Heart Jewelry Choices, Heart Jewellery Allure

What if you had to buy a gift for a lady near and dear to you and you just couldn’t think of the ideal surprise for her?  What if heart jewelry could be the answer?

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 it 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.

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.

So, you’ve decided that your girlfriend is the love of your life and you want to take the next step by asking her to marry you.  Do you ask her first and then both go out and choose an engagement ring?  Or do you want to surprise her over a romantic dinner by getting down on one knee and producing a ring which you have selected for her? If you’ve chosen the second route there are a few things to consider before dashing off to the jewelers to look at their selection of heart engagement rings.

First and foremost, has your lady love ever expressed a preference for one shaped ring over another?  Although it may seem to be the ultimate in romantic rings, not all women like the idea of a heart shaped engagement ring.  Some ladies find the design “cheesy” or “tacky” and would much prefer a more traditional diamond shape in their engagement ring.

The most popular shape of diamond is the round brilliant cut as it best optimizes the fire and the brilliance of the diamond. However, there are at least nine other cuts to consider.  A princess cut stone is a favorite shape for engagement rings.  It is usually square and has pointed corners.  Whereas an emerald cut is oblong with rectangular facets.  If you like the emerald cut but would prefer a square shaped diamond then an Asscher-cut diamond is the one you should choose.

Other shapes you may want to consider are oval, marquise, radiant, cushion or pear.  One cautionary note, take a note of the shape of your girlfriend’s fingers as this may help to determine which shape would best suit her hand.  Certain shapes look better than others depending on finger length and chubbiness.  A reputable jeweler will be able to give you information on the differences of all the different cuts and which shape would be best suited for your choice of ring.

Okay, so now you’ve chosen the shape of diamond you want, now you need to think about the color and again you may have a range of choices depending on your budget.  By far the most usual color of stone for an engagement ring is the white diamond but if money is no object and you want to be truly romantic you might try to get a pink diamond.  This is the rarest diamond in the world and the deeper the color the more the cost.  If your wallet won’t stretch that far but you want something different you may want to consider colors such as champagne, pink champagne, blue, yellow or green diamonds.

Nearly there now, all you need to think about now is the setting of the ring and the choice of metal.  Look at what jewelry you’re intended usually wears and that should give you some indication of whether she prefers gold, white gold or platinum.  When it comes to which setting to pick, ask the jeweler to show you different designs to help you make your decision.  Also make sure that the store has a returns policy in case it turns out not to be the ring of her dreams.

That’s all there is to it!

Bet you thought that you could just walk into the jewelers and look at the heart engagement rings, then pick one pay for it and wait for the right moment to present it. To save yourself a lot of headaches over the right ring to get it is worth doing a bit of homework.  Ask her friends and family if she has said anything specific about the kind of ring she would like and listen carefully for any hints she might drop if the subject comes up.  No matter what ring you choose she will love you for it and always treasure it.

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?

Why is it that so many men have difficulty finding that perfect present for their significant other?  Often they spend hours trying to think of what to give her for that special day such as a birthday, Valentine’s Day, anniversary or Christmas – only to settle on flowers or chocolates or something totally inappropriate like a kitchen gadget.  While women love receiving these gifts, especially as they know they are given with love, nothing will make them happier than receiving a specially selected piece of jewelry, especially a piece of heart jewelry such as an open heart necklace or a beautiful pair of heart earrings.

It is not hard to choose the right gift for that special lady – all you need is a little thought and some utilization of your listening skills.  Women are very good at dropping subtle (and sometimes not so subtle!) hints on things they would like.   While some men are very good at picking up the nuances, far too many tune out when they are trailing round the Mall with their lady love unless they are looking at “guy” stuff.  When she drags you to look in a jewelry store window and “oohs” and “ahs” over the pieces she sees there, that’s exactly the time to make a mental note of what she is particularly interested in.  This will give you a list of things to choose from when the next special occasion comes round.

