by Susan Heim

Created on: July 25, 2007   Last Updated: August 12, 2007

If you love jewelry and history, then you should consider the purchase of a locket. These ornamental cases that hang from necklaces, charm bracelets or pins are very personal expressions for jewelry wearers, as well as celebrations of nostalgia. They come in all shapes and sizes, with the most popular being the heart shape, and can contain anything from a lock of hair to a photograph to a tooth!

Lockets first became popular during the Victorian era. The locket was meant to be worn next to the heart of its owner, either via a long chain or clipped to one's bodice with a pin. Queen Elizabeth I of England commissioned two lockets to commemorate the defeat of the Spanish Armada, which expanded lockets' popularity. During the U.S. Civil War, soldiers often left a lock of hair at home, which was placed into a locket by their sweethearts upon news of their death. In the 1890s, personal hygiene was not as stringently observed as it is today, so ladies often wore a Vinaigrette locket containing a cotton ball soaked with their favorite perfume.

Lockets are fascinating because they tell a story. When one opens the hinges of an old locket for the first time, a mystery is waiting to be discovered! Will it hold the photograph of a long-lost first love or the lock of hair from someone who perished long ago? Regardless of its contents, the locket was undoubtedly a very special piece of jewelry to its wearer.

Today, lockets are purchased and worn for many reasons. They are frequently given for a holiday, such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, or to commemorate a special occasion, such as a wedding anniversary or christening. Mothers often wear lockets containing their children's pictures. Funerary lockets may hold the lock of hair of a deceased loved one.

Lockets are also made in a variety of styles. They can be shaped like a circle, a book, or a heart. They might be made of gold, silver, or pewter. Some lockets are set with precious stones, such as a birthstone, or monogrammed with initials. Traditionally, lockets have held only two photos, but specially made lockets can hold up to eight!

If you're looking for a special gift for the woman in your life, you can't go wrong with a locket that will remind her of the love in her life!

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