Venus in Jewels: The Art of Adorning the Goddess of Love

She is the goddess of thousand names; a truly global goddess with a primordial past, who has inspired artists from the earliest prehistory to the present day, it seems we are endlessly fascinated by the goddess of love’s power to induce ardour and passion, but let’s not forget that not only was she the most beautiful of women, she was also the champion of all things beautiful too….and she loved nothing more than the glitter of gold and the gleam of jewels.

With Valentine’s day approaching, our thoughts have turned to ‘amore’ and who better to fan the flames of our affections than the goddess of love and beauty herself. Join us as we gambol through the ages to explore artists depictions of Venus in her finest.

From the European ‘Venus’ figurines of Gravettian period (26,000–21,000 years ago) to Ishtar of Babylon and Egyptian goddess Hathor, through to the more familiar figure of Grecian Aphrodite and her Roman counterpart Venus, almost every culture in the world has their own take on a goddess of love and beauty, and since those earliest figurines were carved from mammoth tusks artists have held her up as the ultimate muse.

She is often described by early authors as adorned in jewels of her sacred colours: red, pink, violet, silver, aqua, pale green (seafoam), or shades of light blue, though she is specifically associated with pearls, gold, aquamarine, rose quartz, jade, lapis lazuli, sapphire, silver, and copper. Her other symbolic representatives are noted to be flowers, especially roses, myrtle and other highly fragrant plants, seashells, doves and swans, dolphins, pomegranates, apples and mirrors, all of which have been used to adorn images of the deity and are frequently chosen as symbolic motifs alluding to her presence in modern jewellery.

To the ancient Egyptians, she was Hathor and reigned over not just love and beauty but music, dance and the sky. Images of Hathor often depict her wearing a beaded necklace of lapis lazuli; the beautiful blue gemstone symbolic of her dominion over the airy realm.

9ct yellow gold lapis necklace, £325

Ancient author Homer describes Aphrodite “wearing twisted brooches and shining earrings in the form of flowers, and round her soft throat were lovely necklaces”. He later writes that “The Horai (Seasons) clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-filleted Horai wear themselves. In case, you’re wondering orichalc is generally thought to be a yellow metal, probably brass or a similar alloy, which again suggests that gold and gold coloured metals were firmly associated with the love-goddess for artists down the centuries.

Part of a fresco from Pompeii, Casa di Venus is shown reclining in a seashell, 1st century AD. Dug out in 1960.

 A fresco unearthed in the 60s in Pompeii and dating from around the 1st century AD, shows Venus in a gold necklace and bracelet, relaxing in her ‘casa’, which happens to be another of her favourite symbols, a seashell. Directly referencing to the story of her birth from the foam of the sea. Which has us wondering whether the mythological mermaid could be one of her later descendants?

As we head into the Renaissance and early modern periods, the sea theme grows in popularity and artists begin to favour Venus-Aphrodite not only springing from shells but now draped in pearls too.

Details from Venus, Cupid, Bacchus and Ceres, Paul Peter Rubens

Bella pink necklace by Claudia Bradby, £170

In the acclaimed Venus in Front of a Mirror (Princely Collections of Liechtenstein), completed about 1616, Rubens portrays the voluptuous figure of Venus again wearing a jewelled armband, this time with what appears to be rubies and diamonds, as well as the ubiquitious pearl drop earrings, however this time one is white, where the other (viewed in the mirror) appears black. It just goes to show that what goes around comes around, given the current trend for mismatching earrings. Or maybe she was just way ahead of her time!

Peregrina Silver Pearl Earrings by Claudia Bradby, £95

Detail from Venus and Cupid, Lorenzo Lotto

Venus and the Mirror by Mabuse

Make the First Lady in your life feel like a goddess; adorn her with a jewel from our Valentine’s Collection. 

Single and super? Be your own Venus this Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to something beautiful.

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73{+}Love Rocks: Gemstones to say ‘I love you'{+}0{+}NULL{+}NULL{+}NULL{+}love-rocks-gemstones-say-i-love{+}NULL{+}NULL{+}NULL{+}NULL{+}NULL{+}

Jewellery must surely be the ultimate (and most desired) Valentine’s Day gift. Chocolates and flowers are lovely and certainly never unwelcome, but nothing quite matches the thrill and anticipation of being presented with a jeweller’s gift box.

A piece of jewellery is precious and permanent and that alone suggests a depth of love, but choose a gemstone piece and you add a whole new level of meaning and symbolism to your expression of love.

Every gemstone has its own qualities, meanings and accumulated lore, and there are many that are particularly associated with love, yet love comes in many colours and shades and there is a ‘love stone’ for each and every type and phase of love.

