Gold Diamond Locket
A gold diamond locket holds a miniature portrait or lock of hair beneath glittering stones, offering intimate sentiment set in precious metal.
Gold Diamond Locket
A gold diamond locket combines hinged compartments for personal mementoes with precious metalwork and diamond settings. These pieces appear most frequently in Victorian and Edwardian forms, spanning hearts, stars, and oval pendants.
Materials and construction
Craftsmen built these pieces using 9ct, 15ct, and 18ct yellow or rose gold, often combining silver to back the diamond settings and enhance the brilliance of old cut stones. Gemstones including pearls, sapphires, rubies, and enamel work are integrated directly into the metal body.
Hinged compartments, glass backs for photographs, and secure catches form the structural core of the locket design. Surface decoration relies on hand engraving, guilloche enamel, and star-set stones mounted flush into the gold.
Gold Diamond Locket Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for gold diamond locket 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 yellow and rose gold alloys alongside platinum-free silver-topped gold settings across the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Distinctions in craftsmanship
Superior examples demonstrate meticulous precision in the mounting of old cut rose and table diamonds, ensuring stones sit flush and secure within the gold or silver matrix. The weight of the gold, particularly in higher carat pieces, contributes significantly to the structural integrity of the hinge and snap closure.
The refinement of hand-applied enamel, the symmetry of star motifs, and the preservation of original glass photo compartments elevate finer specimens. Finer work also shows in the integration of secondary gems like natural pearls, rubies, or sapphires without crowding the central composition.
The Gold Diamond Locket Glossary
- Guilloche enamel
- Enamel applied over engine-turned metalwork that creates a repeating geometric pattern beneath the translucent coloured glass.
- Old cut diamond
- A hand-faceted diamond shape typical of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, featuring a small table and high crown.
- Rose cut diamond
- A gemstone cut with a flat base and a domed crown of triangular facets resembling an unopened rosebud.
- Puff heart
- A swollen, three-dimensional heart-shaped pendant hollowed to hold photographs or keepsakes inside.
- Pendant brooch
- A versatile jewel fitted with both a folding bail for a chain and a pin stem for wearing on garments.
Gold Diamond Locket: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put photographs inside these lockets?
Most pieces retain their interior bezels and original glass or celluloid covers designed specifically to hold miniature portraits. You can trim thin paper photographs to fit the exact contours of the cavity.
Avoid modern thick cardstock, which prevents the hinged halves from closing flush and stresses the clasp.
What gold carats should I expect?
Pieces commonly feature 9ct, 15ct, and 18ct yellow or rose gold, alongside higher carat continental standards. British items often carry hallmarks denoting the specific alloy purity.
Silver was frequently used alongside gold, particularly in earlier settings to keep diamond sparkle bright against a white metal backdrop.
How do I date a diamond locket?
Examine the cut of the diamonds, the presence of hallmarks, and the overarching style characteristics such as Edwardian symmetry or Victorian sentimental motifs. Structural details like hand-cut hinges and integrated pin stems offer further clues.
Comparing the closure style and engraving techniques against dated examples helps narrow the decade of manufacture.