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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ok, heart charms, heart bracelets and heart earrings are beautiful and wearable and special – but let’s be honest, what could be a bigger demonstration of love than the time that your Prince Charming tells you just how much he loves you and then produces a beautiful diamond heart shaped engagement ring? It’s the stuff of fairy tales that every girl dreams of! And how about the “couples” ring that is shown on the left (click on the picture for more details)?

As with fashion, hairstyles and make up, styles change over time and the same can be said for jewelry styles with a few exceptions. For example, heart jewelry in general is one style that has survived no matter what the latest fad, associated as it is with romantic feelings and declarations. But perhaps the most obvious exception to changes in popularity over a long period of time is the solitaire diamond ring which has always been in fashion, not just as an engagement ring but also as a dress ring.  Although there may be changes in the settings and choice of precious metal such as yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and platinum, diamonds still remain the number one choice of most for those getting married.

When my husband and I got engaged in the late sixties, although the largest selection of engagement rings on offer were solitaires or diamond clusters, a very fashionable alternative was to choose a ring with diamonds and other precious stones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. In some ways, this very wide choice was confusing because so many of the rings on offer were so wonderful to look at. And just like the times that you go out for a meal at your favorite restaurant and after the main course they bring you the dessert selections – you see the hot fudge sundae, the apple pie and that large slice of cheesecake and you want to try all of them, even though you know you can’t have them – well, that’s how I was when I started to look at engagement rings. (But to digress for a moment: the last time I went out for a meal, the restaurant offered a “dessert selection” with small portions of three different desserts in one serving – so perhaps you can have them all, or three of them at least!).

Anyhow, let’s get back to jewelry and the engagement ring anecdote. I remember going shopping with my girlfriend and stopping to look in the jewelry stores and picking out the engagement rings we wanted. My friend’s choice was for an oval ruby surrounded by diamonds whereas I decided that I wanted a central diamond surrounded by deep blue sapphires in the shape of a flower. Having lost touch with my friend before she got married I don’t know if she got the ring of her dreams but I certainly did and I still wear it every day.

Just writing this reminded me of Princess Diana’s engagement ring which was a large dark blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Very similar in design to the one my friend wanted but I am sure far more expensive than either of us would expect.

My husband has bought me lots of beautiful jewelry since we have been together and I treasure every piece. But the one item I would really like to receive is a heart ring to add to the heart jewelry collection which he has bought for me over all of these years to show how much he still loves me. So if your significant other is looking to find something that will last a long time and will be a constant reminder of how much you mean to each other, you might subtly suggest (or maybe not so subtly) a piece of jewelry such as a heart ring.

I came late to having my ears pierced, in fact I was thirty before I plucked up the courage to go to the jewellery store to get it done.  And the reason I eventually had it done was because I liked the dainty stud earrings that were not available in clip–on ones.  I already has a pair of clip-on silver earrings but I really wanted to wear these new gold ones.

Although I had talked about it for a few days I suddenly decided one afternoon as I was going to pick up my children from school that today was the day.  One thing I had forgotten was the fact that I was also picking up my friend’s two sons who were coming to play with my kids and staying for dinner.  Having made the decision I decided to go ahead with it as I thought if I didn’t I would chicken out and it would be a long time before I got the courage up again!

So with four kids in the car off we went to the local jewellery store.  Having told the children what I planned before we went home they were looking forward to seeing how it was done.  We duly arrived at the shop and in we all went.  I remember sitting in the chair with these four pairs of eyes avidly watching as I picked out a pair of studs and then had my ears cleaned with surgical spirit and a cross put on them as to where the holes should be.

Feeling very nervous I sat there as they put the studs in the gun and placed it against my ear.  I thought it couldn’t really hurt a lot because after all lots of baby girls have their ears pierced when they are only a few months old and a mom wouldn’t subject their infant to any pain would they?

Well I must be a wimp – because it did hurt!  But because I had the children with me I had to pretend everything was okay.  I gritted my teeth while the second ear was done and I breathed a big sigh of relief when it was all over.  Getting back in the car I remember my ears burning and being hot to the touch but when the kids asked if it had hurt I admit I told a white lie and said it didn’t.  I did all that was asked with regard to cleaning the site and turning the studs and fortunately I had no ill effects.

I couldn’t wait until I could take out the initial studs and wear some of the lovely earrings that I had so admired.  In fact, shortly afterwards my husband was on a business trip to New York and bought me a beautiful pair of 24 carat gold earrings which I wear more than any others – with perhaps only the exception of my heart earrings.