Victorian Mourning Lockets and the History of Mourning Jewellery

October 2, 2026

Ornate Victorian-style mourning lockets on dark velvet beside a candle and purple iris

In the Victorian era, grief was not hidden. It was worn.

When Queen Victoria lost Prince Albert in 1861, she entered a decades-long period of mourning that shaped an entire culture of remembrance. Out of this period grew one of the most refined and personal forms of jewellery ever created: Victorian mourning jewellery, and at its heart, the mourning locket.

These pieces were far more than decoration. They were intimate vessels of memory — designed to keep the presence of a loved one close in a quiet, private way.

What Was Victorian Mourning Jewellery?

Victorian mourning jewellery was created to honour the dead and comfort the living. Common materials included:

Jet (a deep black fossilised wood)
Black enamel
Gold and silver
Hairwork (intricate designs made from the hair of the deceased)
Pearls (symbolising tears)
Onyx and other dark stones

Designs often featured symbolic motifs: weeping willows, urns, forget-me-nots, crosses, and closed hands. Many pieces were inscribed with names, dates, or short phrases such as “In Memory Of” or “Gone But Not Forgotten.”

The Mourning Locket

Among the most personal forms of mourning jewellery was the locket.

Victorian mourning lockets were typically made of gold or silver and designed to open. Inside, they held a lock of hair, a miniature portrait, or a small keepsake. Some were elaborate and highly decorated; others were simple and restrained. All served the same purpose: to carry a tangible reminder of someone who had died.

The locket sat close to the heart — a private act of remembrance that could be worn every day.

From Victorian Lockets to Modern Keepsake Jewellery

The emotional need that created Victorian mourning lockets has not disappeared. It has simply evolved.

Today, many people choose cremation jewellery and keepsake lockets for the same reason Victorians once chose mourning jewellery: the desire to keep a loved one near. Instead of hair or a miniature portrait, modern pieces often hold a small portion of ashes.

At Amarantha Jewellery, we see a clear line between the two. Our pieces are made in the spirit of those earlier mourning lockets — private, elegant, and designed to be worn close. The materials have changed (we favour durable stainless steel for everyday wear), but the intention remains the same: to honour a bond that does not end.

The name Amarantha itself draws from the ancient idea of the unfading flower — a quiet echo of the Victorian belief that love and memory can endure beyond death.

Why Mourning Jewellery Still Matters

Victorian mourning jewellery reminds us that grief has always sought tangible expression. A locket, then and now, offers something simple yet profound: a way to carry love forward in a form that can be held, worn, and kept private.

Whether it is a heart-shaped urn pendant, an angel wing locket, or a classic openable design, the modern keepsake continues a tradition that is more than 150 years old.