In the Mood for Love:
Heart-Shaped Natural Diamond Jewelry Gift Ideas
What says “I adore you” more than a heart-shaped diamond? Hearts are an eternal and universal symbol of passion, and love knows no bounds and has been reiterated in jewelry countless times over. Of course, when the motif comes in the form of a sparkling natural diamond, the sweet sentiment is amplified, and there’s even a poetic connection to a specific mascot of love.
“Natural diamonds have been linked to love since their discovery,” shares Grant Mobley, Jewelry and Watch Editor for the Natural Diamond Council. “In ancient mythology, Cupid’s arrows were even tipped in diamonds. Natural diamonds’ link to love led diamond cutters to develop the heart-shaped cut very early in the history of diamond cutting.”
Meet the Expert
- Grant Mobley is the Jewelry & Watch Editor of Only Natural Diamonds
- He is a GIA Graduate Diamonds Graduate
- He has over 17 years of jewelry industry experience, starting with growing up in his family’s retail jewelry stores
What Is a Heart-Shaped Diamond?
A variation of the brilliant round cut, a heart-cut diamond is revered not only for its symbolism but also because of the precision that is required to achieve symmetry. “The heart-shaped diamond has been around since the 1400s, in the early days of diamond cutting,” Mobley continues. “It is among the most difficult cuts and doing it well requires an expert that specializes in cutting only that shape.”
When choosing a heart-shaped diamond, look for excellent symmetry—the two halves of the heart should be perfectly balanced and the cleft well-defined. Clarity is important but can be more forgiving than in step-cut shapes like emeralds. Still, aim for a clarity grade of VS2 or higher, as the pointed tip and curved lobes can hide minor inclusions, but larger flaws may still be visible due to the stone’s open facets.
For Valentine’s Day and beyond, heart-shaped natural diamond heart jewelry is the ultimate expression of devotion, whether to yourself or a special someone, and a meaningful way to celebrate love in all forms. Below, see gift ideas from some of our favorite designers.
Heart-Shaped Diamond Pendants
You simply can’t go wrong with a charming heart-shaped diamond pendant. A welcome addition to any jewelry box, it suits a range of style aesthetics from minimalist to maximalist (amongst her showstopper pieces, Elizabeth Taylor also wore a relatively discreet diamond heart pendant). Whether you prefer a delicate solitaire, one suspended on a chunky chain, or a playful design, it’s a darling way to spread the love to your layers.
Taylor wore a personal and sentimental piece of diamond jewelry while filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1958. She was only on set for about two weeks before her husband, Mike Todd, tragically passed away. The producer died on March 22, 1958, in a plane crash in New Mexico.
He was on his way to receive the “Showman of the Year” award in New York City when the aircraft went down. Taylor had plans to fly with her husband but decided to stay home at the last minute due to a cold. Their daughter, Liza, was only seven months old. After his death, Taylor continued to wear her engagement ring, along with many other diamond jewels he had gifted her throughout their love affair.
Starring as Maggie Pollitt in the adaptation of Tennessee Williams play, Taylor went back to set after two weeks of mourning. In Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, she says, “I was more or less like a robot until I became Maggie. When I was Maggie, I could talk, and I could function, until they said ‘cut.’ There was a trance-like thing about me after Mike’s death.”
Keeping a memento near and dear to her heart, Taylor wore a solitaire heart-shapeddiamond pendant necklace around her neck throughout the film, given to her by her late husband. She was known to wear the necklace every day for years as a symbol of their undying love. She even wore the jewel on her wedding day to her next husband, Eddie Fisher.
Heart-Shaped Diamond Rings
Send your dearly beloved a hidden message by way of natural diamonds. At first glance, Robinson Pelham’s gold and diamond ring may look like an artistic rendition of an eternity band, but the mixed cut stones cleverly translate to “Eye Love You.” Designs with multiple hearts, such as Reza’s stunning take on the toi et moi ring (with 9.79ct of brilliant diamonds), can also serve to represent the close bond you share with loved ones.
A Gift For Your BFFs
Don’t forget about your best galentines! Thank them for always being there for you with a chic friendship bracelet. 770 Fine Jewelry’s mixed chain and silk cord bracelets accented with a bezel-set heart diamond are an everyday wrist accessory they will cherish.
Unique Heart-Shaped Diamond Jewelry
Hearts aren’t required to be strictly saccharine, either. When cast in modern metal settings and unexpected designs, a heart-shaped stone becomes a sleek and sophisticated way to infuse a little wink into your collection.
Margot Robbie arrived at the 2024 Oscar Nominees Luncheon, channeling Barbie in a pretty pink Chanel tweed suit and mega-diamond jewels from Lorraine Schwartz. The actress teamed her heart-shaped diamond drop earrings with a matching heart-shaped diamond ring.
Dakota Johnson has been spotted sporting Jessica McCormack’s heart-shaped diamond Gypset hoop earrings while out and about. Heart-shaped diamond drop earrings bring a cutesy element to your day-to-day or spark joy for a romantic night out.
Heart-Shaped Colored Diamond Jewelry
Dreamy colored natural diamonds are another way to make an impact. Behold the radiant yellow diamond that Retrovai nestles in a notched yellow gold bezel, while The One I Love pairs a chocolate diamond heart with a polished band that echoes the stones’ feminine silhouette.
Heart-Shaped Diamond Engagement Rings
The unabashedly romantic may gravitate towards the fancy cut for the grandest gesture of them all: the proposal. A heart-cut diamond engagement ring is just as unique as a couple’s love story. Go the classic route and let the heart-shaped center stone shine as a statement-making solitaire, or framed with a halo to declare your love. To dial up the whimsy, opt for a special setting like Anthony Lent’s Adorned Hands or even an eternity band featuring twinkling heart diamonds.
However you choose to wear your natural diamond love token, it’s an endearing reminder that you have captured someone’s heart.
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