Heart Jewelry Choices, Heart Jewellery Allure

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 women in your life?  Well why not give them 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.  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 heart 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 often 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.

Having recently written about which piece of heart jewelry I would choose if I could only have one (I chose a heart charm) I decided to ask some of my English family members and friends, both male and female, what they would choose. This first posting on the subject is from the ladies perspective and their ages ranged from early teens to an eighty eight year old Great Grandmother.

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.

Do you ever think about the jewelry you wear and what it represents?  Take the bracelet, for example: is it just another adornment to be worn and discarded as you see fit – or do some people wear it with more thought and meaning than others?

For example, what about a silver heart bracelet?  A silver heart bracelet sparkles and glimmers on the beautiful wrist, drawing attention to the fluid motions and artful gestures of the hand and arm. A bracelet has symbolic meanings depending upon the purchaser. This beautiful piece of exquisite heart jewelry can be given to women of all ages; women who will wear it proudly and think of the reason for this appreciated gift often. This is much more than just another piece of jewelry that adorns the body. Best of all, silver can last a lifetime or longer with proper care and retain its bright shiny luster.

Jewelry has been used for centuries to accentuate parts of the body. Most women choose these jeweled accessories to draw attention to features they want to display.  If the woman purchases a delicate silver heart bracelet for herself, she is bringing attention to one of her finer features, the shapely and delicate wrist. Often this piece will match other heart jewelry in a pendant, earrings or brooch creating a uniform, accessorized look.

As the beautiful bracelet rests on the wrist, the touch is comforting to the person wearing this treasure. It is a symbolic reassurance that the person who gave this precious gift is holding that hand from a distance. Every time that fine piece of shiny jewelry is placed on the arm, the well wishes and comfort of the giver surround the charm and bring peace and contentment to the person wearing that gem. The heart shape conveys commitment, devotion, love or passion depending on the relationship.

A mother can give the gift of a silver heart bracelet to a young daughter as a reminder of her love and support as a child walks to school alone. A husband may give one to his wife to surround her with the protection of his love while they are apart. Daughters and granddaughters may reward a grandmother for her wisdom and help with this charming reminder that she is never alone or forgotten. A bracelet is an appropriate gift between friends, between relatives and between lovers of all ages.

These precious gifts are made from silver, most often Sterling Silver. 100% silver is soft, easily damaged and unsuitable for use as jewelry. Sterling Silver is made by adding another metal to harden the silver to stand up to the every day wear. Copper is the metal of choice; it makes this silver more durable and harder so it holds its shape and resists the abuse jewelry takes. Silversmiths add 7.5% copper; this keeps the beautiful luster of pure silver.

Purchasers of Sterling Silver can look for marks denoting such things as sterling, sterling silver or .925 to verify the quality of item. The craftsmanship of each individual piece sets the price; many pieces are hand crafted by experienced and gifted silversmiths in one-of-a-kind design that will be worn and treasured forever. Custom orders can be created for someone looking for exactly the right silver heart bracelet by selecting the charm and the bracelet from a wide assortment of products and assembling the chosen prizes. Silversmiths will even produce original works from a custom design submitted by the purchaser.

The next time a lady moves her wrist and the silver heart bracelet glistens and glimmers, the charm will caress the wrist almost like the touch of a caring hand. This lady may reach out and touch the heart with her other hand unconsciously. She is thinking of the wonderful person who gave her this unique gift that provides her with comfort and self-confidence as she wends her way through the day and through her life. That is the power of heart jewelry and a silver heart bracelet.

Do you ever give some thought to the jewelry you are planning to wear?  Do you just wear it to enhance your appearance or do you wonder about the symbolism or the relevance of it or the options available?  Most people buy jewelry simply to make themselves or the one they intend to wear it look good, but others are intrigued by the various different types and the emotions behind the trinkets.  So we thought we would take a look into just a little of the background of one particular type of jewelry, the double heart ring, to see what choices and information we could find out.

The double heart ring itself is one of a range of heart jewelry items favored by many people.  Hearts and jewelry are two symbols of love and when put together in a piece of jewelry such as a double heart ring, one gets a beautiful and meaningful gift. The double hearts can signify several meanings. They can represent a love between a man and woman or the bond between mother and daughter. To see a woman wearing a ring or other piece of jewelry with a heart is to know someone loves that woman and thinks she is special enough to have a piece of someone else’s heart.

Heart rings are readily available online or in jewelry stores. They are made in many styles, colors, karats, and prices. They come in different price ranges, so there should be one for even the most frugal of budgets. If looking to give one as a romantic gift, there is a beautiful selection at Sears, Reeds Jewelers, and many online stores as well.

