ago (see this charm bracelet post from April 4th). If you have already had a try at making the bracelet then you might like to make these pretty heart earrings to go with it. For those who haven’t read the earlier post but would like to make these earrings, read on for the full list of materials needed and instructions on how to make them.

You will probably have some of the necessary materials like tin foil, a glass board or wax paper, rolling pin, oven and small paint brush but you will probably need a visit to your local craft shop (Michael’s, Joann Fabrics, Wal-Mart or other similar stores) for the craft items.

Here are all the things I used to make these cute earrings:

• 1 pair of sterling silver lever earrings (you can find these in the jewelry making section of most craft stores and Wal-Mart)

• Bakeable modeling clay (I used Sculpey Pluffey white)

• Small rolling pin

• Wax paper, glass board or tin foil to work the clay on

• Small heart shaped cookie cutter

• Picture nail to make hole in clay

• Oven (the regular one in the kitchen!)

• Acrylic Paint (I used Folk Art Apple Red)

• Small paint brush

• Clear glaze

• 3mm round acrylic rhinestones – 2 for each heart

• 4 Jump rings (2x7mm and 2x5mm) to attach the charms to the earrings

• Pair of needle nosed pliers

And how I made the earrings was:

Work the clay and roll out to desired thickness

Cut out 2 heart shapes using cookie cutter

Make hole near the top of heart shape for the jump ring to fit through

Follow the instructions on the clay packet for baking the heart shapes

When cool, paint with your chosen colors. I found it easier to hold them flat with the picture nail while I painted the edges and one side of heart then allow it to dry thoroughly before turning it over and painting the other side. Allow each coat of paint to dry before applying the next coat. (If you don’t want to add the rhinestones you can add your own painted design at this stage.)

When the paint is completely dry finish the hearts off with a clear glaze

Glue a rhinestone jewel to one side of the heart charms. Allow to dry thoroughly before gluing one on the other side.

Attach the charms to the earrings

Your earrings are now ready to be placed in a suitable little box, wrapped up in some pretty paper and presented to Mom with a lovely card. How pleased she is going to be when she opens the package and realizes that you have taken the time and trouble to make these especially for her!

Personalised Family Tree Dangle Necklace and Jewelry Box Gift

If you are struggling to think of a gift to give those special people in your life, then why not consider an item of personalised jewellery? Choosing a piece of personalised jewellery as a gift for someone will show that person that they are very special to you. There are lots of items of jewellery that can be personalised so pick the one that you think is most appropriate for the individual you are choosing it for, whether that is Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, teens, children or a close friend.

When thinking about giving jewellery as a gift, especially personalised jewellery, it is the females in our life who we normally consider as the recipient. Perhaps the most obvious ideas are a diamond ring or a pearl necklace. But the men in your life need not miss out even if they don’t usually wear jewellery, whether it’s heart jewellery, gold jewellery or whatever. Perhaps the most obvious items that spring to mind are identity bracelets (these could be engraved with his name or initials) or a pendant that could have a name or personal message put on it. However, some men would definitely not consider wearing either of these items but most men wear watches so this may be a good choice. You could have a special message engraved on the back of it to make it a more personalised gift. If they are professional men who wear a suit for work then a pair of cuff links or tie clip with their initials on them would make a nice gift.

Finding a suitable piece of jewellery for the ladies on your list is a much easier task no matter whether they are seven or seventy. So let’s consider some of the things that are available. For young girls, and maybe even young teenagers, a gold or silver necklace or bracelet with their name spelled out in letters on it is something they will love to wear. For an older teen a signet ring or a charm bracelet or heart earrings with her initials and her birthstone inset into it is something she may like.

When looking for something for your Mom or Grandma, a locket necklace is an ideal gift. Not only can you have it inscribed with a special message, or the birth dates of her children or grandchildren, you can add a family photograph inside so that she will always have the reminder of her family with her.

If the gift is for a wife or girlfriend then a really romantic gift to give her would be a heart charm bracelet with memorable dates and personal messages engraved on each heart charm. Another good choice would be a ring or necklace with both your birthstones inset into it and a romantic message such as “I love you” inscribed on it. But really any piece of jewellery that you can have a personal message put on to it will show that you have given a lot of thought into choosing the perfect gift for her.

