RCN Sweetheart Pins

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Over the many years I have been collecting I have acquired a number of Sweetheart Pins for the RNCVR, RCN, RCNVR, & RCNR.

Most of them are from the 2WW period when these sweetheart pins became very popular. Most are made of Silver but some are seen in Lucite(a type of plastic), gold & combinations of these. Some are really beautifully crafted & superb examples of gold/silver smithing.

So I will show some I have & if others have some examples in their collections pls feel free to show them in this topic.

I will start by showing a few examples of RNCVR pins from the Great War period. These are quite rare as the RNCVR has been out of existence since 1919.

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The heart style of Sweetheart pin was very popular in 2WW, many were engraved with names & a "best wishes" kind of slogan on the reverse. Some could open & reveal photos of loved ones inside.

The heart shaped pins were not pins as such, rather they were designed to be worn around the sweetheart's neck.

Here is two examples of of the heart pins with engraving on the reverse--

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& the heart pin came in gold as well -

I have this rating's medals also.

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Here is an example of a beautifully crafted heart & maple leaf Sweetheart pin:

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An example of a heart shaped Lucite Sweetheart pin:

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The maple leaf (along with the beaver) is Canada's national symbol & its featured on many of the 1WW CEF cap & collar badges. It was also seen on Regimental badges during 2WW, on the ships of the RCN, & planes of the RCAF.

They could be personalized by adding engraving on the reverse, & two of these have a message on the reverse.

three enamelled examples:

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An example of a silver maple leaf Sweetheart, this one designed to be worn as a broach:

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The lapel pin type of Sweetheart was very popular also, sometime with the year attached via a small chain:

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These lapel pins could be bought over the counter in many jewellery stores of the day but very rarely does one see a lapel pin attached to its original card -

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or the lapel pin Sweetheart could have interesting attachments -

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or they could appear as cufflinks -

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or as a tie clip -

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To be con't..............