The 10-karat interlocking double heart ring is available at Sears. It received 5 out of 5 stars in its ratings. It is a 10 karat yellow gold with pink plate and rhodium, and comes in a standard size 7. It is priced at $32.99 on sale. Reeds Jewelers carries a Diamond Double Heart Ring. It has received 4.7 out 5 stars in its ratings. It features 2 round diamonds mounted in 10-karat white gold, and comes in several sizes. It is currently priced at $230.

If looking into buying a heart ring to give as a promise ring there is a great store online to purchase from. Ourpromiserings.com has a large selection of rings. Their styles are available in several finishes such as yellow gold, white gold, platinum, and sterling silver. Their prices range from under $100 up to $900. They also offer a coupon for first time online buyers. They will receive $25 off their order of $150 or more. Double heart rings also make exquisite engagement rings because the two hearts are representing the union of two people joining their hearts together to become one. The ring itself represents eternity, so as an engagement ring, one is simply asking for eternal love.

For a mother who wants to purchase a double heart ring to signify a daughter’s birth or the bond between them, a personalized birthstone ring is an option. Heavenlytreasures.com offers personalized diamond and double heart birthstone rings. They are available in white or yellow gold finishes and are $229.

If one is looking for heart jewelry to complement existing rings, online stores such as overstock.com and emitations.com have nice selections. At overstock.com, one can purchase items such as ankle bracelets, necklaces, bracelets, or rings. Prices vary from low to high, and they always offer $2.95 shipping no matter how many items one purchases. The jewelry is of good quality and comes in several finishes such as white or yellow gold, and sterling silver. Emitations.com is another online site to purchase heart jewelry from. One will not find any diamonds though. It is a more affordable line of jewelry in cubic zirconium. They do not offer gold or sterling silver, but do offer high-quality gold or silver plating. The jewelry is elegant and understated.

One cannot go wrong when purchasing jewelry for a woman, no matter the occasion. It could be a man proposing to his soon-to-be wife, or a mother symbolizing her love for her daughter. Double heart rings pose a double meaning. The double hearts are representing the hearts of two people who are united by birth or by marriage. Heart jewelry of any kind shows the symbol of strength within any relationship and should always be treasured.

When it comes to romantic styles of jewelry, there is nothing as timeless as the heart locket. This style is not only romantic, it is also feminine and can come in some very dainty and delicate designs. This makes this particular piece of jewelry a good item to give a young girl as her first real piece of good jewelry. A heart locket necklace is available in several different types of metal so it is easy to select the design you want to purchase. The necklaces created from gold can vary in the weight of the gold used. You may find some items that are 10 karats and others made of 24-karat gold. The difference in weight dictates how much actual gold was used in making the locket.

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.

Silver is one of the most popular metals from which to make jewelry and that is true of heart jewelry too. This popularity arises from many different reasons: for example, silver provides a perfect setting for practically any variety of gemstone, thereby making it a great choice for moderately priced heart rings, earrings and pendants featuring either natural or created gems. A variety of birthstones including amethyst, garnet and topaz regularly appear in dazzling silver heart jewelry pieces (added to which, today’s man made and artificially created jewels look so much like the real thing that once set in silver they will look as if they cost an absolute fortune). Furthermore, silver’s natural qualities permit it to be made into an incredible spectrum of designs from a delicate sterling silver heart bracelet to chunky cuffs and linked chains. And the color of sterling silver lends it the look of platinum or white gold at a small fraction of the cost.

However, because pure silver on its own is too soft a metal to be used in jewelry making, it is made into an alloy (usually with copper 92.5% pure silver, 7.5% copper) to give it strength and enable it to be made into far more intricate designs.  One effect of this is that although the copper adds strength to the silver it also means that silver has a tendency to tarnish as it reacts with sulfur in the air causing the silver to look dull and a patina to form on it.  For this reason some people are put off buying silver heart jewelry which is a pity, because the silver color is so versatile that it complements any outfit from jeans and a shirt to an elegant ball gown.

Your sterling silver heart bracelet can last a lifetime if you look after it and store it properly.  One of the best ways to keep your silver heart jewelry shiny and looking like new is to wear it frequently.  The oils in your skin tend to put a coating on the metal making it less prone to tarnish.  I have had a silver heart ring for years that I wear every day and it still has its lovely shine.