So now the big day has arrived, you’ve bought her the open heart necklace or heart bracelet she was admiring in the store, wrapped it carefully and chosen the perfect card to go with it.  She is going to love it, and love you too, so why not take it a step further and make the day even more special for both of you?  You could take her to her favorite restaurant for a lovely romantic meal followed by a movie or nightclub.  Or, and this is one of my favorite romantic dates with my husband, you could cook her a special meal at home with a nice bottle of wine and with the benefit of candle light in the background, then watch a “chick flick” together.  And to round off the evening, run a relaxing bath for you both to share using her favorite bath oil and lighting aromatic candles.  Not only will she think you are the most romantic man on the face of this earth she will also see how caring and how much you love her even if you don’t tell her as much as she would like.

Of course there are other gifts you can give her like clothes or sexy underwear but you had better be sure you know her size and what she really likes in the clothes and lingerie department or it could be an unmitigated disaster.  Obviously, if you are buying your significant other something as intimate as underwear, you must know your loved one very well and know that she is as excited by it as you are.  If this is not the case then steer clear of Victoria’s Secrets or you could end up in the dog house for days instead of enjoying a romantic evening together.

Another no no for gifts for your wife is anything that smacks of housework, unless she has specifically asked for a new set of saucepans or vacuum cleaner – and even then think twice about presenting her with these on that special day, no matter how long you have been together. Although she may say, when asked, that this really is all she can think that she needs, giving her a piece of heart jewelry instead will show her that you see her as more than someone who does the household chores and it will confirm that it is her who you truly love.

Not only will buying your lady an open heart necklace help spice up your marriage on that one particular occasion, you can keep the magic going by adding different heart jewelry pieces to her collection over time.  Perhaps you could buy an open heart shaped ring for your anniversary or a heart brooch for her birthday – the possibilities are endless and she will appreciate the sentiment behind them far more than a last minute dash to the store for chocolates and flowers.  Although rest assured, she would probably appreciate some of those as well!

Heart shaped engagement rings would seem to be the ultimate proclamation of love and romance because the heart shape has for centuries symbolized these emotions. And what could be more symbolic of undying love than a pink diamond heart shaped ring?   However, before choosing this shape or this color of stone for your engagement ring there are a few things you might like to consider when determining if this is the right ring for you.

The first thing to think about is how much you can afford to spend on that unique heart shaped diamond ring.  To ensure that the heart shape is truly discernible, stones of less than one third of a carat are rarely used and obviously the larger the stone the clearer will be the design when it is cut.  If you really would like to consider a pink diamond you need to be aware that this is the most rare and valuable of all diamonds and depending on the depth of color can cost from thousands of dollars to more than a million dollars per carat.  Even when choosing a white diamond you need to choose one of as high a quality and size as your budget allows.

When choosing a heart shaped diamond engagement ring it is very important to look at the cut of the stone.  The lobes of the heart need to be symmetrical, the point of the heart should be sharp (not rounded) and centralized so that the cut doesn’t appear lopsided or distorted.  Another thing to look for is the “bow tie” effect which is usually evident in fancy cuts such as heart and marquise cuts.  Some people like this effect but, depending on its size, it affects the sparkle of the stone.

Having chosen the stone, another thing to consider is the setting.  If you are choosing a solitaire heart shaped engagement ring, you should be sure that it has enough prongs in the setting to protect the stone.  Whereas more traditional shapes, such as the round or princess ones, have four prongs, the heart shaped diamond needs five – the extra one to protect the point of the heart.

Some other designs to choose from could be a three stone ring – a very romantic setting with three heart shaped diamonds on a band, each one filled with love to symbolize your past, present and future together. Another increasingly popular style of ring is the Celtic Claddagh ring with the joined hands representing friendship, the heart they are holding standing for love and the crown on top symbolizing loyalty – all qualities we promise to bring to a relationship.  When used as an engagement ring or as a wedding band, these rings usually have a diamond or other precious stone in the heart.

Yet another factor to take into consideration is the shape and size of the hand of the wearer of this ring.  For instance the long shapes of the emerald and marquise cut engagement rings can look odd on fatter fingers unless they have accent stones set with them.  Equally, the generally broader round or heart shaped diamond engagement rings aren’t necessarily the right ones to choose for thinner fingers.

If you’re a man and the ring is to be given as a surprise to your future wife, do try to find out what style of engagement ring she would prefer before rushing off to buy the ultimate romantic gesture of a heart shaped engagement ring.  Even if her choice is for one of the more popular shapes of stone, you can still show your romantic side by having heart shaped scroll work or carvings on the band especially if she has other heart jewelry (for example, heart earrings or heart charms) that it will complement.

