Heart of Gold: Edwardian Fob Locket

Went out today for my first vintage hunt since the Fringe ended. I spent an hour perusing the back racks of jewellery at Gadabout, where I found this pretty heart shaped locket. It’s a fob locket, which means that it was meant to dangle from a watch chain or pin. You can tell because the bale is not oriented to hang as a pendant (although it’s certainly big enough that if you were to wear it on a chain around your neck, it would fall the right way). It’s also hinged at the top and not the side.

Inside, it still has it’s original celluloid windows, but no picture. I haven’t included pictures because it’s quite grungy inside, indicating that the locket was well-loved even if their was no lock of hair or image of a loved one inside.

Although there are no markings, it’s well worn yet there’s no sign of plate wear or brassing (when gold plate eventually wears off). This and the weight and patina makes me pretty confident that it’s real gold. I have a bit of gold fever since the value of the precious metal hit $1500/ounce (it went over $1600 today). I have a little fantasy that when my job contract ends in a couple of weeks, that I will go through the antique shops and thrift stores “panning” for gold. And I will become super rich at it too! The reality is that once I find a prize, I have a hard time letting go of it.