Victorian Puff Heart Charm Necklace, ca. 1895
Appraised Value:
$3,500 - $3,500
IMAGE: 1 of 1
Appraisal Video:
Appraised By:
Rosalie Sayyah
Jewelry
Independent Appraiser and Owner
Rhinestone Rosie
Appraisal Transcript:
GUEST: I started collecting these about 20 years ago. I collected them one at a time. Sometime I was limited because of finances, and other times, I could only find one. Many times I bought the only one that there was.
APPRAISER: Well, what you have collected in the last 20 years is an astounding assembly of Victorian puff hearts. At the very late part of the 1800s, the Victorian jewelry style changed from real heavy jewelry into simple, sweet motifs. The Victorians were very, very romantic and they loved symbolism in their jewelry. The puff hearts have little flowers on them, and some of them even are padlocks. They were locking their loved one's heart into their soul. Very romantic. Now, you have how many hearts here?
GUEST: Thirty-eight.
APPRAISER: Well, 38 includes the little Bible at the bottom. And what is the significance of the Bible at the bottom?
GUEST: I just particularly like that one. It opens. It has a tiny heart lock on it.
APPRAISER: Oh, I see the lock on the side of the book there. That's very charming. Now, through the 20 years that you've been collecting these hearts, what do you think you've paid on average per heart?
GUEST: I have paid from six dollars to... $35.
APPRAISER: I'd say on today's market on a retail level, this piece would be worth about $3,500.
GUEST: I'm astounded. I am just astounded. That's a real thrill.
