Edition 19: Sweetheart Bracelets
A sweet reminder that looks good with everything.
Women are no stranger to fashion shifting in the face of war. When the men left for war, their wives and families were desperate for a connection to their loved ones overseas. Enter the Sweetheart bracelet. The most common style looks almost watch-like, with a central token (usually engraved with initials) and an expandable bracelet to easily fit a plethora of wrist sizes. Sometimes, the central piece was embellished with stones, included a locket, or was enameled for a more intricate look. These articulated pieces of jewelry were worn well through the time of WWII, acting as a physical representation of the soldier’s memory and love. The bracelets began to be produced as wearable accessories for anyone, with expansion-style bracelets remaining popular through the mid-century.
Vintage photo locket sweetheart expansion bracelet Carmen engagement bracelet for small wrist Pearl grape bracelet June birthstone on Etsy: Can someone tell me why grapes were such a popular thing in the mid-century? The little locket has some very pretty, tiny grapes on its face.
Vintage Ww2 Pitman Keeler American Queen Heart Sweetheart Expansion Bracelet on eBay: This is a very “classic” sweetheart bracelet, with its heart-shaped center and monogram.
Antique Victorian "La Mode" GF SWEETHEART PHOTO LOCKET EXANSION BRACELET Unique on eBay: A horizontal photo locket is one of the rarer styles of bracelet, with this one featuring a beautifully engraved locket and an R monogram.
Vintage Carmen sweetheart expansion bracelet Small wrist bracelet Antique Christmas bracelet on Etsy: A lot of the later styles of bracelets were purely for aesthetics and could include stones or intricate wire-work. This one even features multiple colors of gold.
1910 Victorian Mesh Sweetheart Bracelet w/ Tassels Slider | Gold Heart with Black Enamel | Signed 1-20 10K G.F. PSCO | Excellent Condition on Etsy: My favorite of the bunch is this unique mesh-style bracelet. The entire thing is adjustable and can fit a variety of wrist sizes.
Sweetheart Bracelet | Phoenix Made Sweetheart Expansion Bracelet ｜Vintage Stretch Bracelet ｜Sweetheart Expandable Bracelet on Etsy: Another classic style bracelet, this one has space for your own personal monogram.
Vintage Sweetheart Bracelet on Etsy: The double hearts are just so stinkin’ cute. I love the dual placements for initials for you and your sweetheart!
Vintage Expansion Bracelet - Retro 12k Yellow & Rose Gold Filled Stretch Sweetheart - Circa 1940s Era Blue Rhinestone Flower Lustern Jewelry on Etsy: The bracelets that didn’t include a locket are really interesting, too. The hinges on this one include both yellow and rose gold.
La Mode Vintage Sweetheart Expansion Stretch Gold Filled Locket Bracelet (C423b) on eBay: This locket isn’t quite a heart, but also isn’t a square. I loved the scalloped edges and once again, there’s space to engrave it.
Victorian Antique guilloche hand-painted sweetheart expansion bracelet c.1920s on Etsy: The hand-painted enamel on this one may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s just darling to me. Its gold-filled and the bracelet part alternates finishes.
Honorable Mentions:
What terms were searched:
Sweetheart bracelet
Expansion bracelet
Expandable jewelry
Welcome to Finder’s Keepers
This is the newsletter dedicated to leaving no vintage stone unturned. Each edition will cater to a rabbit hole that I fell down one night and include an assortment of vintage finds that make you question “Why did anyone own this?” followed quickly by “Should I own this?”
My method is simple: I attach a keyword or phrase to the item and go digging, spending hours each week combing through hundreds of pages of Etsy and Ebay bric-a-brac. It’s chaotic but satisfactory, like looking through every rack and bin at a thrift store for those that partake in the more visceral act of going in person. I like to sit on my couch.