RETIRED James Avery 925 Sterling Silver Heart Spinner Charm Pendant

This James Avery sterling silver heart charm carries a bronze arrow mounted through the center on a rivet so it spins freely. The face is stamped in raised lettering with words arranged around the perimeter, "You are" in the middle and #1, Great, Sweet, and Loving set around it, so wherever the arrow comes to rest it completes the phrase. A small heart is stamped at the base of the charm below the lettering. The surface is finished in a matte sandblasted texture with the recessed letters oxidized dark, which is what makes the words read so cleanly against the silver, and the warm bronze of the arrow sits in strong contrast against the cool grey field. The charm is thick and solid with a rounded edge, and it hangs from an open jump ring.

The spinner is what makes this piece. Most charms say one thing; this one is built to be turned, so the message changes each time you touch it, and the small silver bead at the pivot is the only thing anchoring the arrow to the heart. The arrow through the heart is the oldest love symbol in Western art, and Avery's version puts the recipient rather than the giver at the center of it. The reverse is stamped 925 and BRONZE alongside the JA candelabra mark, all struck crisply. This one is retired.

Comes with James Avery box and pouch.

Details:
Metal: Sterling silver with bronze arrow
Hallmarks: 925, BRONZE, JA Candelabra
Design: Spinning bronze arrow over stamped heart
Status: Retired
Packaging: James Avery box and pouch
Condition: Excellent estate condition

Fun Facts:
James Avery began handcrafting jewelry in Kerrville, Texas in 1954, working out of a two-car garage with a handful of tools before the company grew into one of the most recognized American jewelry names.
The arrow-through-the-heart motif traces to Eros in Greek myth, whose golden arrows were said to strike love into whoever they hit; Ovid gave him a second quiver of lead arrows that did the exact opposite, which is why the god was considered as dangerous as he was welcome.