Diamond Locket / Gold Locket / Two Tone Gold Diamond Pendant / Art Deco Locket
Lockets evolved from ancient amulets. European designs for lockets appear to date to the 16th century, when small pendants were worn to conceal good luck charms, small fabric squares soaked in perfume to ward off the poor smells on public thoroughfares, painted portraits, and even, on occasion, poison.
Lockets are such a sweet sentimental gift and have been worn for centuries. This is truly a gift that one will cherish for years to come.
This locket is an engraved oval locket with a diamond in a white gold heart in the centre. The engraved front of the locket has scrolls and artistic lines to add depth and texture to the front.
The back of the locket is blank. There are small dents on the back. Lockets frequently develop dents due to their hollow, thin-walled construction, often caused by accidental impacts, dropping, or even accidental biting. These dents, or sometimes indentations specifically called "tooth marks" from heirloom handling. I can just imagine a mother wearing this locket while her child holds and plays with it around her neck.
The diamond is a single cut diamond and is estimated to weigh 0.03 cts and is set in white gold in a heart setting. The diamond is in an open back setting, and you can see the back end of the setting on the inside of the locket.
This locket snaps shut with a good snap and is in wonderful condition given it's age.
The locket opens up to hold 2 oval photos. There is one frame on the inside of the locket which can be used to trace out the photos. The locket is engraved for metal purity on the inside of the locket. It is engraved 10K ESEMCO.
ESEMCO (Shiman Manufacturing Co.) pocket jewelry, popular in the early 20th century, often includes ornate, high-quality gold-filled or 10k gold items like pocket knives, watch fobs, and chains. Renowned for Art Deco designs and filigree work, these vintage items were produced in Newark, New Jersey. Established in 1905 (sometimes cited as 1906), the company was a well-respected American manufacturer operating through the mid-20th century, with some sources indicating activity until 1988. ESEMCO (or Esemco) jewelry is a trademark of the Shiman-Miller Manufacturing Company, founded in 1905 in Newark, New Jersey, by Abraham Shiman and Simon Miller. Known for high-quality 10k/14k gold lockets, rings, and charms from the 1920s-1950s, their pieces often feature Art Deco, filigree, or floral designs. The name derives from "S-M Co" (Shiman-Miller).
The bail looks like it has been replaced and is not gold.
What a beautiful heirloom to pass down to family or a loved one.
Item Weight: 2.95 g
Length: 32 mm (Including bail)
Width: 18 mm
