Apr
When it comes to the most sentimental and personal pieces of jewellery you can own, lockets are right up there. Lockets are incredibly special, offering the unique ability to keep a treasured image or memento close to the wearer’s heart at all times. They make wonderful gifts for a range of occasions and often become treasured heirlooms, passed down through the generations for years to come.
Whether you’re searching for a timeless token for yourself or a meaningful keepsake for a loved one, choosing the right locket is a process that should be approached carefully. There are so many different beautiful designs available, and each carries its own meaning and potential. Should you opt for classic yellow gold or contemporary silver? What about a romantic heart shape or an elegant oval? These are just some of the key considerations you’ll need to make to ensure that your chosen locket has the appearance and meaning you were picturing.
With this in mind, we have created this comprehensive guide to choosing the right locket, hand-picking fine examples from our complete locket range to help you pick the perfect piece for every taste, occasion, and budget.
Locket Material
We’d always recommend that you start your locket search by narrowing down its material. This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, as the metal chosen affects both the look and the feel of the jewellery. The two most popular options are gold and silver.
Yellow Gold Lockets
Yellow gold is undoubtedly the most traditional choice of locket material, offering a warm and rich tone that will never go out of fashion. 9ct yellow gold is the most common type you’ll come across – and the type that we stock here at Bonds The Jewellers – containing a mix of pure gold alloyed with other metals for strength and durability over time.
Yellow gold is a great choice for everyday wear, whilst retaining any detail and shape beautifully over time. It particularly complements warm skin tones well, adding a traditional and elegant touch to both casual and formal occasions.
Shop our yellow gold lockets here.
Sterling Silver Lockets
Alternatively, sterling silver is a wonderfully versatile and trendy choice for a locket. Offering a cooler tone than gold, it combines modern appeal with timeless qualities and is perfect for pairing with a wide range of looks and colours.
Typically, sterling silver lockets will be the slightly cheaper option available, but this is not to say they won’t stand the test of time. When cleaned and cared for properly, sterling silver is an incredibly durable metal, ensuring your choice can be passed down and treasured again and again.
Shop our sterling silver lockets here.
Locket Shape
With your metal and finish selected, move on to choosing the shape of your locket. This will play a significant role in the overall character and style of your jewellery, with different shapes evoking different feelings and suiting different occasions. Just some of our favourites include:
Heart-Shaped Lockets
Heart-shaped lockets are arguably the most iconic and recognisable locket design, particularly suited for romantic gifts. Sizes can vary significantly, from dainty mini lockets perfect for housing small keepsakes to slightly larger and more prominent heart-shaped pieces for your favourite photos.
Oval Lockets
Alternatively, you could go for an oval-shaped locket. Oval lockets have a classic look and feel that draws upon Victorian and Edwardian influences. The oval shape itself is particularly well-suited to holding photographs while maintaining a graceful silhouette on the wearer’s neckline. This type of locket is also popular for engraved designs, offering a smooth surface perfect for intricate patterns.
Round Lockets
Round lockets are the most understated but versatile option, sitting symmetrically against the neckline and suiting almost any style. The clean and circular form makes them at home in pretty much any setting, but they’re particularly suited to a plain and polished finish, like our round yellow gold and sterling silver picks.
Locket Style
The style of a locket is where you can really add personality to your pick. The options here are pretty endless, stemming from engraved lockets with ornate floral or geometric patterns to plain and polished lockets with a contemporary finish.
You can also choose between single and double photo styles. Single photo lockets are the most classic configuration and keep a special person or memory close at all times. Double photo lockets, on the other hand, are perfect for parents or those wishing to carry multiple generations with them.
Locket Chains
When choosing a locket, the last thing you’ll need to consider is the chain it will be worn on. At Bonds The Jewellers, we offer a range of matching silver and gold chains to complement your chosen locket, available in a variety of thicknesses and lengths to suit your preference. As a general rule, a delicate or mini locket suits a fine chain, while a larger or heavier locket may benefit from a slightly more substantial chain for comfort and balance. If you’re not sure what to go for, do not hesitate to get in touch with us for advice.
Lockets At Bonds The Jewellers
We offer a beautiful collection of lockets to suit every style, occasion, and budget. From delicate heart-shaped lockets in polished sterling silver to intricately engraved oval lockets in 9ct yellow gold, our range spans classic and contemporary designs – as well as the chains you need to complete your look.
Shop the full range now.
