Heart Lockets

Lockets have a charm all their own. Not only do they convey just the right amount of elegant whimsy, they are also customizable and unique. With a place to keep a cherished picture or trinket, lockets are the ultimate wearable keepsake. This makes them wonderful to give as gifts to commemorate special occasions, such as the birth of a child or an anniversary.

While there are a range of shapes and sizes in which lockets can be found, hearts remain the most classic option. Even heart lockets, though, can be found in a variety of finishes and styles. Whether engraved with "Mom," "I Love You," or simple praying hands, a locket can be one of the most heartfelt gifts to give and receive. For those with elegant taste, heart lockets covered in diamonds might be just right.

Lockets that have been made in the shape of a heart are probably some of the most popular pieces of jewelry sold today. But what is it about heart lockets that people find so charming? And where on earth did this symbol, which has no semblance whatsoever to the human heart, originate?

The traditional heart shape is universally accepted as a symbol of love and devotion. Therefore, it's really not hard to see why jewelry in its form is frequently given by people as gifts to their loved ones. The use of the heat shaped symbol is so universally popular that it is believed to date way back to seventh century North Africa.

Roots of the Heart

Of course, even back then it was probably a well-known fact that the human heart looked nothing like its popular representation. The origin of the heart shaped is most likely rooted quite literally in a now extinct plant known as Silphium. This plant, whose seed were said to be shaped like the modern day heart symbol, was harvested to extinction long ago.

Trading of the Silphium plant became such an integral part of the economy of the city of Cyrene, where the plant was grown, that the government decided to place a picture of the plant's seed on its coins. From there, the symbol is just believed to have caught on with the two-lobed icon even showing up centuries later on stained glass panes in the Catholic Church. No matter where it originated, the heart symbol is here to stay and presenting a special someone one with a heart shaped locket is a surefire way to express your love to them.