Sterling Silver Lockets
June 14, 2009 by Thomas Howard
Filed under Lockets
Lockets have been popular for centuries and they continue to be popular today. They originally were used to carry medicines and poisons. By the Victorian era, they were used primarily to hold small personal keepsakes such as locks of hair or the ashes of someone who had died. It was in this time that lockets were also first used to hold miniature portrait paintings, which was the forerunner of the modern practice of using a locket to hold a photograph.
In its basic form, a locket is a pendant that opens to reveal a space used to hold some sort of memento, usually a photograph. They are most often presented as gifts to a loved one on a holiday such as Valentine's Day, or on special occasions such as Christenings or weddings. In the Victorian era, they were often given at funerals.
The most popular form is the heart locket, but other forms such as boxes and ovals are also quite common and many jewelers have experimented with non-traditional shapes throughout the long history of lockets as favorite items of jewelery.
The Victorian Age (1837-1901) is considered by many to be the "golden age" of lockets. Curiously, at that time, they were most often given at funerals and were used to store a lock of hair or the burned ashes of the deceased. Antique lockets are always highly prized by collectors. Condition is always a prime concern qith older lockets and the hinge assembly should be carefully examined for damage and/or repairs.
Modern manufacturing methods have made high quality lockets affordable for everyone and even a modestly priced modern locket will often be of better quality than an antique locket, so as always, "Let the Buyer Beware."
To bid on any item below, simply click on the blue link next to the item. If you are new to online auctions, you can see my New to Auctions page for more information, including a very nice free video tutorial.
![]() STERLING SILVER 925 BALINESE PRAYER BOX PENDANT LOCKET W AMETHYST US $19.99 | ![]() MEDIUM PHOTO BALL LOCKET STERLING 925 SILVER PENDANT US $49.94 |
![]() 35mm Silver Locket with Cubic Zirconia Stone 18 Sterling Silver Chain NEW US $4.64 | ![]() Sterling Silver Celtic Claddagh Locket Necklace Pendant Irish ring heart 925 US $38.99 |
![]() 925 Sterling Silver Engraved Small LOVE HEART Locket 16 Chain US $20.17 | ![]() Sterling Silver Gold Heart Locket Pendant US $28.49 |
![]() Solid 925 Sterling Silver Oval Red Garnet Poison Pill Box Locket Ring Band Sz 8 US $18.95 | ![]() Sterling Silver Diamond Claddagh Locket Irish Made celtic white ring heart 925 US $41.99 |
![]() 925 Sterling Silver Red Garnet Love Heart Prayer Box Pillbox Pendant Locket NEW US $25.95 | ![]() Sterling Silver Hand Engraved Large Book Locket Floral design on 925 chain US $24.95 |
![]() 925 Sterling Silver Engraved LOVE HEART Locket 16 Chain Bargain US $23.27 | ![]() Sterling Silver Mother and Baby Locket US $64.99 |
![]() Large Sterling Silver Plain Heart Locket 16 length US $56.00 | ![]() Large Sterling Silver Plain Heart Locket 18 length US $56.00 |