But whichever style of ring you choose, a solitaire heart shaped engagement ring or a pave diamond engagement ring, it will show the world that you are in love.

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.

Special events in one’s life are made even more memorable when commemorated with a personalized gift to mark the occasion.  And for that very special lady in your life nothing would say how much she means to you on such a momentous day than presenting her with a heart pendant.  Just like many other kinds of heart jewelry, the great thing about heart pendants is the fact that they are a fabulous gift no matter what age you’re buying for.  A heart pendant can also cater for many different tastes as well as ages: if, for example, the person you’re buying for likes diamond jewelry or pearl jewelry, you can find heart shaped pieces that include these gems – so there’s something for everyone!

Take a look at some of the many heart pendants that you can choose from in jewelry stores in the mall or on-line to see what I mean.  We’re obviously biased on this web site because our focus is about all kinds of heart jewelry: whether it’s heart charms, heart bracelets or heart earrings we’re great fans.  But there is something extra special about a heart pendant and maybe that’s because it stays the closest to your own heart when you’re wearing it.

I suppose the first special day in every couple’s life is when they celebrate their first Valentines Day together.  Although there are lots of gifts you could choose to shower her with like flowers, chocolates and soft toys, picking out a specially selected heart shaped pendant would really let her know that she has your heart.  Because there are is such a large variety of designs made from many different kinds of precious and semi precious metals finding one that will fit your budget should not be difficult.

What a lovely gift a gold heart pendant would make from the parents of a daughter to their loved one on her wedding day.  It would serve to remind her that although someone else now has her heart she is still in their heart and always will be.  It a real and explicit message that parental love lasts forever.

Another special day that will always live in your memory is that of the birth of your children.  Clearly the days leading up to and immediately after the birth are a whirlwind of emotion and activity, but if the prospective Dad can take some time out to buy a heart pendant for his new arrival, that action will highlight the day even more for the lifetime to come.  Buying a heart locket personalized with date, name and picture of the proud parents and their new addition will be a lasting memento of this happy event.   I particularly like the Sterling Silver Family Heart Locket from Things Remembered (see left) as you can add more photographs as your family grows.

Heart pendants also make the perfect anniversary gift no matter how many years you are celebrating.  Presenting your loved one with a silver or gold heart necklace engraved with a personalized message, on your 25th wedding anniversary or your Golden anniversary, will show her that she’s still loved even though you’ve been together a long time.  It’s a wonderful way to recognize the times you’ve shared throughout the years.

Although heart pendants make a superb gift for a man to give to his loved one on special celebratory days to show how much she means to him, they are suitable for anyone to give as a present to show someone they are loved.  A child giving a heart shaped necklace to Mom on Mother’s Day will show her that she is loved even if she is not told this as often as she would like.  Giving a heart pendant to Grandma, whether she’s 50 or 90, as a birthday present will bring a smile to her face every time she wears it and she will show it off with pride letting everyone know she is loved.

So whatever the occasion to be celebrated or for a “just because” present heart pendants make the ideal gift and tell the recipient they are truly loved.

For centuries the heart shape has been the universal symbol of love – so it is no surprise that giving a piece of heart jewelry is the most popular way of showing someone that you love them. And nothing could be more romantic than a heart ring, especially if it is an engagement ring.

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.

Like the majority of women, I love jewelry of all kinds and over the years have bought pieces for myself or had them bought for me as a gift. Even if they don’t wear other kinds of jewelry such as earrings, rings or bracelets, most women have at least one necklace or pendant. I have several designs and the most recent of them was bought for me by my husband from the selection of open heart pendants designed by Jane Seymour (currently one of the leading brands of heart jewelry as you may discern from the sheer volume of advertsing for these products that you see) .

I especially like to have heart jewelry in my necklace box ready to wear because of its versatility. Whether it’s heart charms, heart bracelets or heart earrings, they all seem to match with a great variety of clothing styles and are suitable for every type of social event. While something like diamond earrings or a pearl necklace can be somewhat formal and may well be too high-class for a quick dash to the Mall or a trip to the local family restaurant, heart shaped jewelry is almost universally appropriate.

