Heart Lockets

Why the heart locket became the classic keepsake

Lockets have been worn for centuries to carry a portrait, a lock of hair or a few words from someone loved, and the heart is the shape most people picture when they hear the word. Part of its charm is privacy: closed, a heart locket is simply a pretty pendant; opened, it shows the faces that matter most to the wearer. That quiet double life is why a love heart locket is still chosen for anniversaries, for a new mum, for a daughter leaving home and as a way of remembering someone who has died.

Heart photo locket or heart locket with picture: what goes inside

Whether you search for a heart photo locket or a heart locket with picture inside, you are looking for the same thing: a heart that opens to reveal real photographs. Depending on the design, a locket here holds one or two pictures, one on each side of the hinge. When you order, you upload your photos and choose how each one is cropped; our workshop then prints them and places them inside before the locket is closed and packed.

Because the pictures are fitted in the workshop, they are not meant to be taken out and changed at home, so it is worth choosing them with care. Close-up portraits work best, as a heart-shaped frame trims the corners of any photo. Faces that fill most of the picture stay recognisable, while wide group shots or busy backgrounds lose detail at this small size. Older printed photos can be scanned or photographed with a phone, as long as the result is sharp.

Heart locket necklace designs at a glance

Each heart locket necklace in the range has its own character. This overview helps you narrow it down before you look at the individual product pages:

Many designs come in a choice of silver-tone or gold-tone, and some also in rose gold tone. The metal differs from design to design, so check the product page of the locket you like for its material, size and chain length.

Adding engraving to a heart locket

Some heart lockets carry decorative engraving as part of the design, such as carved flowers or roses. Others leave space for your own words: a floral heart locket can be engraved on the back, and the heart locket ring is engraved with a name. A short message, a pair of initials or a date usually suits the small surface of a heart better than a long sentence. If engraving matters as much to you as the photos, our collection of Engraved Lockets brings together every locket shape that can be engraved, from ovals and rounds to book and dog tag designs.

A heart locket with a hidden extra photo

The tree of life heart locket holds a second surprise. Besides the picture inside the heart, one more photo sits in a tiny crystal stone that looks like an ordinary gem from outside. To see it, hold the stone up to a light and look through it, shine a phone torch through it from behind so the picture appears on a wall, or hold a phone camera close to the stone and focus. Like the locket photos, the image in the stone is added in the workshop when the piece is made and cannot be swapped afterwards. If you love this effect, you will find more pendants built around it in our Photo Projection Necklaces.

Heart lockets for the wrist and finger

Not everyone wears a necklace every day, so the heart locket also appears in other forms. There is a heart locket on a gold-tone watch band chain that opens to hold two photos, a dainty chain bracelet with a heart locket and a birthstone, and a bangle whose heart opens between a pair of angel wings, often chosen in memory of someone. The heart photo locket ring is adjustable and pairs the heart locket with a birthstone and an engraved name. For hearts on the wrist that do not open, from name charms to moissanite hearts, browse our Heart Bracelets.

Who to give a love heart locket to

A heart locket is one of the few gifts that suits almost every stage of life. Partners often exchange one with a photo from the day they met or from their wedding. Mums and grandmothers tend to treasure a locket holding pictures of their children or grandchildren, and a locket with a parent or a pet who has passed away can be a gentle comfort. If you would rather have a heart pendant with names or birthstones than one that opens, take a look at our Personalised Heart Necklaces; for lockets in every other shape, see Personalised Photo Locket Necklaces.

Caring for your heart locket

Open and close the locket gently, using a fingernail at the clasp rather than pulling at the two halves. Take it off before showering, swimming, exercising or applying perfume and lotion, as moisture can reach the photos and chemicals can dull the finish. Wipe the outside with a soft, dry cloth, and store the locket on its own so the hinge and any shell inlay are not scratched by other jewellery.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to swap the pictures inside my heart locket?

The photos are printed and fitted by our workshop when your locket is made, and they are not designed to be replaced at home. Choose pictures you will be happy to keep for a long time.

How many photos does a heart locket hold?

It depends on the design: some hold two pictures, one on each side of the hinge, while others hold a single photo. The product page shows how many pictures to upload for the locket you choose.

How long do making and delivery take?

Every heart locket is personalised after you order. The current making and delivery times are listed on our Delivery & Shipping page.

Can I return a personalised heart locket?

Lockets with your photos are made specifically for you. What happens if something arrives faulty, and which items can be returned or exchanged, is explained on our Return & Exchange page.