Heart Jewelry Choices, Heart Jewellery Allure

All women have their own ideas about what sort of engagement ring they would dearly love to have when the man of their dreams pops the question. In keeping with the theme of romance, some ladies go for a ring from a heart jewelry collection, but as I have mentioned before, my own personal choice was a diamond surrounded by dark blue sapphires while my best friend’s ring of choice was a ruby surrounded by diamonds. Engagement rings that incorporated other stones with diamonds were very fashionable during this era. Nowadays, solitaires and bridal sets seem to be the most popular choices available in engagement ring designs.

However, the fashion in engagement rings may well change following the engagement of Prince William in the UK. He has given his fiancée his mother’s (Princess Diana’s) beautiful sapphire and diamond ring. I’m not sure whether this would have been Kate’s first choice but I’m sure she will treasure this ring. It is well documented that William adored his mother and still mourns her passing, so for him to present his lady love with her ring suggests he must love and respect Kate very much.

Antique or “used” rings are becoming ever more popular with some couples as they look for a unique ring to cement their love for each other. One of the designs they may look at is the Art Deco engagement rings that were very popular during the nineteen twenties and thirties. Art Deco is thought to have originated in Paris and is an eclectic artistic style and design that was adopted in fashion, architecture, interior design and jewelry. Vibrant colors, abstract geometric designs and a sense of opulence are indicative of this particular art period and this is displayed to perfection in the jewelry of the period.

Art Deco engagement rings have luxurious designs with an eye for detail. Black onyx, white diamonds, deep blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies are the gemstones of choice usually set in pure platinum but also featuring yellow gold. The designs are lavish with lots of filigree work incorporated into the pieces. Many of these rings feature a central old European cut diamond, bezel set in platinum with old mine cut diamonds and often other stones such as sapphires and emeralds surrounding it.

To complement the engagement ring, Art Deco wedding bands are equally as lavish and ornate as the engagement rings. They tend to be wider than many modern wedding bands, with beautiful hand crafted designs round them and encircled with diamonds.

Another antique ring you may well consider is the Edwardian engagement ring from around the nineteen hundreds. This was an era of extravagant luxury which was reflected in the clothes and jewelry of the period. The designs of engagement rings reflect this but the focus is on the more romantic traditional styles. The settings were very detailed and the more elaborate and intricate these were the higher the social status of the wearer.

If you are not fortunate enough to have an Art Deco ring as a family heirloom but you want the genuine article then you need to know where to find them. Obviously the Internet is a good place to look. There are a number of retailers of antique and estate jewelry to search on. Other sources are pawn shops, antique stores (especially those that specialize in jewelry) or estate sales. You need to make sure that you get written description of the piece including the size, age, carat, cut and clarity. Ideally you should ask if they have a certified gemologist’s report on the ring you are interested in. This will help to authenticate the ring.

Genuine Art Deco engagement rings do not come cheap, so before you splash out all that hard earned money, check the returns policy of the vendor you choose to buy from whether on the Internet or other source. Choosing a reputable jewelers or antique jewelry specialist is really the best idea as they will also be able to advise you on your purchase. If your budget will not stretch to the real thing then there are retailers that offer new rings created to look like one from the period you are looking for whether that is Victorian, Edwardian or Art Deco. These are usually less expensive than the genuine piece.

Whether you choose one of the modern styles of engagement ring or one from a bygone era the most important thing is that you and your fiancée love it and that it will be a constant reminder of your undying love for each other.

Sterling Silver Hand Engraved Heart Locket, 13/16 wide by 13/16

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.

Small Sterling Silver Hand Engraved Heart Locket, 5/8 in. (16mm) Wide and 5/8 in. (16mm) Tall

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 , text or Amazon button 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 next one (click on the picture, text or Amazon button for more information)?

St. Silver Tri Color I Love You Heart Shaped Locket 20x19mm – $25 Coupon Today

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.