18k Gold Heart
An 18k gold heart is a tangible piece of sentiment, forged in high-carat metal to carry devotion, love or memory close to the wearer.
18k Gold Heart
When you search for an 18k gold heart, you encounter a selection of pendants, charms, lockets, brooches and medals spanning several decades from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. These objects include French devotional medals depicting the Sacred Heart and Madonna and Child alongside decorative witch's heart charms and floral lockets.
The pieces on this page are heavily rooted in French craftsmanship, featuring works from periods such as the Edwardian era, Belle Epoque, and mid-century fine jewellery. You will frequently meet 18K yellow gold and 18K white gold constructions, often paired with gemstones like ruby, sapphire, citrine, and pearl.
The form ranges from puffy love heart pendants adorned with enamel to ecclesiastical medals bearing inscriptions. Each item serves either a sentimental, decorative or religious function, shaped by the prevailing aesthetic of its specific decade.
Materials and construction methods
The pieces rely on 18K yellow gold and 18K white gold as their primary structural metal, providing a rich, high-carat foundation for detailed ornamentation. Goldsmiths shaped this metal into hollow puffy hearts, hinged lockets, and cast devotional medals.
Gemstones including rubies, sapphires, citrines, pearls, and diamonds are integrated through flush settings, bezels or delicate bar arrangements. Enamel work and fine engraving further define the surface details of the French ecclesiastical and love heart pieces.
18k Gold Heart Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for 18k gold heart among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature 18K yellow gold and white gold across Edwardian, Belle Epoque, and mid-century periods, dominated by French origin.
Assessing quality in high-carat hearts
Quality rests in the crispness of the stampings and the fineness of the hand-engraving, particularly on French ecclesiastical medals and love tokens where maker marks and metal purity punches are visible. The depth of relief in puffy hearts and the security of the hinge or jump ring also mark superior execution.
The selection of gemstones alters the character of the piece, with matched rubies, sapphires, and pearls demonstrating careful sourcing by the maker. Superior examples maintain intact enamel and well-preserved stones that sit flush within their gold mounts.
Mazzoni·Perriat·Arnault·Dropsy·Monier
The 18k Gold Heart Glossary
- Sacred Heart
- A traditional Christian symbol representing the heart of Jesus Christ as a symbol of divine love. These are frequently found on French devotional medals alongside images of the Madonna and Child.
- Witch's Heart
- A specific heart motif with a twisted or flicked tail at one side, historically given as a token of falling in love. These charms often house stones such as citrine or ruby.
- Puffy Heart
- A hollow, three-dimensional heart charm or pendant formed from two stamped halves joined together. They were popular sentimental pieces during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Belle Epoque
- A period of refined design spanning the late nineteenth century up to the First World War. Pieces from this era often display intricate detailing and high-carat gold work.
- Medal
- A flat or slightly domed metal object bearing commemorative or religious imagery. Many examples in this category originate from France and honour figures like Notre Dame de Mont Carmel.
18k Gold Heart: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a witch's heart pendant?
A witch's heart is a distinct jewellery motif featuring a curved, flicked tail at the side of the heart shape. Historically offered as a token of affection, these pieces frequently incorporate gemstones like citrine or ruby set into 18K gold.
They represent a playful departure from standard symmetrical heart designs while retaining the high-carat gold standards typical of French antique workshops.
How do I identify a French devotional medal?
French devotional medals typically depict religious iconography such as the Sacred Heart, Madonna and Child, or specific saints like Notre Dame de Mont Carmel. They often feature small French eagle head hallmarks indicating 18K gold purity.
These pieces combine religious devotion with fine metalwork, frequently carrying inscriptions or maker names on the reverse side.
What periods do these gold hearts come from?
The pieces span several decades, ranging from late nineteenth-century items created around 1890 through the Edwardian and Belle Epoque eras up to mid-century fine jewellery from the 1950s and 1960s. Each era brings distinct stylistic touches, from ecclesiastical engraving to mid-century bar brooches.
Stylistic cues such as enamel work, gemstone pairing, and metal colour help anchor each piece within its historical decade.
How should I wear an 18k gold heart pendant?
An 18K gold heart pendant or charm sits well on a fine gold chain, allowing the weight of the high-carat metal to hang naturally. Because these pieces often feature delicate hollow construction or surface enamel, pairing them thoughtfully prevents unnecessary friction against other jewellery.
Lockets and medals can be worn daily, provided you take care to secure jump rings and check hinge mechanisms on opening compartments.