But let’s get back to heart pendants in particular (such as the one on the left – click on the picture for more details). The ones I treasure the most are the ones that have been given to me by my husband, family members or friends as each time I wear one of them I am reminded of that special person. Although I tend to wear my heart pendant everyday no matter what I am wearing, I do swap it for one of my other ones depending on the occasion. For instance I have a beautiful silver snowflake pendant that a very dear friend of mine bought for me and I usually wear this at Christmas time. The blue snowflake box that it came in has an inscription inside the lid that reads ” every snowflake is unique it’s true, each one is special just like you”. It brings a smile to my face and reminds me of her every time I open the box.

When I worked with children I liked to wear fun jewelry. I am a big fan of A. A. Milne’s “Winnie The Pooh Stories” and so I love the fact that you can get pendants with all the different characters on them, my personal favorite is Eyore. But there are lots of other fun pendants to choose from. The same friend who bought me the snowflake pendant has lots of different “themed” sets of jewelry such as one set with a holiday motif consisting of a flip flop pendant, flip flop ring and flip flop bracelet. They look great with shorts and tops or even with swimwear.

Pendants are a very versatile item of jewelry and can dress up any outfit. I find them especially good for taking away that bare neck look of a “v” or scoop necked top or dress. For formal occasions matching items of jewelry will really set your outfit off. I like to wear my white gold heart pendant with my white gold heart earrings as they go with any color but look especially good when wearing black. Who knows, the next item of jewelry my husband buys for me may well be a heart ring to complete my set.

A heart chain makes a wonderful gift for women of every age (which, incidentally, is true of other types of heart jewelry too!).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When it comes to choosing a gift for a new baby girl, most people don’t immediately think about jewelry (for example, heart bracelets or charms) but instead they focus on other things such as clothes, blankets, bibs and any number of other practical items.  But babies are made to love and to show the love you feel for this new little person – so what better gift than jewelry, especially heart jewelry?

I particularly like the heart bracelets and heart charms that are available in stores and on-line that can be personalized especially for baby.

Stores such as Things Remembered have some beautiful heart bracelets that you can have engraved with the child’s name or initials.  One I really like is the Birthstone Angel bracelet.  Not only can you have the heart engraved with the baby’s name and birthday but you can buy a matching necklace to go with it.

Another unique gift idea would be a starter charm bracelet that can be added to over time to commemorate milestones in baby’s life.  This truly would be a lasting gift that could become a memories bracelet to pass on to the next generation.

A number of babies have their ears pierced so why not choose from the selection of gold or silver earrings that are available?  Loveivy has a selection of children’ jewellery and you can find some cute birthstone heart earrings.

There are any number of different heart charms to choose from that can be engraved with a special message.  A heart locket engraved with either a name or special date makes a lovely gift.  If a photo of mom and dad is put inside as the little girl gets older she will always have a keepsake of how her parents looked when she was born.

Although it is mostly little girls who wear jewellery there are some pieces that you can buy for a baby boy.  If dad or mom is a soccer fan how about getting a soccer pendant or if they are baseball fans there is the engraved baseball pendant?  Or equally popular for little boys would be a St Christopher pendant.

There are lots of other personalized gifts to choose from that are suitable for both baby girls and baby boys, for instance a personalized piggy bank or “My First Year” album or even a personalized brush and comb set.

Whether you are choosing from a range of heart bracelets, heart earrings, heart charms or sports charms or other assorted items, choosing a personalized gift for that special bundle of joy will show how much you care.

When you give heart charms as a gift it is a way of telling the person you are giving it to that you love them.  The most common date for giving heart related presents is February 14th, St Valentine’s Day.  Stores are filled with heart cakes, heart cookies, heart shaped boxes of chocolates and of course heart jewelry.

Telling someone you love them is not confined to Valentines Day or to that special partner.  There are many occasions that can be commemorated with personalized heart charms.

Give them as a special anniversary gift, for a special Mother’s Day present, to let Grandma know that she is loved or to thank a special friend for just being there. Whether the recipient wears gold or silver jewelry, they are sure to appreciate the fact that you have sought out something special just for them.

How about a heart charm with the birthstone of the recipient set into it?  Or how about giving one to a new mom with the birth date and name of their new baby on it?  And I really like the padlock and key heart charms from Things Remembered that you can have engraved with your own message – there’s a picture to the left and just click on it for more details.  In fact Things Remembered has a whole selection of charms for every occasion in their charm story collection.

