St. Valentine’s Day, as you probably know, began as a Roman festival in the 14th century — a day on which lovers expressed their love with poetry, greetings, gifts and flowers.
- “The original Valentine’s Day (from medieval times) included a festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, and “included fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery.”
Since Valentine’s Day is also traditionally a “feast day,” yours may include a feast, too — aka going out to dinner (did you make those reservations yet?), or maybe something cozier: staying in, cooking and doing the dishes together (after all, you’re a modern, egalitarian couple).
That said, if you and your partner are taking the wining-and-dining route, feasting in the city, have you considered your jewelry? What jewelry will you pair with that wine, and that outfit? Here are some jewels that we think Cupid, the Roman god of love, would approve.
Rubies, of Course
As clichéd as it may sound, the red of rubies are associated with the heart — the seat of emotion — and the iconic focus of Valentine’s Day. For jewelry, you can’t go wrong with a ruby ring, ruby earrings, or a ruby bracelet or necklace. The color red, after all, is said to quicken the heartbeat and elicit aggression — the good kind, of course. According to ruby history and lore:
- “Early cultures treasured rubies for their similarity to the redness of the blood that flowed through their veins, and believed that rubies held the power of life.”
Gray Diamonds and Silver Linings
In Denmark on Valentine’s Day, lovers and friends exchange not red roses, Hallmark cards or chocolate, but lovely pressed white flowers called snowdrops. Because this is a winter celebration, your jewelry pieces might reflect the white light and the snowdrops of the season, too. Consider wearing diamonds (or those vintage rhinestones, depending on your budget). There are even diamonds that look like snow and the silver of precious metals.
- You should check out the fabulous gray diamond, which is trending. This stone might be said to look like freshly fallen snow and the silver lining of a cloud — the perfect romantic combination.
Also, gray diamonds are often cheaper than the classic, clear-cut diamond.
Overall, let your jewelry reflect your heart, and remember: Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to bring out the “hopeful romantic” in you — the person who believes that every cloud actually has a silver lining.
If you’ve got some jewelry in need of repair that you’d like to wear this Valentine’s Day, send it to My Jewelry Repair today, and get it back in time for the day.