Posted by Bowman Originals on Jul 23rd 2025
The Heart as a Symbol: A Love That Transcends Time
The Heart as a Symbol: A Love That Transcends Time
There is perhaps no symbol more universally recognized, more deeply felt, or more tenderly exchanged than the heart. Its graceful curves speak a silent language—the language of affection, passion, connection, and devotion. But where did this iconic shape come from, and how has it found such a lasting home in the world of jewelry?
The Origins of the Heart Symbol
Though its form does not precisely mimic the anatomical heart, the symbolic heart shape has roots in antiquity. Some scholars trace it back to the silphium plant, used in the ancient city of Cyrene as both a spice and an early form of birth control. Its seed pods bore a shape strikingly similar to what we now recognize as the heart symbol, forever linking it with romance, sensuality, and fertility.
As time flowed forward, the heart evolved from its botanical beginnings into a spiritual emblem, appearing in early Christian art to represent divine love, sacrifice, and the soul’s yearning. By the Middle Ages, it had become associated with courtly love, a central theme in chivalric romance and poetry, where knights pledged their hearts to noble ladies in acts of loyalty, longing, and honor. Read about The Heart as a Symbol of Love
The Heart in Jewelry Through the Ages
By the 15th century, the heart became a prominent motif in jewelry—especially as a token of love. During the Renaissance, heart-shaped lockets and rings were exchanged as betrothal gifts. In Victorian England, the heart was often paired with keys, wings, or knots to represent sentiments such as “you hold the key to my heart”, or “our love takes flight.”
Across cultures and eras, the heart has adorned everything from regal brooches to petite charm necklaces, always carrying a message of intimacy and emotional depth. It has never gone out of fashion—because the language of the heart is eternal. How to create a Heart Jewelry Ensemble inspired by love.
The Heart’s Meaning in Jewelry Today
Today, a heart pendant is more than a shape—it is a story worn close to the chest. It can symbolize romantic love, self-love, friendship, remembrance, or legacy. It is a gift between lovers, between generations, or even to oneself, as a promise of wholeness and strength.
When handcrafted, especially in precious metals like sterling silver and 18k gold, the heart becomes a lasting tribute—one formed not by machine but by the hands of an artist who understands love’s subtle language. Set with gemstones, inscribed with messages, or simply bold and minimalist, the heart in jewelry invites the wearer to carry emotion in physical form.
A Romantic Emblem, Forever Worn
At Bowman Originals, our artisan handcrafted heart pendants are not just adornments—they are symbols sculpted from sentiment. Each piece reflects a reverence for romance, a commitment to quality, and a belief that love, like fine jewelry, is meant to last forever.
So whether worn as a statement or a whisper, in the quiet of daily life or the glow of celebration, the heart remains what it has always been:
a mirror of feeling, a symbol of devotion, and the shape of the soul’s most sacred desire.