In this article we explore the history of sweetheart brooches. Sweetheart brooches emerged during the First World War, worn as reminders of loved ones serving away from home. Intended to bridge the physical and emotional distance between soldiers at the front and those waiting for them, they would be worn until a man’s return and carried a sense of hope and expectation. One that was, heartbreakingly, not always fulfilled.

This article looks at the history of one of the most iconic pieces of men’s jewellery - the cufflink.   Shirt-like items of clothing have been worn since the invention of woven fabric. Historically, the shirt was considered an undergarment, concealed beneath layers of waistcoats and jackets. Exposing one’s shirt sleeves in public was deemed improper, and their cuffs were purely functional, typically tied with string, ribbon, or fastened with simple ties.