These keepsakes reminded the wearer of a relative or sweetheart who served in the military. Such tokens of love and like, in the form of personal jewelry and adornments, were made to be given as gifts to family members and romantic partners. The givers were often men serving in the military who wanted to offer a small but significant present to a woman they loved or admired. The hope was that the gift would remind the recipient of them and their role in the armed forces.

Women such as those serving in the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) also purchased and gifted sweetheart jewelry to those they cherished and admired. The giving and wearing of sweetheart jewelry symbolized respect for service and personal affection.

Sweetheart jewelry took the form of pins, brooches, necklaces and pendants, rings, bracelets, watches and sometimes earrings. Designs incorporated the badges and symbols of many military branches and reflected the donor’s allegiances. Patriotic symbols such as the iconic Canadian maple leaf were also depicted.