When using household cleaning chemicals or hair care products (especially those containing ammonia and bleach) it is best to take off your silver jewelry as it will turn black if it comes into contact with some of these products.  Even some make up products, soaps and perfumes can react with the silver, taking away its shine.  So it is always best to leave putting on your silver heart locket and earrings until you have finished doing your face and hair.

If you cannot wear your silver heart jewelry everyday then you need to store it properly to minimize the amount it tarnishes.  Keeping it in an airtight container out of the light will certainly help to stop the sulfur in the atmosphere from getting to it.  Wrapping your silver heart bracelet in a tarnish preventative cloth (this will also prevent the metal from getting scratched by other pieces) and putting it in an airtight plastic bag and placing it in drawer is the best way of storing it.

To clean the tarnish off silver jewelry it is best to choose one of the products that you can buy from the jewelers.  Silver dips are probably the easiest way to clean all pieces, from earrings, rings and sterling silver heart charm bracelet to chains and brooches, but you need to follow the instructions carefully especially if the pieces have gemstones set into them.  Sometimes these cleaning products can have devastating effects on some gems such as pearls and opals so choose one that says it is gentle and suitable for gemstones. If in doubt it is beat to take the item to the jeweler’s to be professionally cleaned.

Following these guidelines will help to keep your sterling silver heart bracelet looking shiny and new and ensure you enjoy wearing it for years to come.

If you could only have one piece of heart jewelry which one would you choose?  Would you pick a gold heart locket, an open heart pendant or silver heart earrings or one of the many other items of heart jewelry that are available?  My choice would be a heart charm.

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 to turn it into a charm bracelet.   This could be added to with either more heart charms 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?

Because the price of gold and gold jewelry has sky rocketed over the last year or so, many more people are turning to sterling silver jewelry as an alternative to gold, white gold and platinum. Sterling silver has for centuries been a popular choice for jewelry as it is very malleable into many intricate designs and is very long lasting. So if you are looking to buy heart earrings, for yourself or as a gift for someone, then you should check out the enormous selection of sterling silver heart earrings that are available both in the chain jewelry stores in the Malls or from the many reputable retailers on the Internet.

There are a number of things to consider when purchasing any sterling silver jewelry to ensure that you get the best quality, the right design for the recipient and value for money.

Silver like gold and platinum is a precious metal and as with gold it has many grades.  Although the finest silver is 99.9% pure, this is found to be too soft to make practical, serviceable pieces so silver is usually alloyed with another tougher metal, usually copper, to produce a stronger more durable metal.  Sterling silver is the highest grade used in the making of jewelry and other silver products and is hallmarked 925.  This indicates that the piece is 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. When buying any sterling silver heart jewelry (for example, heart rings, heart charms or a heart chain) be sure to check its authenticity and the grade of the metal by looking at the hallmark.  Any reputable jeweler will be happy to help you do this.

Apart from the fact that sterling silver is often a cheaper alternative to white gold for jewelry pieces, it is also a very versatile metal and looks good with any outfit and can be worn for any occasion.  Not only will it complement your work clothes but it will also look great with that little black dress for more formal events and will not look out of place on the beach or when teamed with T-shirt and jeans for a casual look.  Check out magazines like Hello, OK and People to see what jewelry the models and celebrities are wearing.  Many of them are choosing sterling silver.

When choosing the style of heart earrings you wish to buy, another factor to take into consideration is the face shape of the person who will be wearing them.  If the recipient has a round face then more elongated styles should be considered.  For those with a more square shaped face, hoops or dangly or chandelier designs are more suited – while for a heart shaped face, shorter length or studs look best.  Ladies with oval shaped faces can wear any design – studs, chandelier, hoops or drop earrings.

If you plan to choose a pair of sterling silver heart earrings with gemstones set into them then consider which to choose by reference to eye color. Blue or green gemstones like sapphires, Lapis Lazuli, aquamarines, emeralds, peridots and jade will emphasize the light eye colors such as blue, green or gray.  On the other hand, amber, onyx and yellow tourmalines are better suited for someone with darker eye colors. These are only guidelines and the final choice should be left to the individual, because they may well have a favorite gemstone and may wish to co-ordinate with other pieces that they have in their jewelry box.

Finally, when choosing silver heart earrings, especially if they are for someone other than you, think about the person they are for and their particular fashion style and the type of jewelry they usually wear.  For instance, if the recipient tends to wear classical style jewelry then a pair of stud heart shaped earrings would perhaps be the most appropriate, whereas for a more flamboyant character, large hoops or chandelier heart earrings might be more apt.