So, if you’re having trouble choosing a bijou beauty to grace your loved one with this Valentine’s, let us help you decide which gemstone is the best fit for your relationship with our rundown of top love rocks.

Rose Quartz

Where else could we start but with that most renowned of love stones – Rose Quartz. Most people are familiar with its reputation for attracting love, but did you know that it is particularly associated with unconditional love, which makes it a great gift not just for anyone wishing to bring romantic love into their life, but for encouraging love of self through increasing self-worth and self-esteem as well as increasing sensitivity and compassion for others. Said to help build trust in others, Rose Quartz helps to attract love by helping the wearer to receive love.

9ct rose gold rose quartz ring, £355

Rose quartz and cubic zirconia necklace, £30

Pink Tourmaline

Tourmaline comes in many colours and so is thought to encourage all types of love, but the pink kind is particularly said to prepare a person for meeting their soulmate, as long as you keep it close to you.

18ct diamond and pink tourmaline ring, £3,200

Tourmaline and diamond necklace, £1,305

Pink Aventurine

Aventurine is widely found as a green stone, which is great for bringing comfort and luck (especially financially), but the lesser known pink variety is thought to be helpful in dissolving stressful emotions and strengthening relationships. Ultra-calming Pink Aventurine is not only a very pretty stone with its glittery mica inclusions, but dispels negativity and brings a sense of harmony to all relationships.

9ct yellow gold and pink aventurine ring, £295

Ruby

A classic gemstone of love, Ruby symbolises integrity, devotion and happiness. Thought to bring courage in love by building confidence, this is a great stone for encouraging couples in newer relationships to take the plunge and deepen their bonds. As such rubies have been a popular choice for engagement rings, most especially in the 17th and 18th centuries and are on the rise again today as centre stones for brides-to-be.

 

Ruby and diamond ring, £6,385

Ruby and diamond earrings, £1,110

Garnets

These fiery gems are symbolic of passionate love and are said to keep the excitement in a union burning brightly. Said to eradicate emotional distance and bring quick, safe returns from travels, this is the stone to pick to keep your love alive if you’re apart for any reason. Many believe they have the power to bring visions of love to fruition.

18ct white and rose gold diamond and garnet ring, £5,869

9ct yellow gold diamond and garnet necklace, £163

Morganite

Peachy-pink morganite is the stone of divine love. Healer of heartache and nourisher of the soul, let morganite connect you with the divine and the divinity within you.

18ct diamond and morganite earrings, £1,275

Morganite and diamond necklace, £348

Diamond

The only gemstone comprised of one pure element – carbon – bonded in perfect symmetry, is the hardest and most reflective of all stones and as such it’s regarded by many as the ultimate symbol of strength and light in love. Especially good for encouraging fidelity and commitment, it’s no wonder it’s the world’s most chosen engagement ring stone.

Customisable round diamond ring, from £1234.41

18ct white gold diamond earrings, £717

Emerald

People most often think of pink being the colour of love, but it’s green that rules the heart chakra and emeralds that are the sacred stone of Venus, this gem assists in the preserving of love over time. It encourages faithfulness, hope and depth of love within long-established relationships. Often referred to as the stone of successful love, it brings unity and stability, loyalty and romantic bliss. Especially powerful in Spring, this could be the perfect Valentine’s stone for long-term partnerships.

Emerald and diamond necklace, £1,365

18ct Emerald and diamond earrings, £1,665

Sapphire

Sapphire represents the pledging of love and betrothals and so, like ruby, frequently been a clear choice for engagements. It is said to encourage trust and commitment but also to assist in finding new love and building new bonds.

18ct diamond and sapphire ring, £5,494

9ct sapphire pendant and chain, £323

Lapis Lazuli

The stone of spiritual love. Lapis overcomes shyness and reticence. It enhances fidelity within marriage and encourages honest communication, perhaps making it a good choice for newly-weds or those who have recently committed to one another. Representing truth and companionship as well, it also makes a wonderful gift of platonic love too.

9ct yellow gold lapis earrings, £200

Aquamarine

All relationships have their ups and downs, so if you’ve experienced a slight dip in partnership harmony, then aquamarine is here to signify your intention to smooth ruffled feathers and restore happy hearts. Inspiring understanding, aquamarine is believed to re-establish loving communication.

9ct aquamarine necklace, £216

Moonstone

Moonstone brings passion to its wearer, it also calms over-reactions, making it just the ticket for those who like a drama. Thought by the ancients to be created from moonbeams, what could be more romantic than giving someone special their very own moonbeam as a token of your love?

