Words are bandied about...museum worthy, the "best", the list continues. But every so often something passes into our lives, miraculously surviving the years and decades of life's hustle and bustle, to come down to us as though the jeweler just placed it into our palm.

Dating from circa 1820, the pendant hails from the British Isles. The treasure favors sentimental jewelry of a type referred to as acrostic with the first letter of each gemstone spells a word – in this case, "REGARD".

Regard was used in jewelry to connote feelings of affection between friends, family members, lovers or husband and wife. In this instance, we have a Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby and Diamond spelling out Regard.

Further symbolism can be discerned in the form of gold trailing grape vines, grapes and leaves in relief. Fecundity, plenty and the reaping of life's bounty, all these create layers of meaning.

The pendant opens to reveal an interior compartment able to hold a memory, lock of hair or photograph. Heart shaped, this 15k yellow gold locket back is embellished with textured dots of raised gold in sensitive patterns. A fine chain suspends the locket from a larger twisted gold wire "O" fitting.