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Nov 28 2017

Locket Necklace: Conductor For Historical Relics

locket necklace

Locket necklace is a piece of jewelry that came to us from ancient times, but it hasn’t lost its relevance even now. This entertaining jewelry adorned almost every girl’s neck. I had such necklace as well. And what about you? Today I want to talk about the history of this accessory, about modern variations, that the fashion industry offers, and of course, I’ll tell you how to  wear a locket necklace correctly.



locket necklace

In this post you will find

  • 1 Historical procession of the locket necklace
  • 2 Unusual vision of the locket necklace
  • 3 What is locket necklace in general?
  • 4 Fashion locket necklaces
  • 5 How to wear a locket necklace properly?

Historical procession of the locket necklace

locket necklace

Locket necklace has come to us from ancient Rome, where it was  an originally reward for the victors-generals. It was similar to a large gold coin, that has represented as an ornate disk. Then the classical form of the locket was born – it was a round one. Today locket necklaces can be seen as a form of the watch “filing”.

Among the priests locket necklace has been spread as a special ritual amulet. It could have some drawings of magical symbols or images of gods. Modern lockets are suspended on a chain or cord and have decorations with precious stones or drawings. Some models can be opened to put there a small portrait or relic.

locket necklace

In ancient Egypt everyone loved locket necklace, especially in a high esteem it was for Cleopatra. Cleopatra frequently gifted it to her servants as a pendant with emerald and her portrait. The fact that Cleopatra’s servants worn around their necks her image, carefully hidden behind the closed-door of the locket, gave birth to the traditional form of this jewelry. Veritable locket necklace carries the sacred function of storing the most precious and dearest for its owner. Also Pharaoh Tutankhamen wore a locket necklace in a form of the sacred scarab beetle.

locket necklace

”Queen Elizabeth I of England wore her locket ring daily; it contained a painted portrait of her mother, Anne Boleyn, and herself. She often gifted those in her inner circle with a jeweled locket containing her portrait”.

And as the piece of jewelry locket necklace or medallion appeared during Renaissance times. Click To Tweet

Because it has awaken an interest in antiquity. Unfortunately, a precise data on the occurrence of this jewelry we don’t have. Reported facts of locket necklace wearing in England belong to the XVII century. The peak of the popularity of an unusual pendant can be considered XVIII-XIX century – the time of the Victorian era (or the period of romanticism and neostyle). Then people  began to use locket necklace as a “storage” for a memory of war victims, relatives and loved ones.

locket necklace

”Very rare World War I- and World War II-era British and American military uniform locket buttons exist, containing miniature working compasses”.

locket necklace



The name of this jewelry came in the modern language from French, rooted in Latin and Ancient Greek. As you can see, being born during the reign of the Roman Empire, locket necklace rooted only due to the exquisite taste of the French people. I think – there is no wonder why.

Unusual vision of the locket necklace

locket necklace

Widespread in the Victorian era were also rotating lockets. The hinge that allows jewelry fastened to a chain, wasn’t fastened to the locket itself, allowing it to rotate freely. These locket necklaces were called magical, and so they costed more than all the other options.

In Europe, jewelers decorated locket necklace with miniatures and fashionistas worn it around the neck on a velvet ribbon.

locket necklace

Locket necklace that hold a lock of hair especially had a glass front part. So that you can see the relic, without opening the suspension. Due to this you can avoid the risk of losing valuable contents of the locket necklace. Honestly, I can’t imagine who  will wear this kind of locket necklace now. And what do you think?

locket necklace

Another locket necklace with a “secret” was  intended to mask smell of a person. On a small pad inside the locket people dripped perfumes. In the age where personal hygiene was very limited, the scent of perfume was getting a rank of rescuer.

locket necklace

”Around 1860 memento lockets started to replace mourning rings as the preferred style of mourning jewellery”.



This around-the-neck adornment is put on a chain, and because of this people still practice to call it a “pendant”. As it seems to be hung on a chain like a suspension.

In olden times locket necklace could be fastened to a belt, to clothing, to rings or just stay in the pocket. It was both male and female accessory. But even now a lot of designers recreate the locket necklace also as men’s jewelry, and many stylish young people are practicing it in their wardrobes. But would you risk?

