But really, how did the design of the heart as we wear it now come about?
Why does everyone love heart jewelry?
Is it the simplicity in the design or the thought of love?
Love in the simplest form-- pure, honest, deep-down-true love.
Nothing wrong with that!
Besides love, a heart is the central organ that gives us life.
Without a beating heart, we would be no more.
Truthfully, the heart that we clutch on our chest when we feel pain, emotion or pleasure looks nothing like a red heart we so easily draw on paper. Nothing at all like the jewelry we wear.
Why not?
But really, how did the design of the heart as we wear it now come about?
Don't confuse the symbol of the heart with Valentine's Day. They really are two different "things" that only joined forces not too long ago. If you want to know the history behind that celebration, read about it here on our blog.
After researching the internet we've come to find that there was once a plant, called Silphium.
It was this huge fennel that grew on the North African coastline of Cyrene.
So popular was this plant, used for spices and birth control, it made the colony of Cyrene very wealthy.
The herb became associated with love and sex and it popularized the heart symbol as we know it today.
The Cyrene people were so proud of their plant, they even minted money with the symbol of the "heart" or the silphium on their coins.
Too bad their farmers weren't as in-love with their plant as the rest of the world was. It went into extinction from over-use in the first century B.C.
The coin really isn't so different from the modern day heart jewelry we wear now, is it? Compare the above to the below images-- total resemblance!
As we move along throughout history, we arrive at the year 1250 in France.
A manuscript, Roman de la Poire , Romance of the Pear, has a man kneeling towards his lover and appears to offer up his heart .
The heart is shaped like a pine cone, held upside, but hey, he was creative! It was a 13th century Adam and Eve story, using a pear.
From there the pine cone/heart transformed itself throughout the ages up until the late 14th century.
This picture from the early 15th century really shows us the heart as we recognize it today.
And so we see the origins on how a heart emerged to become a world-wide symbol associated with love.
From Valentine's Day to birthdays, anniversaries and of course, weddings--- a heart symbolizes love.
If you're in the market to show your love, or give your love to someone through jewelry, Alef Bet recommends their favorite tiny diamond heart necklace in white, yellow or rose 14k gold.
It's super cute in the fact that it is so tiny. It's almost like it isn't on, but it IS-- often referred to as "second skin."
Layer this pendant up with other pieces, a larger charm just under the heart is ideal.
And guess what?
We made the same heart necklace for this lucky mother to celebrate her on Mother's Day.
One heart for each of her babies.
You can also change it up to match your "situation."
For example: a grandmother's necklace.
A wife, her child and her husband.
A heart makes the perfect gift for any occasion such as Mother's Day, holidays, bridesmaid presents, Valentine's Day and so many more!
What are you gifting this year---a heart necklace (or earrings, bracelets, rings) to show you care?