The Different Materials Used In The Making Of Heart Pendants

Heart pendants are one of the most popular types of pendants on sale today. They are popular for many different reasons – they might be used as fashion or costume jewellery if they are at the cheaper end of the market, or they might be very expensive if they use materials such as white gold and diamonds.

This guide has been written to give you an idea of some of the materials you might find in the creation of heart pendants. It should help you to decide which materials you would like to have in the pendant you are going to buy, and as a result you can organise that shopping trip a little better!

A Selection of the different types of Heart Pendants

White gold Heart Pendants

White gold seems to be becoming more and more popular among the different types of heart pendants available nowadays. You might think that white gold is totally different from standard gold but in fact it isn’t.

White gold is made into an alloy with the addition of another metal. That other metal will be chosen to make the alloy harder wearing. Nickel used to be chosen, but nowadays it tends to be rhodium plated. Palladium can sometimes be used to make white gold as well, and you might find this is the case particularly if your heart pendant contains a stone setting of some kind.

Whichever metal is chosen to be mixed with the gold, it normally takes just a quarter of the mix. So 75% of the white gold is formed from just gold. Be aware that if you have a heart pendant made from white gold, you will need to make sure it is re-plated occasionally. Most jewellers’ should recommend this is done every couple of years. This is to make sure it remains as strong as it was on the day you bought it.

Platinum Heart Pendants

Platinum is quite a rare choice when it comes to heart pendants. Gold and silver are far more popular. You certainly won’t find it in many department stores that sell jewellery.

The most common place to find it is in more independent jewellers that may have an altogether different range of items to the main shops. This is a rare metal, and that pushes the price of a heart pendant up considerably.

This is a very pure and strong metal, and it is enormously resistant to scratching. It isn’t invincible, but if you have the money to spend on a platinum heart shaped pendant, you shouldn’t see it getting damaged or scratched easily.

It is popular among those who can afford to buy it though. Considering that a heart pendant is very often bought as a token of love between partners – perhaps for a special anniversary – platinum can give more meaning to that gift. It is also often the case that independent jewellers’ can make individual designs of heart pendants that are one of a kind – making your gift even more meaningful.

Titanium Heart Pendants

This is another less common choice for a heart pendant. It is more affordable than platinum but still more unusual than sterling silver or gold though, so it does offer possibilities.

It has the benefit that it is exceptionally strong. As such if you want a long lasting heart pendant that isn’t going to be in danger of being damaged, then titanium could work well for you.

It is also commonly found across the world, so titanium will definitely be easier on your pocket than platinum would be if you want something special for your heart pendant!

What about precious stones?

There are lots of different stones you will find in the designs of various different pendants. Costume jewellery makes good use of fake stones, i.e. cubic zirconias. But if you want to go for something authentic then there are lots of different types to choose from.

Diamonds

Diamonds are touted as a girl’s best friend, but they will of course push up the price of your heart pendant.

They are still available more cheaply than you might think though – it depends on the size of the diamond and how many are used in the making of the pendant itself.

If you want to buy a diamond heart pendant then consider your budget first. Once you know how much you can spend you can shop around and see what your money would buy you. This is the best way to ensure you won’t be tempted by something stunning that is outside of your budget!

Other precious stones

There are plenty of other precious stones that are used in the making of heart pendants. Sapphires, rubies, topaz and many more can all be found on sale at many different jewellers’.

A good idea is to remember that each month has its own birthstone. If you are buying the pendant as a birthday present for someone special, why not find out what their birthstone is and look for a heart pendant that has that stone incorporated within it? Most websites have a search feature which allows you to search for a more specific item than those given in the sections of the site. Use this to search for something like ‘topaz heart pendant’, for example.

What about glass?

Yes, even plain old glass can be used for the heart shaped pendant itself!

You will see this more often in the ranges of fashion jewellery offered by many department stores. The benefit it has is that it is cheap, it can be cut and shaped to look like a precious stone, and it can also be coloured.

Some department stores will offer essentially the same necklace with a number of different coloured hearts dangling from it. So you could buy more than one to make sure you have something to match each and every outfit you have available.

Crystals

Crystals are another popular solution for those looking at the cheaper end of the heart pendant market. Different coloured crystals are also said to have different effects, so make sure you buy something appropriate!

For example, the peridot crystal is said to have cleansing effects. It is very easy to look these up online and find out what a particular colour of crystal could do for the person wearing that heart shaped necklace.

A crystal design may not necessarily be of a specific type or colour of crystal though. Some of the costume jewellery items use plain and clear crystals to take the place of diamonds. They don’t exactly look the same and they probably wouldn’t fool people, but they do help to give the necklace a more expensive look. This is worth bearing in mind if you want something cheap that looks a lot more expensive than it actually is! It’s perfect for a night out when you need to get all dressed up.

Does the chain of the necklace have to be made of a precious metal?

No – contrary to what some people believe there are other options available. Some items may be gold plated rather than solid gold for example, but there is another option which you will find on the costume jewellery heart pendants that are for sale.

This is the rope style necklace, which can also be referred to as a cord. You will generally find this is fastened in one of two ways. The cheaper version will simply be tied at the back of the neck when you have it on – an act that might need to be done by another person as it is tricky doing it yourself.

The alternative is a corded necklace which is done up in such a way that it can be loosened or tightened to the preferred length once you are wearing it. In this design you will see that some of the necklace has double length cord on it, allowing it to be loosened off as appropriate.

In conclusion

As you can see, the options you have available in the world of heart pendants are quite amazing. You could be wearing a simple glass pendant with a cord necklace, or a solid gold necklace with a diamond encrusted heart pendant hanging from it.

Your decision on what to buy will depend on when you want to wear the pendant, or if it is for someone else, who you are buying it for and what the occasion is. This is why it is much easier to allow yourself plenty of time to make your decisions and do your research.

If it is for a special occasion or person then your budget may well be much larger. Think about the combination of precious metals and stones you would like, and then start looking through our Shop Now section. This will help you to find the options that are available so you can take a closer look at what you might be buying.

In short, don’t rush the buying process, particularly if the heart pendant is for someone else. There are plenty of jewellers’ and department stores that can provide just what you need, so be sure you look through their ranges and compare different pendants to find the perfect one for you.