But personalised jewellery does not have to be something that is engraved with messages or initials. Selecting an item of jewellery that reflects the interests or hobby of a friend or relative is another way of personalising a gift. For instance, if you have a friend who loves to buy shoes, or loves to shop or collects handbags (I have friends that love all these things!) then you could give her a necklace, earrings and a bracelet with the relevant charms attached to them. They are sure to make her smile and it will remind her of just what good friends you are because you know the things that make her happy.

Yet another great idea for personalised jewellery is to make it yourself. This would be a truly unique gift as there would be no other piece like it. You can buy jewellery making kits from craft stores or online retailers. For the more adventurous and artistic these stores sell all the equipment and books you need to help you create your individual design of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. But if you don’t feel confident enough to make your own jewellery then you could always look at craft fairs or on the Internet for handmade jewellery. You may even be able to have a design of your own made up.

So if you are looking for a unique gift for a man or a woman, take a little time to think about their personality – then do a bit of research and you are sure to find the ideal piece of personalised jewellery for them.

One of the most popular styles of earrings is the stud earring. Usually these are the ones inserted in your ear when you go to have your ears pierced and they come in various designs and sizes. Although the most common shaped stud used when for the initial piercing is the gold ball stud, there is a wide selection of other designs to choose from, including options ranging from cubic zirconia heart stud earrings to ones made of white gold with cut diamonds. Obviously I am biased and I love the heart jewelry options, but whichever ones you choose initially you will have to leave them in your ears for four to six weeks to allow your ears to heal and to stop the holes closing.

Once the healing process has passed you can take your studs out and move on to wearing the earrings of your choice – and believe me the selection is virtually endless. You can choose from studs, chandelier, drop and hoop earrings to name the most common types, although for the first few months studs are the best to wear until the holes have healed fully. One cautionary note, lots of people can be sensitive to non-hypoallergenic earrings so always try to choose those that are marked as “hypoallergenic’ or wear gold, sterling silver or platinum to help prevent any allergic reaction.

So which type of earring should you choose? This all comes down to personal taste, style and occasion. Personally for everyday wear I choose studs, whether it is my white gold heart stud earrings to match my other heart jewelry, my sapphire and diamond earrings to match my wedding jewelry or my gold studs from New York (these are so comfortable). Most stud earrings are subtle and understated and suitable to wear to the office, to the grocery store or for coffee with friends. The more elaborate ones with precious gemstones like diamonds, rubies and sapphires look really sophisticated when worn with a little black dress for more formal occasions.

Some women choose to wear hoop earrings on a daily basis and look really good in them. Some young women look great in the larger hoop earrings but as you get older, if you are going to wear hoops the smaller ones are less flamboyant and I feel that these suit the older women better.

Chandelier earrings and dangly earrings can look very feminine and glitzy especially for those special big ritzy events. Have you noticed how most of the celebrities choose these types of earrings for “red carpet” events and showbiz parties? Of course they are dressed up in their designer gown and want to show it off to perfection, so the more sparkling their jewelry the more it complements their outfit. Mind you, when you see the size of some of those earrings it is a wonder they can hold their head up! I’m not sure I could cope with the weight of these beautiful designs and if I had long hair I would be worried that my hair would get caught in them.

Having pierced ears certainly gives you more choice in the style of earrings available. However, if you don’t want to have your ears pierced you can still get heart stud earrings or even hoop earrings in clip on or screw back.

The second hardest gemstone after the diamond is the sapphire.  Hang on a minute you are thinking, here we are talking about pink heart rings and all at once we are talking about sapphires which are blue.  While it is true that the most common color for sapphires is blue it is also found in colors such as yellow, pink and green.  In fact the sapphire and ruby is the same mineral – corundum – so it is not really surprising that there should be pink varieties of this stone.  Pink sapphires range in color from pale pink to fuchsia and they are a lot less expensive than a pink diamond. But if real sapphires are still beyond your price range then you could choose one of the rings available with a lab created heart sapphire setting.

Spinel is another pink gemstone and it is similar to ruby and sapphire but not as expensive and so is often used in jewelry as a substitute for sapphires and rubies.  Because it so closely resembles the ruby, some of the most famous rubies, such as the Black Prince’s ruby in the English Imperial State Crown, have been found to be spinels.  Although it is a natural gemstone, its name has become synonymous with the synthetic ones made in laboratories and most often used for imitation birthstone rings. If you choose a spinel pink heart ring do check on the authenticity of the stone.