![]() Large Sterling Silver Plain Heart Locket 20 length US $56.00 | ![]() Vintage Sterling Silver Filigree Amethyst Marcasites Locket Pendant 125 Heavy US $19.95 |
![]() Genuine 925 Sterling Silver Citrine Oval Prayer Box Pillbox Pendant Locket NEW US $23.95 | ![]() Nice Sterling Silver English Victorian Hand Engraved Mizpah Locket c 1860 1880s US $120.50 |
![]() STERLING SILVER 925 LARGE BALINESE POISON LOCKET RING W AMETHYST SZ 7 US $21.99 | ![]() 925 Sterling Silver Oval Green Peridot Poison Pill Box Locket Ring Band Size 8 US $22.95 |
![]() sterling silver CHARM NECKLACE with 1 5 Carat DIAMONDS heart key locket gift NWT US $99.00 | ![]() Sterling Silver 6 Picture Photo Ball Locket 20 24 SS Bead Chains US $45.00 |
![]() Bail Special Shape Sterling Silver 925 10mm Rectangle Locket Loop 2 US $3.68 | ![]() Sterling silver engraved Locket pendant US $29.99 |
![]() Sterling silver plt chain necklace w key heart locket US $.99 | ![]() Sterling Silver Marcasite Heart Locket Pendant US $23.30 |
![]() NEW Sterling Silver hand engraved Oval Locket 16x21mm brushed face great gift US $14.95 | ![]() Sterling Silver Fabulous Double Picture Locket Pendant US $24.95 |
![]() Vintage Sterling Silver Marcasite Purse Locket Pendant US $24.99 | ![]() STERLING SILVER Prayer locket excellant shape hands praying US $10.00 |
![]() Glass sterling Memorial Hexagon Locket silver US $39.95 | ![]() Vintage Sterling Silver Puffed Heart Locket Signed Adorable US $9.99 |
![]() Sterling Silver Holy Bible and Cross Locket Box Pendant US $108.12 | ![]() VINTAGE Sterling Silver PHOTO BUBBLE LOCKET Charm OPENS 40s 50s HOLDS 2 PIX US $24.99 |
![]() 925 Sterling Silver Filigree Locket Pendant Necklace with 18 Chain BN US $29.99 | ![]() Vintage Sterling Silver Purse Locket US $30.50 |
![]() VINTAGE Sterling Silver PRETTY ENGRAVED HEART LOCKET Charm US $14.99 | ![]() Sterling Silver Key Pendant with Heart Locket Necklace US $39.99 |
![]() Sterling Silver Celtic Spiral Locket Necklace Pendant Irish Made 925 US $29.99 | ![]() STERLING SILVER LOCKET HOLDS TWO PICTURES CORAL CABOCHON IN CENTER US $12.99 |
![]() Nice Classic Plain Heart Locket Sterling Silver Pendant US $16.99 | ![]() STERLING SILVER LOCKET HOLD TWO PICTURES ROMAN WARRIOR CAMEO IN CENTER US $12.99 |
![]() Amethyst Marcasite Open Filigree Locket Chain in 925 Sterling Silver US $29.00 | ![]() antique world war II WWII sweetheart locket 12k gold on sterling silver us army US $35.99 |
![]() Vintage sterling silver patterned locket charm 19 grams US $7.75 | ![]() Sterling Silver 20mm Enameled Floral Heart Locket W Necklace 18 US $63.98 |
![]() Sterling Silver Heart Locket for Mother NEW US $35.00 | ![]() Sterling Silver Unites States Marines Dog Tag Locket US $59.39 |
![]() Heart Locket Medal Sterling Silver Jewelry Necklace US $79.95 | ![]() Danecraft locket sterling silver charm US $.99 |
![]() 925 STERLING SILVER GARNET MARCASITE HEART LOCKET US $69.86 | ![]() Solid 925 Sterling Silver Amethyst Locket Poison Rings SZ 9 US $22.50 |
![]() Sterling Silver Hand Stamped Secret LOVE Message or MARRY ME Heart LOCKET US $58.00 | ![]() BRITISH MADE STERLING SILVER HAND CRAFTED OVAL LOCKET CHAIN HALLMARKED NEW 141 US $69.86 |
