The Glossary February 4, 2026

Why Heart Jewelry Never Goes Out of Style

Jenny Rae

Ready for a heart-to-heart? We know you love this romantic style, from the best selling pendant necklaces to charm bracelets. Milestone pieces that represent something big, or even a gift from someone special.

So, why do we love this shape? Heart jewelry has always been meaningful. There’s something about it that feels instinctive. Long before it became a jewelry motif, the heart represented emotion, devotion and belonging across cultures, eras and continents.

At Missoma, hearts have always been part of our design language. With our collections we’ve reworked this iconic symbol through a modern lens. Great for gifting significant others, lovers, friends – or yourself – whatever your relationship status, every kind of love deserves to be celebrated.

Discover New Molten Hearts

First came our iconic Ridge Heart Necklace (featured in the 2023 Barbie movie), then 2025’s sell-out Puffy Hearts; now get to know the brand-new evolution of our best selling hearts line-up with the Molten Hearts collection. Modern keepsakes that make the ultimate Valentine’s Day gifts or date night essentials. Talk about a love story in the making.

At the new drop’s core is the liquid heart motif: designed to feel weighty and comforting, inspired by the ergonomic feel of holding a smooth pebble in your palm. The Molten Hearts collection strikes the perfect balance between subtle and statement styling where it is bold but at the same time soft and sculptural.

Everyday layers include the mini hearts edit, with the Molten Heart Charm Hoops giving you the perfect way to wear your heart on your stack, along with dainty charm necklaces and stackable bracelets. Bold statement pieces include the Molten Heart Hoops and double drop earrings, while the star of the show, the Molten Heart Pendant Cord Necklace, features red jasper – known for its grounding and protective energy (a good luck charm for any first dates out there), and this jasper piece has been lovingly hand-carved and polished to reflect the molten shape exactly.

Why Hearts Matter to Us

Our hearts are handcrafted to be worn on repeat – layered over knitwear, against bare skin in a bikini, or styled with chains, beads and gems. Pieces that become a part of your daily uniform and evolving with your style.

Over time, hearts have come to symbolise something bigger than romance. For our community, they represent independence, friendship, self-expression and growth. We see hearts gifted to celebrate new jobs, fresh starts, big endings, birthdays, breakups and everything in between. They’re chosen to mark moments of courage, self-belief and personal change. That’s why we love them – a shape that evolves with you.

We partner with factories in Thailand and India, carefully handpicked for their highly-skilled artisanship by our founder and creative director, Marisa Hordern. Each artisan is a master in their own intricate craft – from wax modelling and casting, to gemstone cutting and plating – using expertise passed down over generations. Ours is a 12-year working relationship (and counting) with every factory audited every one to three years.

The Meaning Behind Heart Jewelry

Once seen as purely romantic or sentimental, hearts have re-emerged as something expressive, confident, emotional and strong. Hearts tap into nostalgia, self-love and self-expression combine perfectly. The organic imperfect silhouettes of Molten Hearts feel fluid and instinctive.

A Shape With History

Long before minimalist pendants or couture looks, hearts symbolised devotion, connection and emotion in art and adornment. Across centuries and cultures, the heart motif has been re-interpreted again and again. In the Renaissance, lockets held miniature portraits, love notes or locks of hair, worn close to the chest as intimate keepsakes. In Victorian times, heart jewelry became symbolic of remembrance and emotional depth. In the 20th century, it transformed into playful pop motifs, bold graphic icons and sculptural forms. Each era reshaped the heart to reflect how people loved, lived and expressed themselves. Today, heart jewelry feels more expressive than ever.

Each style holds its own meaning:

Open or fluid hearts – symbolising openness, growth and new beginnings

Sculptural hearts – representing confidence, boldness and individuality

Classic puffed or ridge hearts – nodding to nostalgia, romance and memory

Gemstone hearts – adding colour, emotional depth and personalised meaning

How to Wear Heart Jewelry Now

There really are no rules, because heart jewelry works best when it feels personal – layered, stacked, or all mixed up. We love hearts worn daily, styled differently each time, combined with pieces collected over years.

Think of heart jewelry as part of your uniform. Something you reach for without thinking. Layer heart pendant necklaces with longer chains, mix textures, play with proportions, or stack sculptural hearts with minimal styles. Plus, don’t be afraid to mix metals. Gold, silver and two tone pieces all together feel expressive and effortless. It keeps heart jewelry away from feeling overly sweet.

Layer Like a Pro

Heart pendants pair beautifully with other necklaces. Pair sculptural or molten heart charm necklaces with longer minimalist chains for depth and dimension. Mixing textures – delicate chains with chunkier designs – creates a layered look that feels curated. Start with a shorter heart pendant necklace, then build with a statement chain or gemstone charm for contrast.

Mix Your Metals

Can’t decide between gold or silver? Now you don’t have to. A gold Puffy Heart layered with a silver or vermeil heart charm adds texture and dimension, creating a look that feels fashion-forward rather than traditional.

Play with Scale

Different heart shapes bring different energy:

Mini hearts feel understated and refined, perfect for everyday

Sculptural hearts add bold, artistic edge

Statement lockets or embellished hearts elevate evening looks

Gemstone hearts bring colour, playfulness and individuality

Our Most Loved Heart: The Ridge Heart Necklace

If you too want a chance to layer up in the heart necklace that features in the Barbie movie, this is your chance. Paired with a delicate bobble chain, the gold heart-shaped puffed pendant will have you aflutter with its signature ridge detailing. Send a message from the heart with this iconic style.

The Perfect Gift

Whatever your relationship status, every kind of love deserves to be celebrated.

For a Partner

Pair your heart jewelry with the gift of a handwritten note explaining why you chose that piece for a sentimental touch.

For a Best Friend

Matching charm jewelry for you and your bestie. Gifts for birthdays, milestones and moments that matter.

For Yourself

Choose a heart that feels like you with pieces to mark new jobs, fresh starts, endings, birthdays spent solo, moments of courage – or because it felt right in that moment.

Go, Heart Yourself

Heart jewelry endures because its meaningful, speaking to emotion, identity, connection and love. Hearts can be sculptural, bold, expressive and modern. They can be playful, powerful and deeply personal. Whether you choose a fine diamond pendant, a playful puffy heart or a molten sculptural piece, wear your heart on your stack.