One of the most popular pink stones is the tourmaline as you can find virtually any shade of pink you could imagine in this stone as well as lots of other colors as well. This is because the tourmaline, according to an old Egyptian legend, passed over a rainbow on its way from the center of the earth. The tourmaline is attributed with magical powers and is the gemstone of friendship and love and is said to ensure that these are firm and long-lasting.

Yet another popular less expensive variety of gemstone is the pink quartz. This stone has a unique milky or cloudy quality and can be found in larger carat sizes.

Of course one of the most popular inexpensive alternatives to diamonds is cubic zirconia.  If you are on a very tight budget choosing a sterling silver ring with a pink cubic zirconia stone will certainly not break the bank. For those looking for something a little more expensive there are lots to choose from set in 14k or 18k gold.

But a pink heart ring does not have to be one with a pink heart gemstone set in it.  Why not choose pink gold as the setting for your heart ring?  As with white gold, yellow gold or sterling silver you can choose any color of gemstone from the clear white ice of a diamond to the very dark blue of the sapphire – the choice is yours.  Or alternatively, you could choose a pink gold heart shaped signet ring or a wedding band with hearts embossed on it.

I hope this has given you some ideas on which pink heart ring to choose, whether for yourself or to give to a loved one.  There is plenty of information on the Web about the different kinds of pink gemstones available and also lots of retailers with a huge selection of rings and other pieces of heart jewelry such as heart earrings and heart pendants that will complement your choice.

14k White Gold Diamond Heart Ring (1/10 cttw, H-I Color, I2 Clarity), Size 7

Have you ever been stuck for a unique gift idea for those special days such as an anniversary, birthday, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day for the special woman in your life?  So why not give her a beautiful piece of  heart jewelry?  Because heart jewelry is so versatile, it can be worn everyday for any situation, whether that is popping to the grocery store, going to work, attending a swanky party or meeting friends for lunch, so it makes the ideal present.

On your next wedding anniversary a heart pendant necklace would make a perfect gift for your wife.  Gold and sterling silver are both fine choices.  Not only will it show her how much she still means to you but she will be able to wear it every day and it will remind her of the special relationship you two share.  If you get it engraved with a special message personal to you both, that will be  a demonstration to her of all the time and thought you have put into choosing a special gift for her – and, although you don’t perhaps tell her as often as she would like, how much you love her.  Every time she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror or touches her neck it will bring a smile to her face as she thinks of you and remembers special times you have shared and continue to share.

There are many occasions on which to give a piece of heart jewelry to your daughter and a delicate heart bracelet would be appropriate for any of them.  The first one that springs to mind is her birth and a heart bracelet with her date of birth and her birthstone on it is something she can treasure forever.  Or how about a silver charm bracelet for her “sweet sixteen” birthday?  When she is all dressed up to go to her prom a gold heart bracelet to complement the gorgeous dress she is wearing will make her truly feel like a princess.  Or giving her a heart bracelet on her graduation day will show her how proud you are of her achievements.

Valentine’s Day is traditionally the time that lovers want to express their feelings for their significant other, obviously with a gift that symbolizes love – whether that is red roses, heart shaped candy or perhaps a cute soft toy.  Giving your loved one an open heart ring would convey in a very clear way exactly how much you love her.  For the guy who wants to let his girlfriend know he is committed to her but not yet ready to get engaged, a heart shaped ring given as a promise ring would leave her in no doubt of his fidelity.

On Mother’s Day we all sometimes struggle to think of that special something for the best Mom in the world.  If you ask her what she wants she will frequently say that there is nothing she needs so, often, we search the stores for a sweater or top or purse that we think she might like.  Getting her a piece of heart jewelry will surely put a smile on her face and show her just how much you love her.  A silver heart locket engraved with a special message and containing a family photograph is something she will not only treasure forever but will proudly show off to her friends.

For birthdays and Christmas you can’t go wrong if you choose to give heart jewelry, especially for a close friend.  There are lots of different pieces in the stores but a pair of silver heart earrings will show your feelings for her as a friend and you can be sure they will complement the other jewelry in her collection.  Whether she prefers stud earrings, hoops or dangly styles there are lots of designs to choose from.

