The Story Behind our 'Heart of Yorkshire' Collection

History of the Heart 

Constructed nearly seven hundred years ago at York Minster, the Great West Window is a triumph of Medieval stained glass and stonework tracery, towering over the city.

In the 1300's, the masons of York Minster completing the west window's heart-shaped traceries, must have been in awe at their creation. Visitors to the city today flock to admire this focal point of the West entrance to the world-famous cathedral.

The Legend

Over the centuries a tradition has grown in the city that a couple who share a kiss under the West Window will enjoy lifelong love. 

This legend has gained increasing popularity, with many couples travelling to York to participate in the tradition. Subsequently, standing in the shadows of the Heart of Yorkshire window has become a number one location for grand proposals! 

In celebration of this legend, we have created the Heart of Yorkshire jewellery collection.

The Jewellery

In 2016 we opened a new store in York, on the historic street of Low Petergate in the shadow of the cathedral. We became intrigued by the captivating window and the legend, and resolved to create a jewellery collection that would allow visitors to York to partake of a really unique and delightful memory of their visit. 

The collection aimed to recreate the iconic heart design in sterling silver, and initially consisted of just a pendant, earrings and bracelet. From its first days on display, the popularity of the collection was evident and the jewellery swiftly became the most sought-after design in our York store. We have since developed and expanded the collection to include rings, different earring options, brooches and charms, with pieces available in both sterling silver and 9ct gold. You can view the collection online here.

The design has an obvious connotation as a romantic motif, or as a memento of a visit to York, but what we initially did not anticipate is that the design would touch a nerve as a patriotic symbol for Yorkshire. The heraldic white rose is commonly known as the symbol of the county but customers have relayed to us their love of the Heart of Yorkshire as a symbol of their pride in their heritage.  We now regularly receive orders from the great Yorkshire diaspora, so that we are sending the Heart of Yorkshire out to all over the United Kingdom as well as Australia, Canada and the United States.

In the Minster

As well as being available in our Yorkshire stores, and on-line, and we are proud to have the full collection stocked in the York Minster Retail Shop.

New for 2020

To usher in the new decade we have introduced a Limited Edition pendant to the collection. Just twenty-four solid gold necklaces have been made. We have taken the original signature silver heart pendant and recreated it, in the same size, in 9 carat gold. 

Each Limited Edition pendant has been individually assayed and hallmarked as 9 carat gold, and completed with an official Assay Office date mark, indicating the year 2020. This date mark is an extra stamp, evidencing both the purity and authenticity of this very first release of the exclusive Limited Edition.

Presented in a luxurious gift box, the Limited Edition pendant is completed with an individual, numbered, certificate of authenticity.