HEARTS HAVE BECOME one of the most popular motifs in jewelry over the past couple of years. Influences include the Muse “Have a Heart” campaign, the collective desire for more love and understanding as we face multiple challenges, and the fact that designers have approached this historical motif with much more creativity and significance in recent times. So, it’s no wonder that A-list celebrities are wearing their hearts for everyone to see. Lily James recently wore a heart locket by Briony Raymond at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, and Emily Blunt wore a number of meaningful medallions by Foundrae when she hosted the 2022 Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Gala at Guastavino’s in New York City, including a customized oversized 18K gold heart medallion.
The heart motif has been around for centuries. The earliest known examples of heart-shaped jewels appear around the late medieval period in brooches and rings. In the 16th century, the heart became known as a symbol of romance and affection, but it was the late Georgian through early Victorian eras in which hearts became one of the most sought-after motifs in sentimental jewels for every classification from rings to lockets — particularly during the Romantic period of Queen Victoria’s reign, as she was quite fond of heart motifs. Sometime in the late 20th century, hearts became associated with sweet sixteen, frilly and girly — diamond pavé or puffed styles were big hits with young girls.
But today, hearts are beating with the same inventive energy as they did in Queen Victoria’s time.
FoundRae has numerous hearts that bespeak the seven types of love, while Briony Raymond’s Zodiac Memoir Heart Locket can be customized (like the one Lily James wore) with engraving such as initials, dates or a word or short saying on the back.
Emily Blunt at the 2022 Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Gala. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
Notice also that both celebs are wearing their pendants layered with other pieces, which I suspect are equally meaningful around their necks. Emily Blunt is wearing Cast Jewelry earrings that are a really cool juxtaposition to the pendants that you wouldn’t think would work but does, and Lily James rounded out the look with hoop earrings.
Now is the time to open your heart to this historical motif.