So no matter what the occasion or the age of the recipient, if you choose a piece of heart jewelry it will show your wife, daughter, girlfriend, Mom or close friend how much they mean to you.

Most of the people I asked could come up with someone they wanted to look stupid without too much thought and not all of them chose celebrities or people in the public eye.  For instance, one of the people, who used to work for one of big five consulting firms, chose as their candidate one of the partners in the firm.  This guy was a typical little man with a big ego “puffed up and full of his own self importance”.  He should be made to wear heart shaped earrings because he was an “obnoxious twerp who deserved to be made to look silly”.  Knowing the commentator as I do, it must have been entertaining to see the working relationship that the two had!

At the time I did this survey the World Cup was in full swing and the England team was playing particularly badly and without any enthusiasm for winning a match.  My husband is a big soccer fan and was absolutely disgusted with his team’s performance and so he chose the whole of the England football squad to wear heart earrings, heart bracelets, heart rings, and necklaces.  His reasoning was that they played like a bunch of girls and so they deserved to be made to look like girls.  While I agree that they were anything like the macho men they think they are, I thought his comments were cruel and unfair to women!

Recently there have been surveys done that have found that couples have a sixth sense and often know what the other is thinking and have similar ideas.  This proved true when I was talking to friends and family even though I spoke to them separately.  One of the couples independently chose the Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Renaldo and they would both like to see him wearing heart earrings.  The husband said that he chose Renaldo because he is so arrogant and he wants him to look stupid.  His wife’s reasoning was that Renaldo is so conceited and full of himself.

Yet another couple chose Simon Cowell of American Idol fame and again they both picked the same item of jewelry – a heart necklace.  The lady said she would like to see him wearing a big heart medallion as the heart shape and its symbolism is the polar opposite of him because he comes across as quite heartless.  On the other hand the guy chose the heart necklace for Simon Cowell because he’d look ridiculous and because he is so in love with himself.

As I said earlier, not all of the respondents picked famous people to nominate.  One guy selected one of his neighbors who he would like to see with big heart shaped hoop earrings or a big heart necklace because he is such a big homophobe.  On  the other hand, another of the guys wanted his brother to wear heart rings “because he’d look funny and silly so I could laugh at him and he’d be embarrassed”.  Obviously some sibling rivalry there!

I was rather surprised that only one politician was on the list.  This was Jack Straw, a British Labour Party MP and former Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Justice Minister. The person who suggested him also chose an unusual piece of heart jewelry – a tiara with diamonds on it.  When asked why they would like to see this particular Member of Parliament wearing this the answer was, and I quote, “To make him look like a complete fool as everything he says is wrong and he’s a complete waste of space”.  Not much love lost there then!

My own choice would be any number of the car salesmen I have come across over the years (both in the USA and the UK) who even in this day and age think that women have no knowledge of what they are talking about when it comes to buying a car.  There was one occasion when the salesman actually told me to come back with my husband when I asked to go on a test drive!  I would like to see these guys wearing the biggest, flashiest, vulgar pieces of heart jewelry so that they can look as stupid as they sound when they come out with sexist comments.

So have some fun of your own and think about which male celebrity, politician or work colleague you would like to see looking ridiculous wearing heart shaped earrings or any other item of heart jewelry.

The responses I got from the teenagers really surprised me as I thought maybe it was a generational thing and that I was no longer up with current trends and fashions. My friend’s thirteen year old daughter, the youngest of the group and very into fashion and modern trends, wrinkled her nose and said that she thought earrings on men were weird and she didn’t like them.  She suggested that some men’s jewelry was acceptable (a gold chain, an identity bracelet, a wedding ring and watch maybe) but nothing flashy or vulgar and certainly not any heart jewelry.

Another friend’s fifteen year old son said that “jewelry doesn’t look very good on men”. The only piece that he thinks is acceptable for a man is a watch and he believes that earrings look stupid, especially the silver heart earrings that he has seen!

An older teenage girl was more accepting of men wearing some form of jewelry but she said that it would have to be very subtle and it would depend on the man wearing it.  Although not totally against men having pierced ears, she was not keen on the idea of having both ears done or the wearing of diamond studs.  She laughed at the idea of men sporting a heart necklace or heart earrings but was more accepting of a pair of heart cuff links such as the open heart design because they are not overtly heart shaped.

