It’s A Lock When It Comes To Modern Padlock Designs


Modern designers continue to look to the past for inspiration, particularly when there are tales to tell, legends to relate, symbolism and  great design to re-interpret for the times were are living in. Such is the case of the padlock, which in jewelry dates back to the Georgian/Regency period and then took off  during The Romantic Period of Victorian era. The Georgians and Victorians were a sentimental lot. They loved hidden meanings and coded messages. It was a time when men and women  could speak their feelings openly—they would use jewelry as a means to communicate desire and  romantic love. The padlock was given to protect love—it traditionally had a key that would open up the lock which the man would keep as a token of his enduring love; while the woman wore the lock, which were often in the shape of a heart. Allusions to chastity and fidelity were also part of the symbolism of the padlock but today we recognize these as tokens of affection and passion—or being locked in love.

They could be simple and engravable or feature an abundance of sentimental motifs—ivy leafs for fidelity, pansies for ‘think of me’, hearts and swallows (who mate for life) all engraved into one small lock. Other versions were set with gemstones. In the center when there was no longer a key but a click in component on top or they were set with multiple gemstone such as turquoise which also brought luck or ruby for passion.

These designs lent themselves to reinvention and throughout the 20th century have seen more streamlined or sculptural updates from renowned houses such as Tiffany & Co.

Today’s jewelry designer is also influenced by the love locks on bridges throughout France and Italy and other places in Europe, where lovers attached  locks with their initials  and threw the key into the river or canal to stand for everlasting commitment and undying love. The only problem was the weight collapsed a fence in Paris and caused a and in Florence and Venice, bolt cutters were used to take down thousands of these locks. I remember seeing them for the first time many years ago and thinking that they captured the feeling of some of the most romantic cities in Europe. There still is one part of the world that places romance at a premium tourist attraction, Montevideo, Uruguay, there is  The Locks Fountain, or Fuente de los Candados which is encased by a grill fence studded with love locks. It features  plaque in Spanish and English with a message of the legend of locks and the love.

Fast forward to the present and designers have been inspired by the jewels of yesteryear as well as the love locks they have seen on their travels.

Today’s padlocks are featured in a variety of looks from ultra-minimalistic to ornate to three dimensional and tactile and feel more modern in their aesthetic then the antique styles. Which is the way it is supposed to be. There is a creativity that taps into what women who aren’t familiar with the past are feeling they want to wear now. And yes, there are some woman who take it literally and don’t want to be ‘locked down’ by a man; however the reason that these styles do so well is due to the original symbolism –the charm of the romance and the captivating passion, which  will be forever the key to popularity of the modern day versions whether they are true padlocks or pendants in the shape of one.

Annoushka’s (see above) new Lovelock designs features five 18K gold styles, set with precious gemstones. Each one depicts a different talismanic symbol; The Bee, an icon of endurance and community, The Eye, to keep the wearer safe, The Star, a decorative symbol of guidance, and The Heart (pictured here) our universal symbol of love. The fifth is left polished and without motif for prsonal engraving.

Jenna Blake’s Heart Lock Charm is dome shaped in 18K yellow gold and diamonds. It’s modern and sculptural in it’s design.

Retrouvaí has created a series of padlock inspired pendants with different motifs carved into gold or intaglios. This one is the Honor Padlock Honor in 14K yellow gold.

Carbon & Hyde’s pared down diamond padlock set with diamonds offers a current appeal and everyday elegance in rose gold.

Inspired by one of Jade Trau’s personal vintage locks, she created this 18K Betty Necklace which  takes a unique spin on a typical y-style necklace with the lock as the opening & closing clasp and a hanging tag embellished with two round, brilliant cut diamonds. The Betty necklace is can be personalized with custom engraving and can be layered with other necklaces.

Erica Molinari has been creating modern version of padlocks for several years. They featured designs on front and back or a design on the front and a saying on the back in Latin or Italian. The most recent additions to the collection display more diamonds, gemstones and/or enamel. This one is the Ornate Large Rectangular Diamond Padlock, which on the reverse side, reads in script “Beauty is not naused, it is”- Emily Dickinson. It 18k gold and sterling silver.

Polly Wales has shaken up what the padlock should look like with her lost wax casting and different cuts and shapes of gemstones. Polly is a master at glancing toward the past and completely reinventing the pieces she is attracted to in what the woman of today would want to own.

 Sevan Bicakci padlock pendant is hand-crafted; the surface of the padlock is lapis and turquoise micro-mosaic surrounding a trio of butterflies which represent endurance, life, change, and hope. The front is framed by a thin band of diamonds and backed with hand-engraved sterling silver with 24K gold casing.

Featured here is the miniature version of the gold Hoorsenbuhs padlock pendant on the Hoorsenbuhs gold tri-link chain (sold separately). It is a perfectly rendered 18K yellow gold replica of the larger version and has a playful, modern edge.

Anne Sisteron’s 14K yellow gold and diamond padlock inspired necklace is punctuated by diamonds and hangs horizontally on the chain for a contemporary take.



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