What is locket necklace in general?

locket necklace

Most often, locket necklace has round or oval shape, sometimes even rectangular. But lockets have a a significant difference from any suspension. They consist of two parts on the pivotal connection and snap on the little padlock.

Very often, locket necklace can be made in such  forms:



  • locket – heart;
  • locket – droplet;
  • “geometric” locket;
  • locket with abstraction.
Today people also often call relief images on a circular or oval frame a “locket necklace”, as well as picture itself, enclosed in such frame. But such things are just common pendants. Usual and common toward the shape and the technology of locket necklace. But in terms of actual design, it is quite unique. Also, such mistake can be allowed with a brooch of a similar stylization.
locket necklace
Today, most of the lockets have become an adornment for jewelry. People almost don’t carry there a photography or something valuable in them. Therefore, most of them are made of a base metal or just plated.
Modern locket necklace frequently appears as a custom jewelry. Click To Tweet
But we will hope that modern designers will far frequently refer to the antique inspiration and ideas of ancient jewelry. Still, locket necklace will revive as a jewel and a relic.

Fashion locket necklaces

locket necklace

Although locket necklaces really conquered hearts of people with a long-standing time. Modern jewelers sculpt luxury lockets from precious metals, entrust them with pearls, stamping, niello… Locket necklace can be  made of wood, plastic and even glass. Imagination, technology and craftsmanship of jewelers know no borders. Unusual shapes and design, one large stone or a scattering of small stones – all this must be taken into account and collected in a wonderful image of the locket necklace.
Frequently precious stones are used to decorate the locket necklace. You can find lockets with onyx, turquoise, amber and agate. Sometimes, in order to give strength to the soft silver, locket necklace can be coated with platinum. Such jewelry are most commonly decorated with diamonds. So, basically, locket necklace isn’t fully died out  as a precious luxury jewelry, yet. But the main thing is demand. How many people will wear a locket necklace on a dinner party, for example?
locket necklace
Locket necklace made of precious metals design is very varied. All possible combinations of white and rose gold, a combination of gold and platinum are making lockets extraordinarily beautiful. A lot of famous fashion houses produce lockets, the upper part of which is a one-piece jewel, rimmed with gold or platinum. Locket necklace should be carried on a chain made of the same metal as the locket. Sometimes it is possible to combine locket made of white and rose gold with a platinum chain, or vice versa.

How to wear a locket necklace properly?

locket necklace

Basically today locket necklace can be compared and presented to the Victorian era, and consequently – to the Victorian style. But not every fashionista can afford to herself such luxury and risk. So most often this jewelry is worn with classic, business and hipster styles. Clothing that can be combined with a locket necklace: pencil skirt or hobble-skirt, blouse in the Victorian style, classic jacket and brogues shoes. But, of course, your imagination shouldn’t stop here. And if you have any other options or ideas in this occasion – please share them in comments.
And if you want to supplement your locket necklace with another associated accessory, the best thing for this ensemble is a suitable wristwatch.
locket necklace
”Lockets are usually given to loved ones on holidays such as Valentine’s Day and occasions such as christenings, weddings and, most noticeably during the Victorian Age, funerals”.
locket necklace
For young girls the perfect item is a locket necklace made of non-ferrous metal alloys. Finally, despite the fact that modern locket gained significance of a costume jewelery , we should remember that it’s still rather complicated adornment. And complicated jewelry are not particularly suitable to the style of young ladies.
If your locket necklace is a talisman or an amulet, it is better to wear it on your body under the clothes, to avoid attracting a strong attention. It is better to remove your locket necklace on the beach, sauna, swimming pool and outdoor activities. First of all, in these places it may be simply be damaged or you can lose it at all.
Locket necklace is one of the oldest jewelery pieces in our world. Click To Tweet
I hope you liked this story! And if you are interested to read more about such accessories, I suggest you to read my previous post: ”Fashion Of The Past: Chatelaine”
5/5 - (2 votes)


Written by Ksenia Gulko · Categorized: Blog

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. RODOLFO D'ALESSIO says

    July 1, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    CAN YOU GIVE ME SOURCES WHER TO BUY THOSE PENDANTS

    Reply

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