Yellow Gold Keepsake Locket
A yellow gold keepsake locket holds a miniature portrait or lock of hair close to the heart.
Yellow Gold Keepsake Locket
A yellow gold keepsake locket is a pendant designed to hold personal mementoes such as photographs, painted miniatures or hair work. When you examine yellow gold keepsake locket pieces, you will encounter forms ranging from simple round and heart shapes to book locket designs and pieces mimicking pocket watches.
The pieces span several eras, with strong representation from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods, alongside later mid-century examples. You will frequently find them set with stones such as citrine, garnet, turquoise, pearls and diamonds, or decorated with engine-turned detail, ornate engravings and glass panels.
Materials and Construction
Goldsmiths utilised varying purities of gold, including 9ct, 15ct, 18ct and high carat yellow gold, sometimes employing back and front construction where precious metal covers a base metal core. Surface ornamentation was achieved through hand engraving, floral motifs, engine turning and delicate beadwork.
Internal compartments often feature glass glazing to protect photographs or intricate hair work. Gemstones such as diamonds, rubies, citrines, garnets, turquoise and seed pearls were flush set or mounted in bezels to accent the exterior.
Materials recorded across the inventory include 9ct, 15ct and 18ct yellow gold, glass, pearls, turquoise, citrines, garnets and diamonds.
Factors of Quality
The quality of a yellow gold keepsake locket rests upon the weight and purity of the gold employed, with higher carat thresholds and solid construction commanding attention. The crispness of engine turning and the depth of hand engraving reveal the skill of the original artisan.
Intricacy of internal fittings and the integration of precious stones or painted miniatures elevate certain pieces. Preservation of original glass covers and secure hinges also distinguish finer examples from standard production.
The Yellow Gold Keepsake Locket Glossary
- Engine-turned
- A mechanical method of ornamenting metal surfaces with precise geometric patterns. This technique creates regular, textured lines across the gold.
- Hair work
- The Victorian art of arranging human hair into intricate decorative designs for memorial or sentimental jewellery. It is typically sealed behind glass inside the locket.
- Back and front
- A method of construction where the exterior plates are made of gold while internal structural elements utilise base metal. This provided the appearance of a solid gold piece at a reduced weight.
- Fob pendant
- A small ornament originally suspended from a pocket watch chain. Many pieces in this category were adapted from or designed to mimic watch fobs.
- High carat
- Gold with a high proportion of pure gold content relative to alloy metals. In these listings, this refers to 15ct and 18ct yellow gold.
Yellow Gold Keepsake Locket: Frequently Asked Questions
What do you put inside a yellow gold keepsake locket?
These pieces traditionally house miniature painted portraits, folded photographs or intricate arrangements of human hair. The internal compartments are often framed with glass to protect these delicate mementoes from dust and wear.
Owners can open the hinged cases to change the contents or preserve a historical photograph left by a previous owner. The design ensures the sentimental item remains securely enclosed against the body.
How do I date a Victorian locket?
Dating relies upon stylistic markers, hallmarking conventions and the nature of the materials used. Georgian and early Victorian pieces often feature hand-engraved floral motifs and closed-back settings, while later Victorian items incorporate engine turning and specific gemstone clusters.
Examining the internal frames and the style of any enclosed photographs or hair work also offers clues to the decade of manufacture. Hallmarks stamped on the metal loop or interior rim provide definitive maker and year indicators where present.
How were pocket watch style lockets worn?
Pieces mimicking pocket watches were designed to suspend from chatelaines, watch chains or heavy neck chains. They replicate the round silhouette and winding stem details of functional timepieces of the era.
Instead of a clock face, opening the outer cover reveals a photo frame or keepsake compartment. This style allowed the wearer to display personal portraits while adopting the fashion of timekeeping accessories.