Heart Pendant Necklaces

A heart pendant necklace is the one gift that never needs explaining. Open outlines, double hearts, pavé edges, clover-hearts and hearts hung beside an initial or birthstone — 18K gold vermeil at 3 microns over solid sterling silver, or gold plated. Gold, silver and rose gold, 14 to 20 inches, from $46.

Heart Pendant Questions

What does a heart pendant mean?

Broadly love, not necessarily romantic — plenty of people wear one for a child or a parent. Two linked hearts read as a couple. A heart beside an initial narrows it to one specific person, which is the version most often given as a gift.

Are heart pendants tacky?

Scale decides it, not the symbol. A large glossy heart on a thin chain reads young. A small open outline in brushed gold doesn't. Under about 12mm and open rather than solid is the version that still looks right in five years.

What length should a heart pendant be?

16 or 18 inches. Heart pendants are compact enough to sit high without crowding the throat, and 18 hangs cleanly below the collarbone. 14 works as the top layer above something longer.

Can you layer a heart pendant?

Yes, as long as it's the only pendant doing the talking. A heart at 16 inches over a plain chain at 20 works. Two wide pendants at similar lengths collide and tangle — vary both the length and the visual weight.

Is it a safe gift?

The safest romantic pendant there is, which also makes it the most expected. Adding her initial or birthstone beside the heart is what lifts it above default. If a heart feels like a large statement at this stage, it probably is one.

Will it tarnish?

Ours is 3.0 microns of gold over solid sterling silver — against an industry standard of 0.2. Perfume and hairspray dull plating faster than time does, so put it on last and wipe it with a dry cloth when you take it off.

See also heart necklaces, gold heart necklaces, heart jewelry and heart earrings.