Moving on to the next age group, twenty to thirty year olds, their answers were very similar to those of the teens. One of the guys said that lots of men look ridiculous in jewelry of any kind although he did go on to say that some guys do look okay with two ears pierced.  He went on to say that men’s jewelry pieces should be simple such as a wedding band, a simple chain or cuff links.  On the subject of heart jewelry his comments were “I’ve never seen heart jewelry on a man or for a man and I don’t see it becoming fashionable or being something that men would wear”.

Yet another of the guys was not a fan of men’s jewelry apart from wedding ring, maybe a pinky ring and cuff links.  He too could not imagine heart shaped jewelry becoming fashionable for guys especially not heart earrings.  The only piece of heart jewelry he could ever see himself wearing would be a pair of cuff links if somebody bought them for him.

The ladies in this age group were equally not keen to see men wearing earrings. As one of them put it: “Men shouldn’t wear earrings not even celebrities. No guy looks goods in these”. They also agreed that if men were to wear jewelry it needed to be minimal and understated not big and chunky perhaps a simple ring or a thread bracelet.  And in their view “there should be no hearts whatsoever on men’s jewelry”.

One of my good friends who is very into the latest fashion trends surprised me when she said that she hated men with pierced ears especially if both of them were pierced this – the word she used to describe it was “chavvy”.  She was also not keen on jewelry for men generally and certainly not heart jewelry which would be far too effeminate.

Two other friends (married to each other but asked at different times) shared similar opinions on the idea of men wearing jewelry.  Both were very much against the idea of guys having their ears pierced and while the wife said that it was okay for men to wear a wedding ring or watch her husband said that any sort of jewelry on a man was “girlie”.  One thing they both agreed on was that heart jewelry was feminine and definitely not for men.

Lastly I asked my husband and his best friend their thoughts on the subject of men’s jewelry and whether they would ever wear heart jewelry.  My husband’s reaction to the idea of heart jewelry for men was that it would be a contradiction as these designs are feminine and seen as “soppy” rather than macho and masculine.  When it comes to other jewelry items for men he is very much a traditionalist and is okay with signet rings, wedding rings, watches and cuff links but thinks that chains, earrings and bracelets are worn by men to show off.  In his words “fine if they want to wear them but I think they look silly”.

His friend had similar things to say about the wearing of jewelry by men suggesting that it was “used as a status symbol and as a way to attract women”.  The wearing of a gold medallion by a man, he implied, is a peacock type thing displaying his finery to attract the opposite sex.  Unlike most of the other men he thought that there was certainly one piece of heart jewelry that should be available for men to wear, a cheating heart pendant for guys who are unfaithful to their partners!

So, if my friends’ views are anything to go by it doesn’t look like heart jewelry and in particular silver heart earrings will become a fashion accessory for men any time soon.  However, if you had asked me a few years ago if guys would be wearing diamond studs in both of their ears I would have said I don’t think so.  Shows how much I know doesn’t it?

Anyhow, despite having said all of that, I’m not really a celebrity watcher but since starting this heart jewelry blog I have taken more notice of the type of jewelry people in the news are wearing as it can have an influence on what is fashionable at any one time.  Not long ago I saw a photograph of Miley Cyrus wearing a black bead necklace with a big black heart charm on it.  This image got me thinking about what kind of heart jewelry other celebrities might look good wearing so I asked my family and friends for their suggestions.  Here are some of their choices:

• Jennifer Aniston – a sterling silver charm bracelet, or even better, a sterling silver heart charm bracelet. When I asked my friend why she thought this would be an appropriate piece of jewelry her response was “because it is feminine and dainty, especially with the hearts”.

• Catherine Zeta Jones – a sterling silver heart charm necklace. This would complement the little black dresses she is often pictured wearing and it would also show off her beautiful long neck and dark hair.  The guy who suggested this said that earrings would not be a good choice as you can’t see them because her hair covers them.

• Eddie Izzard – a black velvet choker with a diamante heart charm in the middle of it. One of my female relatives made this choice because she could see him wearing it as he is a transvestite (or at least, he appears to be) and she also thinks it would suit him.  She is quite a fan of his comedy.

• Paris Hilton – a collar with jewel encrusted hearts on it for her dog. According to my friend, this pampered pooch should have one of these to complement its owner’s jewelry when they are being photographed together.

