Quick answer: A locket necklace is a pendant that opens to reveal a small hidden compartment, traditionally holding a photograph, a lock of hair, or another personal keepsake. It symbolises love, remembrance and keeping someone close, since it is worn over the heart. Lockets date back to the 16th century, when they held religious relics, and became especially popular during the Victorian era for mourning and sentimental jewellery.
Most necklaces are decorative. A locket is personal. Its hidden compartment turns a simple pendant into something private, meant to carry a small piece of another person close to the body, often for years at a time.
This guide covers where the locket tradition comes from, what it symbolises today, the different styles available, and how to choose and look after one.
Where the Locket Tradition Comes From
The word locket comes from the Old French luquette, meaning a small case or box in which valuables were kept. Lockets first appeared in the 16th century, evolving from earlier reliquary jewellery, small pendants designed to hold sacred relics such as a fragment of bone or hair, worn as a sign of faith and protection.
The locket’s meaning shifted from religious to personal over the following centuries, and reached its peak of popularity during the Victorian era. The invention of photography in the 19th century transformed the locket completely, since for the first time an ordinary person could carry a genuine photographic likeness of a loved one, rather than a lock of hair or a painted miniature. Victorian mourning culture also embraced the locket widely, often set with jet or seed pearls and worn to hold the image or hair of someone who had died.
What a Locket Symbolises Today
A locket’s meaning has stayed remarkably consistent across five centuries: closeness, memory, and love. Because it is worn resting against the chest, close to the heart, it carries a symbolic weight that a plain pendant does not. What sets it apart further is privacy. The wearer alone decides whether to open it and reveal what is inside, which is why lockets are so often connected to devotion rather than display.
Today, lockets are given for a wide range of meaningful occasions: a wedding, the birth of a child, a milestone birthday, or as a way of carrying the memory of someone who has passed away.
Common Locket Styles
| Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Round or oval locket | The most traditional and widely recognised shape |
| Heart locket | A popular romantic choice, often given as a gift between partners or family |
| Book-shaped locket | Opens like a tiny book, popular in the late 19th century, symbolising a personal story |
| Photo-sealed pendant | A modern alternative that seals a photo permanently under a lens rather than an openable case |
The choice between a traditional openable locket and a sealed photo pendant often comes down to how the piece will be worn. An openable locket leans into ritual, since opening it to see the photo inside is part of the experience. A sealed pendant protects the image permanently from air and moisture, which suits someone who plans to wear the piece daily without removing it.
What to Put Inside a Locket
A small printed photograph remains the most common choice, though many people also use a lock of hair, a pressed flower, a handwritten note, or a tiny fabric swatch from a meaningful item of clothing. If you plan to use a photograph, it is worth having it printed specifically for the locket, since photo paper trimmed to fit tends to hold up better over time than a home-cut print from standard paper.
Choosing a Locket
Sterling silver and gold are the most traditional materials, and both take engraving well if you want to personalise the outer case with initials, a date, or a short message. Check the hinge and clasp mechanism before buying, since this is the part most likely to wear out with regular opening and closing over the years. A slightly larger locket is easier to open with fingernails, while a smaller design sits more discreetly under clothing for everyday wear.
Caring for a Locket Necklace
Clean the outer case the same way as any solid gold or silver piece, with warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth, taking care to keep moisture away from the hinge and away from anything stored inside. Photographs and paper keepsakes are vulnerable to moisture, so avoid wearing a locket in the shower or while swimming if it contains a printed photo. Have the hinge checked periodically by a jeweller, since this is the mechanism most likely to loosen with years of regular use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a locket necklace symbolise?
A locket symbolises love, remembrance and closeness, since it is worn over the heart and holds a private photograph or keepsake that only the wearer chooses to reveal.
How old is the locket tradition?
Lockets date back to the 16th century, evolving from earlier reliquary jewellery that held religious relics, and became especially popular for photographs and mourning jewellery during the Victorian era.
Can men wear locket necklaces?
Yes. While lockets are most commonly marketed to women today, they were historically worn by men, women and children alike, and unisex styles remain widely available.
What is the difference between a locket and a photo pendant?
A traditional locket opens to reveal its contents, while a photo pendant seals the image permanently under a lens. Lockets lean into the ritual of opening, while sealed pendants protect the photo for long-term daily wear.
Do lockets need special photo paper?
It is worth using a photo printed specifically for the locket’s compartment size, since properly sized prints hold up better over time than a home-cut image from standard paper.
Final Thoughts
A locket necklace carries five centuries of history in a single small case, and its meaning has barely changed: love, memory, and the wish to keep someone close. If you are choosing a chain to pair with your locket, our necklace chain types guide covers which styles suit a pendant best, and our gold jewellery buying guide is worth reading before choosing the metal for your locket.