![]() STERLING SILVER HEART SHAPED LOCKET CHAIN NEW L96 US $23.27 | ![]() NEW STERLING SILVER PEARL PICTURE LOCKET 18 INCH CHAIN SET 419 5 US $29.95 |
![]() Sterling Silver Silver Locket Collection US $24.99 | ![]() 925 Sterling Silver Round Puff Locket Chain Bargain US $23.27 |
![]() Vintage c1960 70s Sterling Silver Engraved Heart Shaped Locket Charm US $15.51 | ![]() Sterling Silver Purse Locket Pendant with 16 Box Chain US $24.00 |
![]() BEAUTIFUL STERLING SILVER ENGRAVED ROUND LOCKET PENDANT US $25.65 | ![]() STUNNING NEW STERLING SILVER OPENING LOCKET ref A2 US $9.94 |
![]() VINTAGE 1960S STERLING SILVER ETCHED ROUND LOCKET ON BOX LINK CHAIN 126 GRAMS US $49.99 | ![]() NEW SMALL STERLING SILVER HEART LOCKET 18 INCH CHAIN SET 179 4 US $32.95 |
![]() STERLING SILVER MOTHER AND CHILD LOCKET NECKLACE GORGEOUS US $11.03 | ![]() Sterling Silver Gold Locket Egg Pendant Surprise Angel Charm Gift Russian WOW US $185.00 |
![]() Poison Ring Spider Web Locket 925 Sterling Silver Opens Secret Compartment Sz 8 US $24.95 | ![]() Sterling Silver Locket and chain 9 Grms marked 925 US $79.13 |
![]() Gold Sterling Silver Russian Relic Virgin Mary Locket US $390.52 | ![]() Sterling Silver 925 Wheat Chain Engraved Heart Locket US $84.00 |
![]() 25 X 18mm Sterling Silver Designed Oval Locket Pendant US $16.79 | ![]() STERLING SILVER CZ HEART LOCKET NECKLACE US $29.95 |
![]() VINTAGE STERLING SILVER ETCHED PUFFY HEART LOCKET 2 PHOTO NECKLACE 17 7 8 36g US $14.99 | ![]() ANTIQUE STERLING SILVER FIGURAL LOCKET ART NOUVEAU OVAL US $79.99 |
![]() STERLING SILVER EMBOSSED HEART WITH BOW LOCKET US $33.49 | ![]() Vintage Sterling Silver Hand Engraved Enameled Heart Locket new old stock 20mm US $16.99 |
![]() 925 Sterling Silver Amethyst Poison Locket Ring Size 10 US $23.35 | ![]() ATTRACTIVE VINTAGE STERLING SILVER BOOK SHAPED PHOTO LOCKET HM 1972 US $32.64 |
![]() Authentic Tiffany Co Heart Locket Sterling Silver Christmas US $41.00 | ![]() STERLING SILVER ETCHED RECTANGULAR LOCKET US $30.49 |
![]() LORI BONN Sterling Silver Scroll PHOTO HEART LOCKET Pendant 18 Necklace LOVE US $47.99 | ![]() Sterling Silver Celtic Spiral Locket Necklace Pendant Irish Made chain 925 US $29.99 |
![]() Edged Design Rectangle Locket Sterling Silver Pendant US $11.99 | ![]() Cute Plain Round Locket Sterling Silver Pendant US $13.99 |
![]() Cute Classic Plain Heart Locket Sterling Silver Pendant US $13.49 | ![]() Sterling Silver Antique Handcrafted Heart Locket Bow Pin Brooch RARE FIND US $8.00 |
![]() 925 Sterling Silver Round Locket with a Beautiful High Polished Finish 50 OFF US $48.25 | ![]() STERLING SILVER LOCKET WITH FLORAL DESIGN US $9.99 |
![]() SMALL PHOTO BALL LOCKET STERLING 925 SILVER PENDANT NEW US $39.99 | ![]() VINTAGE STERLING SILVER 2 PICTURE HEART LOCKET BROOCH PIN US $18.95 |
![]() Sterling Silver 925 Book Locket Pendant with Diamond Shape Marcasites 73 Grams US $34.99 | ![]() ENGRAVED VINTAGE SIAM STERLING SILVER FLORAL ENAMEL LOCKET on 20 Rope Chain US $34.95 |
![]() 3x Sterling Silver Balinese Poison Locket Ring w 3 Gemstone US $39.00 |




US $19.99 




































































