Moonstone bracelet by Claudia Bradby, £69

Pearl

Symbol of purity and beauty, pearls are soothing and serene. This is the stone to choose if your love is a protective love. Their creamy lustre leaves skin looking luminescent too.

Alyssum Akoya pearl bangle by Fei Liu, £1,500

Uno de 50 key necklet, £99

Let someone special know what they mean to you this Valentine’s Day. Discover the Valentine’s Collection here. 

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1.The master-healer, amethyst is thought to be helpful in resolving almost any issue and enhancing the overall experience of life on all levels. Meditative and calming it promotes spiritual and emotional balance and peace. 

2. St. Valentine purportedly wore an amethyst intaglio ring carved with putti or Cupid, which surely makes it an inspired choice for a special Valentine’s Day gift.

18ct amethyst and black diamond ring, £2,191

3. It’s the birthstone for February and represents the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.

4. Amethyst necklaces have been found in Egypt dating back to the 8th century B.C.

5. In ancient Greece, it was associated with the god Bacchus – god of wine – and was worn to guard against intoxication. This is also where it gained its name as ‘ametusthos’ is the greek for ‘not intoxicated’.

9ct gold and amethyst bracelet, £126

6. Good quality amethysts should, in general, be clear of eye-visible inclusions.

7. Amethyst is the most valuable variant of quartz due to its rare colour in terms of gemstones. There are relatively few gemstones of true purple.

8. Its purple colour comes from iron and a combination of other trace minerals within the quartz structure.

Silver and amethyst stud earrings, £27

9. The colour purple is often associated with royalty as purple was traditionally a very costly and lengthy colour to reproduce. In Imperial Rome, the use of purple was strictly regulated and by the fourth century AD, only the emperor was allowed to wear the best purple. The colour’s exclusivity and connection with power is why royal robes and the vestments of bishops have traditionally been purple.

10. Found in shades from deepest indigo to electric ultra-violet and on to the prettiest lilacs. The Romans favoured the deepest tones, whilst today the most valued hues tend towards strongly saturated bluish-purple to true violet purple. Brownish tones are not considered desirable.

9ct yellow gold diamond and amethyst necklace, £188

11. Zambian amethyst tends to appear as a raspberry-purple colour and is more likely to contain inclusions, but inclusions are considered quite acceptable in Zambian amethyst and do not affect the value at all, thanks to its gorgeous hues.

12. Whilst it is the most valued of the quartz family, it is very affordable. Whilst it was once as expensive as diamonds, rubies and emeralds, you can now find lovely specimens for relatively little cost, thanks to the discovery of large deposits in Brazil in the 19th century and later on in Zambia.

Amethyst and diamond earrings, £1,833

13. Really high-quality specimens still command high prices though; let’s not forget that this is a stone that’s prominent in many different countries crown jewels including an enormous amethyst in our own Sovereign’s Sceptre with the Cross and Queen Victoria’s rare amethyst demi-parure – The Kent-Amethyst Demi-Parure. Queen Silvia of Sweden’s tiara is set with amethysts originally owned by Napoleon’s infamous Empress, Josephine. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway also owns a stunning amethyst tiara.

14. The Kent-Amethyst Demi Parure was originally owned by Queen Victoria’s Mother, the Duchess of Kent and has been passed down from Queen to Queen. The set contains a necklace, earrings, three brooches and a pair of hair-combs and was designed to make a statement. The necklace appears to comprise of several large cabochon and hexagonal amethysts and three pendant amethysts arranged to drop from the lower part of the necklace. Each of the large cabochons is set with a diamond halo, whilst the hexagonal stones are with diamond sunrays to one side and diamond scrolls to the other.

15. Perhaps another reason why royals are fond of using this gemstone in crowns and tiaras is its association with the crown chakra and reported ability to quicken intelligence, improve intellect and encourage clarity of thought, especially when worn close to the head.

16. Whilst a tiara might be a little impractical for daily wear, you could try wearing amethyst close to your head as earrings or a necklace. If you’re feeling particularly boho why not wear a necklace encircling your head, perhaps with an amethyst dropper draped on your forehead (be sure to stock up on bobby-pins to keep it in place though!).

Amethyst, citrine, garnet and topaz necklace, £486

17. Amethyst crystals can be huge; one of the largest single crystals mined weighed in at 164 pounds. That’s a whopping 11.71 stones.

18. The size of its crystals makes it very popular with lapidarists and designers for cutting into free-form or fantasy shapes, as they don’t have to be too cautious about saving carats.