Love Tokens and Victorian Symbolism: Jewels that Whisper Across Time
There’s something enchanting about wearing a message close to your skin — a quiet whisper from the past, etched in gold, woven into silver, or glittering in garnets. At Windsor Jewel Attic, we’ve long been captivated by love tokens — those delicate, powerful pieces of jewellery created not merely to adorn, but to speak. Nowhere is this language more beautifully fluent than in the sentimental treasures of the Victorian era.
The Victorian Heart: A World of Hidden Meanings
The 19th century was a time of transformation — politically, industrially, socially — but also emotionally. Queen Victoria’s deep and public affection for Prince Albert made romantic love not only fashionable but something to be honoured and sentimentalised. And when words felt too fleeting, jewellery stepped in.
This was the golden age of Victorian symbolism, a time when motifs held weight and every flourish was intentional. A heart wasn’t just a heart. A snake coiled into a circle? Eternal love. A hand clasping another? A promise made. A simple flower? A whole paragraph in the language of floriography.
And at the heart of it all were love tokens — miniature missives meant to be worn, not read.
Mizpah: Until We Meet Again
One of the most hauntingly beautiful forms of Victorian love jewellery was Mizpah jewellery. Popularised in the second half of the 19th century, the word "Mizpah" comes from the Old Testament: "The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another." (Genesis 31:49).
This phrase was engraved on rings, lockets, brooches, and pendants, given as parting gifts between lovers, friends, and even family members. Often sent off with a soldier, sailor, or emigrating sweetheart, Mizpah pieces became wearable prayers — promises of reunion, or spiritual guardianship across oceans and time.
Designs were often bold and declarative: the word MIZPAH in blocky capital letters set into gold or silver, sometimes surrounded by ivy leaves (symbolising fidelity) or entwined hearts. Though they may have originated in heartbreak and absence, today they radiate romance — steadfast, enduring, and steeped in story.
Beyond Mizpah: Other Symbols of Love and Loyalty
Victorian jewellers had a whole alphabet of affection at their fingertips. Here are just a few of the love tokens we regularly come across at Windsor Jewel Attic — each with its own unique brand of poetic promise.
Claddagh Rings (though Irish in origin, they gained popularity in Britain during the Victorian era): Hands for friendship, a heart for love, and a crown for loyalty.
Lover’s Knots: Intertwined knots of gold or silver, symbolising unity and unbreakable bonds. Sometimes called “true love knots,” these pieces were often exchanged during engagements or kept as mementoes of secret courtships.
Forget-Me-Not Flowers: Often found in enamel or turquoise, this motif was as literal as it was tender. A quiet plea to remain in someone’s thoughts.
Acrostic Jewellery: Spellbound by gemstones? So were the Victorians — literally. Acrostic jewellery arranged stones so that the first letter of each gem spelled out a word. REGARD (Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond) was a common one. Subtle, secret, and deliciously clever.
Eye Miniatures (or "Lover’s Eyes"): A single painted eye set into a locket or ring — intimate yet anonymous, allowing a secret love to be kept hidden from society but close to the heart.
Love Tokens Today: Collecting Romance
In our modern world of emojis and text messages, the idea of communicating deep emotion through jewellery might seem quaint. But at Windsor Jewel Attic, we see it differently. These tokens — forged in times of slower love and longer goodbyes — still hold immense emotional power.
Whether you’re a collector of antique curiosities or simply someone who finds beauty in the meaningful, Victorian love tokens offer a chance to connect with human history in a deeply personal way. They are talismans not just of love, but of memory, intention, and sentiment. A bridge across time, a heartbeat captured in gold.
We believe jewellery should make you feel something. And these pieces — etched with Victorian symbolism, laden with forgotten meanings — do just that. So whether you wear a Mizpah pendant over your heart or stack lover’s knot rings on your fingers, you’re not just wearing vintage. You’re wearing a story.
Looking for your own token of enduring affection?
Explore our ever-changing collection of Victorian love tokens and symbolic jewellery — each hand-picked for its history, charm, and heart.