• Anne Robinson – a silver and diamond heart pendant.  Because she always wears black on her television show “The Weakest Link” this would be the perfect item of jewelry for her to choose as black really show off the sparkle of the silver and diamonds.

• Lady Gaga – an over the top very colorful, chunky necklace.  My friend’s teenage daughter suggested this as Lady Gaga is notorious for her flamboyant, extreme outfits.

• Beyonce – a simple diamante heart bracelet.  Beyonce’s style is glamorous and glitzy and so a diamond bangle would be just the right accessory for her in complete contrast to Lady Gaga’s over the top persona.

• Rachel McAdams – a heart necklace.  My son suggested a yellow or white gold heart pendant would suit her because she is very feminine.  He also said that the Williams sisters would look good wearing a chunky heart bracelet.

• Helen Mirren – heart earrings.  This was my husband’s choice and he was very definite as to the design – they should be stud earrings, delicate and classy, not flashy and made of sterling silver or white gold.  When I asked him why he said “this design is feminine, understated and sophisticated making them ideal for an intelligent, professional woman”.

• Cheryl Cole – a silver heart charm necklace and silver heart earrings.  A friend and her teenage son both chose the same celebrity but decided that different items of jewelry would suit her.

• Eva Longoria – simple long, dangly heart charm earrings.  For this petite, very feminine famous housewife I would choose this design in white gold or sterling silver because this is a style she tends to favor and they look good on her even though she has long hair.

My friends and I had fun thinking about which item of heart jewelry would be appropriate for which celebrity.  So who is your favorite celebrity and what piece of heart jewelry do you think they would wear and why?

I was fascinated and a little surprised that overwhelmingly I got the same answer from all but one of those I posed the question to. They all said that they would choose a heart pendant necklace if they were going to buy heart jewelry as a present for someone.  It’s definitely not the result I expected before I started questioning them, because I had imagined that the range of ages an social backgrounds would produce answers that were far more varied.

The first one I asked was my husband as he is very good at choosing and buying jewelry that he knows I will like and that will suit me (he has already bought me some heart shaped earrings and a necklace). He said his choice of heart necklace would be one of the Jayne Seymour collections with an open heart design. Another stipulation he made was that it should not be “big and flash and vulgar” but rather it should be “refined and pretty”.  As to whom he thought it would be appropriate to buy it for, he said that he would only think of buying heart jewelry for “someone he had positive feelings for, someone he loved or respected like wife, mother, daughter or close friend – certainly not a stranger”.

As I asked more people about heart jewelry, I found that all of the guys were consistent in their view that they would only buy heart pendants for the women in their life who they wanted to tell how much they meant to them. For instance, my son said he would buy one for his girlfriend to show his feelings for her.  Like his Dad he would choose something delicate but perhaps with a diamond set into it. On the other hand, the youngest guy to answer my questions was my friend’s young teenage son who said he would buy a silver heart shaped necklace for his Mum as “she would look nice in it and she doesn’t wear earrings”.

When asked, my son-in-law said that a necklace or a pendant were the first items to spring to mind.  He thought that earrings could be too clunky and he would never think of buying a bracelet but he suggested that “a heart pendant necklace looks attractive and smart”.

One of our very dear friends said that he would “buy a silver heart necklace for his wife because she wanted it”.  He also said he would let her pick it out for herself so that she got the one she wanted.  The reason he gave for choosing a heart pendant necklace (and I suspect the other men feel the same way but maybe wouldn’t admit to it!) is “because it hangs round the area to which his eyes are drawn first”. At least he was being honest!

Only one of the guys would not choose to buy jewelry for someone special.  He told me he was not into jewelry at all as he doesn’t see the point of it.  The only precious metal jewelry he thinks is okay is engagement rings and wedding bands for women. All other jewelry is a waste of money unless it is cheap fashion jewelry.  I asked how he felt about buying jewelry as an asset especially as the price of gold and silver has soared recently. His answer was that he “would buy precious metals and gemstones as an asset but not as jewelry, because you need to take away the sentimental value that people associate with jewelry”.

All the men I interviewed gave me very honest answers to the questions I asked and I thank them for that and appreciate their participation.  Why not ask your man what piece of heart jewelry he would buy you and why?  I wonder if his choice will turn out to be a heart pendant necklace?

