What is a locket?

What is a locket? In short: A locket is a pendant that opens to reveal a photo, a lock of hair, or a small symbol inside. It is the most intimate of all pieces of jewelry, beautiful on the outside, meaningful on the inside. The details of its construction say more about its durability than the price tag. Stainless steel fashion jewelry is made to be worn, not as an investment.

As of September 2026. By Phil, Corelune Jewellery, Düsseldorf.

What do you put in a locket?

• A small photo of a loved one
• A lock of hair from your child or partner
• A tiny handwritten note
• A small symbol with personal meaning

Who is a locket a good gift for?

• Mothers and grandmothers, with photos of their children/grandchildren
• People in mourning, as a precious memorial piece of jewelry
• Partners in long-distance relationships, to always have a photo of the other person with them

Locket shapes

• Oval (classic), round, heart-shaped, rectangular

Lockets in gold and silver: Corelune Jewellery.

View the best-selling pieces

Which material holds up best in everyday wear?

Price range	What you get	What is missing
up to 20 euros	Individual basic pieces made of stainless steel	Intricate details, stones
20 to 45 euros	Combinable pieces, clean finish	Material value
45 to 150 euros	Sterling silver, larger pieces	Tarnish resistance without maintenance
from 300 euros	Solid gold with a fineness stamp	The low entry price

How to choose jewelry consciously?

Start with how often you wear it. Anything you wear every day needs to be waterproof and have a durable clasp. Something you wear twice a year can be more delicate.

When building a collection, restraint pays off: start with one metal color, then mix. The other way around looks accidental.

Quantity is rarely the problem; fit is. If you own five coordinated pieces, you wear them; if you have twenty random ones, you still always reach for the same two.

The reality is: coatings wear off. If you don't want that, choose solid pieces without plating and accept the smaller color selection.

Also helpful: Lockets: The most personal piece of jewelry and its modern form.

How much do good necklaces cost and what do you get for the price?

If you want to assess the price, you should distinguish between material value and utility value. For daily wear, calculate a price per day worn instead of the purchase price, and then the comparison will be fair. Money is well invested where you put on the piece without thinking.

When should you take necklaces off?

The question is rarely whether the material can withstand water, but whether tension and friction are involved. During sports, tension is placed on the clasp and loops, during sleep pieces get twisted, and hard work takes a toll on the surface. The rest of the day, including showering and rain, is not an issue with stainless steel.

What usually goes wrong when buying necklaces?

With necklaces, the mistakes repeat so reliably that a short list is worth it. Often, pieces are bought that are too flashy, too rarely asked about their own wearing routine, and too often ordered on a hunch. Those that pass this test rarely end up in a drawer.

How can you recognize quality in necklaces?

With necklaces, it is worth briefly holding them up to the light before buying and examining the transitions. With glued elements, a testing press is worth it, because glued is always the shorter-lived option compared to set.

If one of these points fails, the rest is secondary, because that is exactly where the piece will break first.

What goes well with necklaces?

Whether a combination works depends on whether the eye recognizes a connection. There should be at least five centimeters or a visible size difference between two stacked pieces. If you pay attention to these two points, you can combine them almost as you please without it looking cluttered.

How much care do necklaces really need?

With necklaces, the visible loss of shine is usually caused by deposits, not by wear. Warm water with a drop of dish soap, a soft toothbrush for the gaps, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. That is exactly what makes stainless steel so uncomplicated in everyday life.

Specifically: The price range is between 15 and 45 €, from 59 € shipping is free, and the return period is 14 days.

Material, dimensions and prices at a glance

Showering, swimming and sports do not affect stainless steel; it does not tarnish. If you are looking for a necklace after that, these values from the Corelune range will help.

Feature	Value
Material	Stainless steel (RVS 304 or RVS 316), nickel-free, waterproof and tarnish-resistant
Gold plating	14 karat, 2.5 micrometers on stainless steel
Necklace lengths	Choker 32 cm to 36 cm, standard 37 cm to 45 cm, long 46 cm to 70 cm and longer
Prices	most pieces between 30 € and 36 €, no piece over 65 €
Multiple pieces	20 % from 2 pieces, 25 % from 3, 30 % from 4, 35 % from 5
Shipping	free from 59 €, 2 to 5 business days to Germany, 14-day returns

Frequently asked questions

How do I keep stainless steel jewelry clean?

Warm water, mild soap, soft cloth. No ultrasonic cleaners for pieces with glued stones and no abrasive agents.

Does stainless steel tarnish?

Stainless steel retains its color significantly longer than silver or gold-plated brass. Coatings on colorful pieces can still wear out over the years.

Can I resell fashion jewelry later?

No, and no one should talk you out of it. Fashion jewelry has utility value, not material value. If you are looking for substance, you will end up with solid gold and other prices.

Two or three concrete examples: Mini heart hoop earrings made of stainless steel and Wide grooved statement ring made of stainless steel. You can find more bestsellers in the category the most popular pieces.

How long does stainless steel jewelry stay beautiful?

In everyday wear, stainless steel lasts for several years. Where a coating is applied, wear will show earlier at friction points.

Do rose gold and silver go together?

Yes, as long as it looks intentional. A piece that combines gold and silver makes the mix understandable to the eye.

About the author

Phil runs Corelune Jewellery in Düsseldorf and has been working daily with stainless steel jewelry since 2024: sample testing, complaints, wear tests in everyday life. The information in this article comes from the in-house range and from what customers report. Where Corelune does not offer something, that is also stated here.

Which categories fit this topic?

Matching pieces:

• Women's gold jewelry
• Women's silver jewelry

The piece price drops by 20 % from the second piece, and by 35 % from five. Free shipping from 59 euros. If you already have two pieces in mind, it is better to order them together.

View women's gold jewelry at Corelune

At Corelune: Free shipping from 59 €, 14-day returns, shipping from the Netherlands.

→ View women's necklaces at Corelune