There was a time not long ago that I would have wanted anything other than heart jewelry for Valentine’s Day.
Too on the nose, too trite—whatever the reason, I longed for something unexpected.
What I had yet to learn (and now have delighted in sharing) is that heart jewelry can certainly offer the unexpected, and it’s anything but commonplace when treated with the refreshing point of view of an inspiring designer.
Valentine’s Day means something different to everyone, depending on where they are in life. Maybe in junior high school it’s wearing that heart pendant your crush got for you from Claire’s or asking someone to the Sadie Hawkins dance. As you get older, it might be about visiting Victoria’s Secret with your girlfriends in search of on-theme lingerie (to wear in private or public, it’s college after all). Older still, it might be about getting a reservation to the hottest restaurant in town or cooking up a romantic dinner for two.
With kids, it becomes something completely different—and not solely because you just don’t have time for that other stuff.
Because suddenly Valentine’s Day isn’t about scoring the best restaurant reservation or the most impressive gift. The holiday needn’t reek of romantic connection at all, rather, it’s a celebration of all kinds of love.
That of a mother and her children is one of the most powerful, and it’s the reason I’m fawning over heart jewelry for Valentine’s Day like never before. It may be the enduring icon of this lover’s holiday, but its meaning contains infinite layers. And instead of wanting jewelry for myself this year, it’s my daughter I’d love to gift with a heart-shape piece.
That’s why this new pendant by the wonderful Harwell Godfrey is so perfect for the occasion. Not only is designer Lauren Godfrey’s much-coveted signature aesthetic evident, its purchase gives back to a very worthy cause—100% of the profits from each pendant sold goes to Every Mother Counts.
With the signature triangle motif in gold and diamonds sent straight down its center, the choice of pink opal for this heart pendant isn’t just for looks: According to the brand, pink opal is a love stone with a deep connection to the heart chakra, encouraging emotional healing and opening of hearts for love.
Pregnancy and childbirth can be as blissful an experience as a harrowing one, and, unfortunately, a lot of that can be attributed to the quality of care a mother receives. The nonprofit organization Every Mother Counts works to achieve safe pregnancy and childbirth for every mother everywhere, something that should be guaranteed of every expecting woman. “I went into heart failure after complications from childbirth and know firsthand how important it is for expecting and birthing mothers to have access to quality care,” said Lauren Harwell Godfrey on the brand’s website. “I am incredibly honored to be supporting the important work of Every Mother Counts, a cause I believe deeply in.”
For those who love the design, Godfrey offers a range of other gemstones, each one benefiting a different cause: chalcedony, for Futures Without Violence; a rainbow of gemstones, for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC); black onyx, to benefit the NAACP; and malachite, for World Central Kitchen.
Heart jewelry is perfect for Valentine’s Day, a notion that will be demonstrated repeatedly over the next month. What makes the hearts by Harwell Godfrey so special is their ability to give back and spread the love on this holiday and any time of year.
Top: Heart pendant in 18k yellow gold with pink opal and diamonds, $2,500; Harwell Godfrey
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