The great thing about heart charms is that they can be worn on a bracelet or chain around the neck or even on a keyring.   And there are so many different sorts to choose from depending on your budget and taste.  The saying goes that “diamonds are forever” so maybe the perfect gift for the love of your life would be a diamond studded heart charm.

One of my favorite collections of heart charms is “The Open Heart” designs by Jane Seymour.  These make ideal gifts for friends or family and are really beautiful.  My husband bought me one of these charms for Christmas and I never take it off.  You can now show that special man in your life how much you love him as there are Open Hearts cufflinks in  this collection!

Very popular throughout history have been locket heart charms.  Some ladies kept pictures of their husbands or fiancé in them with a lock of their hair especially if their loved one was in the military and away from home.  Moms often keep photos of their baby and their first curl when it is cut off.  These are lovely keepsakes and very personal as the wearer can keep their loved ones close all the time.

There are many different kinds of heart charms to choose from to suit any occasion so remember you can give your heart to that special someone any time not just on St Valentines Day.

What could be nicer than receiving a piece of handmade jewelry, particularly if it made especially for you, like a heart brooch? From little girls to grandmas, most women love jewellery whether it is given to them as a present or bought to accessorize a special outfit.

Below are two examples of how to make a heart brooch which are simple enough for even children to make.

A. Fabric Heart Brooch

First of all, what you need (all these items can be bought from a craft store):

1. Piece of fabric large enough to cut two heart shapes – felt is ideal but you can use any fabric
2. Permanent fabric glue such as Crafter’s Pick Fabric Glue
3. Permanent gem fixing glue
4. Pack of pin backs (you can use the rest to make other brooches)
5. Fiberfill for stuffing
6. Sequins, gems or glitter to decorate

Next, what to do:

1. Cut out 2 heart shapes of equal size from the felt or fabric
2. Follow the instructions on the fabric glue and glue the edges of the two heart shapes together leaving a small opening to allow you to stuff the heart
3. Leave the glue to dry before stuffing
4. Stuff the heart to the thickness you want – don’t overstuff – and then glue the opening together and allow to dry
5. Glue the pin back onto the middle of the heart using the gem fixing glue and allow to dry
6. Decorate the heart with gems, sequins or glitter glue

You can buy sheets of sticky back felt from craft stores which you could use for this project and would be ideal for younger children to use as it wouldn’t need padding.

B. Dough Heart Brooch

Another great way to make a heart brooch is to make it out of clay or dough.  You can either buy some modelling clay from a craft shop – make sure that it is the sort that will either “air dry” or can be dried in the oven – or make some dough using the recipe below.

First, what you need:

1. 1 cup flour
2. 1/4 cup salt
3. 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
4. 1 cup warm water
5. 1 teaspoon oil
6. food coloring
7. 1 package of pin backs (available at any craft store)
8. Sequins, gems or glitter to decorate, or watercolor or tempera paint and small paintbrushes

And what to do:

1. Put the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and oil into a pan and add the water a little at a time to make sure there are no lumps.  Add the food coloring a few drops at a time to achieve the color you want
2. Stir over a medium heat until the dough begins to stick together and come away from the side of the pan
3. Remove from the pan and knead until it is smooth
4. When the mixture is cool store it in an airtight container or a sealable plastic sandwich bag – the dough will keep for a at least a week
5. To make the brooch make a heart shape out of the dough then set aside to air dry.  This should take about 2 hours ideally leave it overnight to dry fully before decorating
6. Press the pin back into the heart before the dough is fully dry
7. When the heart is fully dry decorate with either sequins, gems or glitter or with paint

Because there will be dough left over you will have enough to make a heart brooch for Mom, Grandma and even for yourself.  Or you can use your imagination and make a flower, a butterfly or any other design brooch to give as a present.

So have fun making this heart jewelry – either a fabric heart brooch or dough brooch – and I’m sure whoever receives this as a present will know it was made with love.

I love heart jewelry and a pair of white gold heart earrings that my husband bought me a few years ago is one of my favorite and most precious pieces of any type of jewellery.  That’s quite fitting because the heart has long been a symbol of love.

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.