VICTORIAN JEWELRY OF LOVE

In an era when personalized jewelry is all the rage, it is surprising that Victorian jewelry has not yet made a widespread comeback, when precious stones were used to express feelings and even convey secret messages.

Jewelry with precious stones using acronyms (words created from the first letters of other words) was known before, but it gained the most popularity in the Victorian era. How was such jewelry created? The first letters of the names of individual precious stones formed a word. The most popular combination in the Victorian era was:

• DEAREST, which stands for diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, emerald, sapphire, and topaz.

• REGARDS, meaning ruby, emerald, garnet, amethyst, ruby, and diamond.

The stones were arranged in a row, side by side or around in the shape of a flower (traditionally with a diamond in the center). Over time, other combinations became popular:

• ADORE stands for amethyst, diamond, opal, ruby, emerald,

• LOVE stands for lapis lazuli, opal, vermarine, and emerald.

It was also popular to write down other words and names.

The idea of jewelry with an encrypted message is making a comeback. Contemporary jewelry designers offer modern versions of this type of jewelry, utilizing their minimalist form and clear message. These are often very minimalist designs using very short words such as LOVE. Jewelry with an acronym is therefore a perfect gift for a beloved woman. It is also a great way to express yourself. And if we want the jewelry to be truly unique, it is worth encrypting our own message by commissioning the jewelry from a jeweler. This is definitely more personal than buying personalized jewelry, which is a combination of ready-made elements.