Which brings me on to the question I want to pose: have you noticed the increasing trend of men, especially celebrities and NFL and basketball players, having both ears pierced and wearing matching diamond stud earrings?  Is this the start of a trend that will spread?  Maybe history can give us a clue – because while the idea of pierced ears for both men and women goes back centuries, there was a time when the practice for men went out of style.  With it’s resurgence, and the fact that men are now wearing a style that one would usually think of as more for women, does it follow that they too will begin to choose other more traditionally feminine designs such as a heart earring?

As far back as early civilization both men and women have been adorning themselves with jewelry including earrings.  The ancient Egyptians were very accomplished jewelry makers and not only was the wearing of it a sign of wealth and status, it was important in ensuring a safe and trouble free journey to the afterlife.  When the tombs in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt were discovered, such as that of Tutankhamen, the range of different pieces of jewelry found was quite staggering – there were bracelets, amulets, rings, necklaces, earrings, head bands, belts, anklets (and gold vests which were unique to the Egyptian culture).

In Old Testament biblical times there is a reference to the wearing of earrings by both of the sexes in Exodus chapter 32 verses 1-4.  When the Israelites were in the wilderness and they were waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain they asked Aaron to make them an image of a god that they could follow.  Aaron agreed to this and told them to bring him the gold earrings which were worn by the wives, sons and daughters.

Wearing earrings remained fashionable for both men and women until the Early Middle Ages but then the trend died out for a while.  During the 1900s, sailors made the wearing of earrings by men popular again.  One reason for the return of this trend was they believed that if they were lost at sea, when their body washed ashore, whoever found it would take the earring and use it to pay for a proper burial for them.   Having a pierced ear also signified that the sailor had crossed the equator or sailed round the world.

The modern trend of men having their ears pierced goes back to the hippie culture of the 1960s and 1970s.  Lets be honest, this was a time of breaking away from conventionality and the perceived stuffiness of the older generation (my father was in the Royal Air Force, and my father in law was in the Royal Marines during World War Two and I somehow cannot imagine them wearing an earring!).  During this time there was a debate as to which ear a man should have pierced depending on his sexual orientation; gay men should have their right ear done while heterosexual guys should choose the left.  Nowadays, this no longer applies as having both ears pierced is becoming increasingly the norm and even if only one ear is pierced (whether left or right) it is does not signify a man’s sexual preferences.

Now that some men are becoming “metrosexual”, taking more pride in their looks and wardrobe, using products such as moisturizers and make up (things I know my parents would have thought “unmanly”) maybe jewelry designs for men will change as well.  In an earlier post I suggested that men are still not seen wearing a heart chain, but maybe if one of the professional athletes or a male celebrities started wearing some heart jewelry then maybe we would see a heart earring, or heart chain selection in the men’s jewelry section in stores.  So look our for heart bracelets, heart necklaces and heart charms to populate the men’s jewelry section and join up with the heart earring offerings as well.

Before deciding which jewelry storage system to buy, you need to consider all the items in your jewelry collection.  Do you have more pairs of earrings than rings?  Does your collection consist of mostly necklaces?  Is it mostly gold or silver with precious gemstones or does the majority of pieces that you have consist of fashion jewelry?  Thinking about these things will help you choose the right size and kind that will best take care of your pieces.

If you mostly collect gold, silver or pieces made from other precious metals and with gemstones set into them then you will need to ensure you pick the right sort of container for them.  To prevent pieces getting scratched or dented each piece should be stored alone.  Necklaces will become tangled if stored together and the ideal way to store them is in the original box they came in or hung from a hook in a special compartment of a jewelry box.  Rings with stones in them should be stored with the stone uppermost, not only will this help in identifying which ring is which but it will also protect the stones from damage.

The traditional jewelry box, made of wood or metal with velvet lined interior compartments, has been what most women would choose to keep their jewelry in when they are not wearing it.  They may have drawers sectioned off to hold bracelets and necklaces, there may be a section in which you can slot rings, and an earring section for stud earrings.  Depending on the price you want to pay and the size you need, some of these can be a beautiful ornament as well as a useful container.  Along similar lines are the jewelry armoires which can be plain or ornately carved, modern or antique to fit in with most decors.

