Antique Diamond Locket Pendant
These antique diamond locket pendants combine personal sentiment with intricate metalwork, offering a wearable piece of history that collectors cherish.
Antique Diamond Locket Pendant
An antique diamond locket pendant merges the secure compartment of a locket with the decorative sparkle of diamond settings. You will frequently encounter heart-shaped and star-motif pieces originating from the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
The pieces listed on this page span the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, featuring distinct structural forms such as puffy hearts, oval lockets, and versatile pendant brooches. These items served both sentimental functions and decorative roles in high society.
How They Were Made
Craftsmen utilised high carat yellow gold, notably fifteen carat and eighteen carat alloys, alongside silver settings to mount diamonds securely. Enamel work, particularly guilloche and blue enamel, provided rich background colour to highlight the stones.
Natural pearls, sapphires, and rubies were integrated alongside rose cut and old cut diamonds using traditional hand-tooling techniques. Star settings and pavé arrangements dominated the decorative surfaces of these precious metals.
Victorian mourning lockets often concealed woven locks of hair behind glass, turning a lost loved one into a remarkably fashionable accessory.
What Varies in Quality
The refinement of the hand-cut diamonds and the depth of the gold work determine the overall excellence of a piece. Superior examples display precise gemstone alignment and unblemished enamel surfaces.
Artisanal execution in complex motifs like the fleur-de-lis or guilloche patterns separates standard production from exceptional fine jewellery. The integration of functional locket compartments with solid hinge construction also distinguishes finer items.
The Antique Diamond Locket Pendant Glossary
- Guilloche enamel
- A decorative technique where intricate geometric patterns are engraved beneath translucent enamel. This method creates a shimmering background effect frequently seen in Edwardian pieces.
- Old cut diamond
- A hand-faceted gemstone shape common in nineteenth-century jewellery. These stones feature smaller tables and larger culets compared to modern brilliants.
- Rose cut diamond
- A stone style characterised by a flat base and a domed crown with triangular facets. It produces a softer, reflective glow rather than sharp modern brilliance.
- Puffy heart
- A three-dimensional hollow gold pendant shape resembling a rounded heart. They were often utilised as sentimental love tokens during the Victorian period.
- Pendant brooch
- A dual-purpose jewellery item fitted with both a suspension loop and a pin fastening. This allows the piece to be worn either suspended from a chain or pinned to a garment.
Antique Diamond Locket Pendant: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open an antique locket?
Many older lockets rely on a snap-closure mechanism or a tiny side hinge that requires gentle pressure with a fingernail. Avoid using metal tools to pry them open, as this can damage the gold or enamel work.
Take time to examine the edge for a small thumbnail notch. If the hinge feels rigid, do not force it, as centuries-old metal can warp or snap.
Can I put photographs inside these lockets?
Most of these pieces were specifically designed to hold miniature portraits or locks of hair behind glass or metal frames. You can insert small paper photographs trimmed to fit the inner cavity.
Ensure any modern photograph you use is thin enough not to strain the internal bezel or prevent the locket from sealing properly.
How do I date a diamond locket?
Dating relies on examining the gold carat marks, gemstone cuts, and overall stylistic motifs. Victorian pieces often feature heavy star settings and blue enamel, while Edwardian versions favour lighter yellow gold and guilloche work.
Hallmarks stamped on the metal provide official assay office symbols and date letters that narrow down the exact year of manufacture.
How do I clean antique gold and diamonds?
Use a soft dry cloth to gently wipe away surface dust after wearing. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or ultrasonic baths, which can dislodge pearls or damage delicate enamel.
If necessary, a damp cloth with mild soap can clean the metal, but ensure the piece is dried immediately to protect any internal photo compartments.