Collection: All Lockets

Lockets With Photos
LOVELOX mantra is to ‘capture a moment and carry it with you’, so we believe that a locket isn’t complete without a photo within it. LOVELOX lockets are designed to carry photos within each side of the locket, and although not all lockets are bought with accompanying photos, the vast majority are.

By tapping the ‘Create My Locket’ button on loveloxlockets.com it enables the customer to upload and preview two photos within the locket itself. When the customer completes the purchase the LOVELOX team download the high res raw image and ready them for the printers. The team resizes each photo and inserts them into the locket’s corresponding template to make sure that when it is printed, it fits snug within the locket's casing.

The photos are printed on premium grade laminated photo paper with a glossy finish and cut to perfection to sit comfortably within the hollow of the locket. It's a delicate process that we have now become experts in.

Lockets with photos weren't always the norm, some of the earliest examples of lockets held herbs or medicine, some even contained small bits of cloth drenched in perfume to help mask unsavoury odours. There are even reports that some lockets even held poison(!)

Lockets did however quickly evolve into mementos with one of the earliest known examples belonging to Queen Elizabeth I, who possessed a ring locket that opened to contain a portrait of herself on one side and her mother, Anne Boleyn, on the other. It was most precious to her and, allegedly, was removed only after she died in 1603.

In 1649, as a gesture of loyalty and mourning, supporters of Charles I wore lockets containing his portrait and lock of his hair. It was during this century that lockets became a popular way to remember the deceased, so naturally these items of jewellery became cherished more than any other. They were however extremely expensive so were enjoyed mainly by the very wealthy who could afford them.

It was in the Victorian era where lockets grew in popularity which was in part owed to Queen Victoria herself who was admired as a fashionista so set many of the trends at that time. Her lockets were sentimental pieces with one containing locks of hair from her children and the other a portrait of her husband, Albert, which she wore after his death.

During the Victorian era lockets became much more accessible with the advent of the Industrial Revolution whereby manufacturing became easier and therefore the price of each item dropped allowing many more people to afford them. Concurrently, photography had become commonplace meaning that photos could be inserted, rather than locks of hair and expensive miniature portraits. With photography affordable and widespread it soon became popular for lovers to wear lockets with a photo of themselves enclosed inside.

During the Civil War in the USA, World War I and World War II lockets experienced a steep rise in popularity as soldiers would leave their romantic partners a locket as a momento and a reminder of their love before they went to war not knowing if they would return.

After the Wars lockets did see a decline in popularity as world events weren’t forcing people to separate. Technologies also came to prominence, like telephones and the internet, helping people connect much easier and in new and novel ways.

However, fashions are often cyclical and in the digital age there is a resurgence of the ‘analogue’ as people re-discover beauty in tangible things. There is a desire for people to get photos and information off their screens and printed for their walls, books or… in their lockets(!)

We all have an addiction with taking photos but few make their way off our phones. So many precious memories are stored on the cloud never to be enjoyed again. Here at LOVELOX we believe that these moments should be celebrated. Our lockets act as a time capsule that will take you back to happy and meaningful moments in your life.

Why are lockets so popular as gifts?
Lockets are incredibly versatile pieces of jewellery as they typically have a flat surface on the rear of the casing making it suitable to engrave a personal message on. The ability to insert two photos and engrave a message makes the locket the most personalisable piece of jewellery available, and subsequently making each piece truly unique.LOVELOX believes gifts are more meaningful when they are personalised. Which is why, with all these options to customise, lockets are the perfect piece for LOVELOX to deliver on our mission - ‘to create treasured keepsakes to celebrate meaningful moments in your life’.

Engraved Lockets
The personal message engraved on the back of the locket is typically meaningful to the recipient, like initials or the date of a special occasion. Engraving traditionally used to be done by hand by a skilled calligrapher but now it’s inscribed by a precise diamond tipped engraving machine which produces a crisp, consistent and exquisite finish every time.

LOVELOX offers 3 font types to suit the varying tastes of our customers ranging from the classic ‘Times’; a modern ‘Sans-Serif’ or a more traditional ‘Script’.

LOVELOX allows the user to input up to 10 characters over 3 lines (subject to the locket) allowing the flexibility to write a small message as well as the ability to toggle the font size bigger and smaller so the message fits proportionally well on the back of the locket.

How are lockets made?

Techniques may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but here is an overview of how LOVELOX lockets are made. The following process will give you an idea of how much care and love goes into each item, each skilfully crafted by hand.

Stamping
This is the process to produce and shape the casing of the locket. Metal blocks are rolled and compressed until the required thickness is achieved. Now, the once metal block has become a sheet of metal, it is cut into smaller pieces efficient for stamping. A hand-cranked stamping machine is then pulled to indent the sheet into the desired shape. Each stamped component is carefully inspected for quality before being handed to the next stage of production.

Assembly
Very broadly, this is putting the pieces together. For lockets, this includes removing the excess metal from the side of the stamped shape and then filing it for a smooth finish. Next, hidden in the curvature of the design, the hinges are soldered on connecting the two sides of the locket. After this the bail is soldered on top of the locket, followed by the clasp.

Stone insertion and engraving
Skilled craftsmen and women expertly set gems and diamonds within the lockets by hand using traditional methods, as well as artistically engraving patterns into the surface of the lockets to create decorative designs, like in the Full Scroll locket in the LOVELOX collection.

Polishing
This is where the team finesses the locket with the final touches to achieve a high-polish, stunning piece of jewellery. This is done through a combination of methods - by hand, as well as in an automated machine.

The lockets are then packaged up and ready to to be personalised with two photos and engraving for the customer.