Whoever they are for (yourself, a friend, relative or loved one) sterling silver heart earrings are an excellent choice, because there are so many designs to choose from, they can be worn in any setting and are easily teamed up with other pieces of heart jewelry like a silver heart locket or a sterling silver heart charm bracelet.

A sterling silver heart charm bracelet might be just the solution you’re looking for if  you are ever invited to a little girl’s christening or other such naming ceremony and you are wondering what would be an appropriate gift.  If you are fortunate enough to have been chosen as one of the little girl’s godparents then you want a gift that is going to last and one that will remind her of that special day as she gets older.  For this reason you need to think about something more long lasting than simply buying a beautiful outfit of clothes which she will outgrow in a matter of weeks.

One excellent gift to consider is a sterling silver heart charm bracelet, because this is a gift that she will treasure for years to come and one which can be added to over and over again throughout her lifetime.  In case you need some help in deciding:

1. There are lots of different styles of heart charm bracelets on the market, whether you are searching in the Mall jewelry stores or clicking from one to another of the many retailers found on the Internet.  Because of the wide variety available it might be that there are a number of things you might like to consider before making your final choice.  Although your gift is for a baby it might be as well to buy a bracelet that is slightly larger or that can have links added so that it grows with her.

2. Choose a heart charm that can be personalized, perhaps one with her birthstone set into it so that it can be engraved with either her birthday or her Christening date on it. You might even want to choose a heart locket so that a photograph of her on her special day can be put inside.

3. Make sure that other charms can be added to the links. By giving this gift you can add a charm to it for memorable occasions throughout her life making it into a history of her growing up.  For instance, on her first birthday you could add a birthday charm or in December of the year she is born, buy her one for her first Christmas.  Memorable events during her school days could be commemorated with a charm.  Maybe even her first boyfriend could add to it by giving her a heart charm on their first Valentine’s Day.

4. Other special days that spring to mind are of course her Graduation Day when you could present her with a charm depicting a graduation cap and the year she achieved her diploma or even a diploma charm.  Another special day would perhaps be to get her a car charm for when she gets her driving license or yet another, buying a number charm for when she reaches the age of majority.

5. Then of course as she gets to the stage in life when she is contemplating marriage, a charm depicting a wedding would be very appropriate.  And as her family grows, charms can be added to mark these happy events.

6. Another reason for choosing a sterling silver heart charm bracelet is that it complements other heart jewelry such as heart earrings or a heart pendant that she may well receive as gifts as she grows up.

Of course there are other Christening gifts that you could choose for that special little girl, such as a personalized brush and comb set or a first tooth and first curl gift set or even a silver cup with her name on.  But giving a silver heart charm bracelet is a gift that will keep on giving in memories throughout the years and one which she can pass on to her own children as a part of family history.  You can be sure that your Goddaughter or niece or even friends baby girl will remember you every time she wears that special piece of jewelry.

The special message that giving heart rings as a gift highlights almost more than any other type of gift is the sentiment that the lucky recipient holds a very special place in your life. They make suitable presents for anyone as they can be given as a token of undying love or as a sign of close friendship or to celebrate an achievement.

Nowadays, the huge choice of designs and materials that this type of heart jewelry is made from makes it is failry easy to find the right ring to fit the occasion.  Here are some thoughts for you to consider if you’re trying to find that unique gift and you need some help:

1. A Wide Choice Of Heart Rings

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a heart shaped engagement ring is obviously the ultimate way to express the depth of love a man feels for his fiancée. But what about those men who have been married for a while but want to reaffirm their on going love for their wife? A heart shaped engagement ring would not be particularly appropriate but there are so many other beautiful heart shaped rings to choose from and you are sure to be able to find one to complement her other pieces of jewelry. Whether she wears yellow gold, white gold, diamonds, rubies or sapphires the choice is almost as wide and limitless as the price range is.

2. Claddagh Ring

Although the Celtic Claddagh ring was traditionally used as a wedding ring, the symbolism of the design makes it an excellent gift to give to a close friend. The two hands are said to represent friendship, the heart they are holding love and the crown on top signifies loyalty all the qualities shared by really good friends. In fact this ring is often given to friends with the phrase “Let love and friendship reign forever”.

3. Heart Shaped Signet Rings

Many years ago I had a sterling silver heart shaped signet ring with my initials engraved on it. These rings are still popular today and would make a lovely graduation gift for your daughter, one that she will treasure for ever. Traditionally made from either silver or gold there are many designs to choose from which you can have engraved with her initials and have birthstones set into them.