When it comes to choosing the right container for your more valuable and sentimental pieces of jewelry, be it the heart locket your children bought you for Mother’s Day or the heart bracelet your husband bought you on your anniversary or indeed any type of heart jewelry, it is worth considering choosing a jewelry box that doesn’t necessarily resemble one.  For instance, there are ones that look like a mirror but they have a locked jewelry compartment behind the glass.  There are others that look like picture frames which again have a secret compartment at the back.  If these don’t appeal, consider storing your jewelry box somewhere other than the bedroom as that is the first place a thief will look for valuables if, God forbid, your home gets broken into.

A fun way to display your fashion jewelry is to buy one of the many artistic display stands that are now readily available from a wide range of suppliers.  These are especially good for your less valuable pieces and they can display them to their best advantage.  A porcelain hand makes an ideal ring holder or a harp shaped earring holder will make a colorful display.  From classy to rustic there is bound to be a stand to suit your taste and items of jewelry.

When traveling, always carry your jewelry in your carry on bags to ensure it stays with you.  Soft fabric pouches are ideal to protect your heart earrings, bracelets and pendants.  If you plan on taking lots of jewelry with you, a canvas organizing pouch with multiple compartments would be the best solution as it is less bulky and heavy than a travel jewelry case.

These are just some tips on how best to care for and store your heart jewelry (including your heart locket necklace) to keep it in tip top condition and retain its value.

First of all I asked the question “Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry?” and then followed on with the question about what sort of heart jewelry they would choose if they could only have one piece. As you can imagine they all had very different answers and some of them quite surprised me.

The most popular selection was a heart shaped necklace but for very different reasons.  My daughter’s favorite jewelry item is her eternity ring which her husband bought her when she had their son, understandable really.  When asked what article of heart jewelry she would like someone to buy for her, she chose a yellow gold heart necklace for no other reason than that she does not have one and would really like one.

One of my friend’s teenage daughters would also choose a heart shaped necklace but her metal of choice would be silver (she also quite likes the ones encrusted with crystal or cubic zircon) as it “goes with more stuff”.  Although she was wearing bracelets and earrings she said the silver teddy bear necklace she was wearing was the favorite of all her jewelry.

A heart necklace was also chosen by one of my friends who is quite petite and not the least bit extrovert so her choice of a chunky necklace not made of precious metals or gemstones came as a bit of a surprise. When I asked her why she would choose that design she told me that it would look “funky”.  This from a lady whose style is always understated and never outrageous!

Before I asked my Mom about her favorite jewelry I knew what her answer would be.  It is the diamond solitaire that my Dad bought her two years before he died. I don’t ever remember my Mom wearing any jewelry except her wedding ring and her watch until she received the diamond ring so it came as a surprise that she would like a heart shaped ring because she would like more rings.  Who would have guessed that this eighty eight year old Great Grandma would still be interested in collecting jewelry?

I think the answers that most surprised me came from another of my friends.  She doesn’t have any favorite jewelry because she says she is not comfortable wearing it and although she has some costume jewelry she never thinks of putting it on.  When she was younger she had her ears pierced and used to wear gold earrings and she also had a gold signet ring but as she got older she stopped wearing them and now the only thing she wears is her wedding band.  Although she thinks jewelry looks nice on some people she wouldn’t want any, but she may possibly wear a heart ring.

The youngest member said that her favorite jewelry items were bracelets and she wore two or three at a time varying from plain bangle types to charm bracelets and a mixture of costume jewelry and more expensive ones.  I thought she would therefore choose a heart bracelet as her choice for heart jewelry, especially as she was wearing a very pretty one on the day I spoke to her, but that was not the case.  Instead she suggested that a delicate and tasteful pair of silver heart earrings would probably be her favorite because she could wear them every day and they would go with any outfit.

Her Mom also said that her favorite jewelry pieces were bracelets and even if she didn’t wear any other item of jewelry she felt “bare” and as if something was missing if she didn’t have a bracelet on.  Not surprisingly she said that she would choose a heart bracelet in either silver or white gold as they were her precious metals of choice.  If it was to be a gift from her husband she said she would have to tell him exactly which one she wanted and where to buy it from so that she received the right one as her tastes and his differed so much.

Talking to my friends and family made me realize that women choose their jewelry for a variety of reasons and what one likes may not be right for everybody.  It also showed me that not every woman shares a love of jewelry.  One thing they all agreed on, though, was that if someone bought them a heart shaped necklace, heart earrings or any other piece of heart jewelry it would show how much that person loved them.

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.