What is a locket necklace?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
A locket is a pendant with two hinged halves that opens to reveal a small space inside, traditionally used to hold a photograph, a lock of hair or another tiny keepsake. The outside is usually engraved, set with stones or shaped into a heart or oval, and the locket hangs from a chain at the front of a necklace. Lockets have been treasured as sentimental jewellery for centuries, particularly popular in the Victorian era when they often held miniature portraits or mourning mementoes, and they remain a classic personal gift today.
Frequently asked questions
- What can you put inside a locket?
- Traditionally a small photograph, a lock of hair or a handwritten note. Modern lockets are also used for pressed flowers, tiny charms, a lover's note and other small personal objects. The interior space is usually very small, so fine or flat items work best.
- How do you open a locket?
- Most lockets have a small hinged edge and a tiny fingernail groove on the other side. Gently press a thumbnail into the groove and the two halves spring or hinge apart. Some have a small press-button release instead.
- Is a locket a good gift?
- A locket is one of the most personal gifts in jewellery because it carries something of the giver or a shared memory inside. It suits birthdays, milestones and sentimental occasions, and it can be worn close to the heart literally as well as figuratively.
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