4. Fun Heart Rings

There are so many different kinds of heart rings on the market today including lots of fun ones like the ones made from plastic in various bright colors to match any casual outfit. Yet another design is made from clear plastic and filled with sprinkles. These rings tend to be inexpensive enough for you to buy for yourself and they will certainly draw people’s eyes to them so they will make you stand out from the crowd.

5. Heart Rings Are Complementary

And finally, one more point to make about a heart ring: it is very easy to match with a lady’s other pieces of jewelry (so you can start to think about what she already wears and exactly what type of heart ring would complement it) or it could be a whole new and welcome style for her that provides a completely new image for her. The heart ring itself is something that will match many other types of costume jewelry or fashion jewelry: depending on the design and materials you select, a heart ring can be stylish and sophisticated or it can present an extrovert and outgoing image. And it can form the start point for a wider themed collection because there are many, many fine examples of other jewelry pieces – heart charms, heart bracelets, heart necklaces and heart earrings to name just a few – so the lucky recipient can readily extend her collection once you’ve started it off.

So when you are thinking of buying a heart ring, consider what occasion it is to celebrate, or what the relationship is between you and the recipient and then enjoy picking out the one that most reflects the feelings you are trying to convey.

Since ancient times the heart symbol has been associated with love.  Many of the ancient cultures used it as a design on jewelry pieces but perhaps the most romantic era when heart jewelry came into its own was Victorian times.  One of the most romantic pieces of jewelry of this period was the silver heart locket. Although lockets had been used for centuries as good luck charms, or to carry poison or even to carry curative powders, their use as a symbol of love or condolence increased a great deal during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century.

At first lockets were given to women who had lost a loved one so that they had a keepsake in which they could put a photograph or a lock of hair of their loved one.  Often these lockets would be worn on a pin close to the heart as a sign that although the person was no longer with them they were still in their heart and would not be forgotten.  They were also worn on chains round the neck or on charm bracelet.

As is the case today, Victorian lockets came in many different shapes: some were book shaped, some were round and of course the heart shape was popular.  They were made of different metals such as gold, silver, brass and copper.  Silver was a more common choice compared to gold due to the lower cost of that metal, a situation that remains valid today.  But is was favored more than brass and copper because the look and feel was superior.

Many of these lockets had intricate designs engraved into them and most often they had the  initials of the owner or the loved one or perhaps both of these (see left for an example of a modern engraved silver heart locket and click on the picture for more details).  Some even had precious and semi-precious stones set in them.  These lockets were often passed down in families as heirlooms and I’m sure that if you go to some of the second hand jewelry stores or antique shops, especially in England, you will be able to find some of these beautiful pieces of history.

Heart lockets soon became a favorite gift to give to a loved one as the ultimate romantic symbol of love. And what could be nicer than one that has a personalized message on it, like this one on the right (click on the picture for more information)? The photograph, lock of hair or other piece of personal memorabilia contained in the locket would serve as a reminder of the loved one even if they were far apart.  From the time of the American Civil War and the Boer War in the nineteenth century, the two world wars of the twentieth century to the conflicts that are raging today, wives, sweethearts, moms and sisters have worn heart lockets with pictures of their loved one inside as a means of keeping them close at all times.

But why the heart shape?  Jewelry designs come and go but heart charms (and jewelry with heart designs on them) have never been out of fashion since they were introduced by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians.  The heart shape is thought to have originated from the shape of the seed pod of the now extinct Silphium plant.  The Greeks and Romans believed that the plant was a gift from Apollo and it that it contained many magical properties.  Not only was it used as a seasoning in many of the Mediterranean dishes of the time, it was also used for medicinal purposes to cure anything from a cold to more serious illnesses.  But one of its main uses was as a contraceptive and this is perhaps why the shape of its seed pods (very much like a human heart) led to it becoming the symbol of love.

Nowadays a locket (whether it’s a gold heart locket, silver heart locket or some other kind) makes a great gift for women of all ages and for all occasions and it would be nice if they once again became family heirlooms.  What could tell a family’s history more than a bracelet filled with heart lockets?  It could start with one with pictures of the bride and groom on their wedding day and then as each momentous milestone in that couple’s relationship is reached a new heart charm locket could be added.  One for each child with perhaps a photograph, their first curl or even a first tooth, ones commemorating each momentous anniversary, others carrying pictures of their children’s wedding days and then of course one to welcome each grandchild.  In this age of technology it would be nice to leave a solid memento of a previous generation for the next generation.

And a silver heart locket is a great compromise that gives you a valuable and long lasting piece of jewelry yet it comes at a price that is lower than the more expensive gold option.