Gemstone heart (pendant) of 25mm in Dark Amethyst from Bolivia.

The universal symbol for love is a heart. Just think of expressions such as "passionate love", "You stole my heart", "my sweetheart" or the various images on Valentine's cards. The heart is also often used in art to represent love. Love hearts are used for and in everything. Love hearts as jewelry, in delicacies, in flower arrangements, or hearts as a motif for wrapping paper, fabrics, etc. The heart is a classic symbol of love that is used by everyone all over the world. Traditionally, in several cultures, the heart has been chosen as the seat of love and feeling. It is not entirely clear why the heart was chosen as a love symbol. Perhaps because the heart is automatically related to the (emotional) life and without the heart (read love) no life is possible. The heart rate is partly influenced by feelings; this is how our hearts beat faster when in love. The heart likes to be loved. The heart needs love. It is even said that love extends life expectancy, while loneliness has the opposite effect. Everyone knows the expression: "He died of a broken heart".