Hearts of gold - Antique jewellery for Valentine’s Day

February has long been the month of romance, and long before mass-produced gifts, love was expressed through carefully chosen pieces of jewellery. Among the most cherished examples is sentimental or sweetheart jewellery. Lockets were perhaps the most popular, often containing a miniature portrait, a lock of hair, or even a tiny handwritten message. Worn close to the heart, they served as constant reminders of a loved one, particularly during times of separation.

Acrostic jewellery was cleverly designed with hidden meanings, using gemstones whose first letters spelled out words such as “REGARD” (ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, diamond) or “DEAREST”. To the untrained eye they appeared simply beautiful, but to the giver and recipient, they spoke volumes. Heart-shaped motifs were common too, sometimes pierced with an arrow or entwined with a knot, symbolising love, unity and fidelity.

What makes antique Valentine jewellery so appealing today is its authenticity. Each piece has lived a life before us, carrying whispers of past romances. Whether admired in a display case or worn again as intended, these jewels connect us to generations who loved, hoped and remembered in much the same way we do now.

This February, as hearts and roses fill the shop windows, antique jewellery offers a quieter, more enduring kind of romance, one rooted in sentiment and affection.