For Gifts, Cards and Engraving
When we first wrote this article back in 2009, engraving styles were very much inspired by tradition - poetic, formal, and often rooted in history. More than 15 years later, while romance itself hasn’t changed, the way we express it certainly has.
We’ve finally decided it was time to revisit and update this piece, blending the beauty of historic romantic verse with modern engraving trends, contemporary relationships, and the kinds of personal messages couples choose today.
Whether you’re engraving a ring, bracelet, bangle, necklace or simply looking for the right words for a Valentine’s card, we hope this collection offers inspiration - old and new.
Classic Romantic Verse (Timeless Inspiration)
Let’s begin, as we did originally, with a few enduring lines from celebrated poets and writers, perfect for those who love traditional romance:
Grow old with me!
The best is yet to be.
– Robert Browning
Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine,
Love, thou art every day my Valentine!
– Thomas Hood, 19th-century poet
I love thee - I love thee,
’Tis all that I can say;
It is my vision in the night,
My dreaming in the day.
My heart to you is given:
Oh, do give yours to me;
We’ll lock them up together,
And throw away the key.
And a favourite sentiment that still resonates today:
I’ve fallen in love many times… always with you.
Historic Messages from Unknown Authors
These beautifully simple phrases were often engraved on jewellery centuries ago, and many still feel remarkably relevant:
Be Thou Mine
As I Am Thine
My Heart’s At Rest In Having Thine
There Is No Other
You Never Knew A Heart More True
They remind us that love has always been about devotion, choice, and constancy.
Traditional Engravings for Bracelets & Bangles
Historically, silver bangles and bracelets were engraved with flowing verse, often accompanied by a handwritten note:
Accept of this my heart withall,
My love is great though this be small.
Every letter here doth shew
That my heart is link’d to you.
This hath no end.
These longer inscriptions still suit wider bangles or presentation pieces, but today they’re often shortened or engraved inside for a more personal touch.
Poesy Rings: Romance with History
From the 16th to 19th centuries, poesy rings were engraved with short romantic phrases, first on the outside, then discreetly inside the band.
Historic examples include:
Never to change
Yours only
In thy breast my heart doth rest
Love is enough
All I refuse and thee I choose
These phrases continue to inspire modern engravings, often simplified while retaining their sentiment. When we first wrote about poesy rings our selection of silver rings was very limited. Today it is much larger, and for the special person in your life we can engrave an adjustable double heart silver ring for you.
Modern Engraving Trends (What Couples Choose Today)
Today’s engravings tend to be shorter, more intimate, and deeply personal. They’re often meant just for the wearer, a private message rather than a public declaration.
Minimal & Contemporary Engravings
Always
Yours
Still us
Chosen
My person
Endlessly
Us
Personal Dates & Coordinates
Some of the most popular modern engraving trends:
Est. 2024
14·02·26
The day we met
Our beginning
Or the coordinates of a meaningful place:
Where you met
Where you married
Where you said yes
(You can find the coordinates of an address or a place by searching for it in Google Maps and taking the coordinates from the search bar.)
Contemporary Romantic Phrases
Modern love often sounds softer and more conversational, but no less meaningful:
I choose you
You’re my home
Better with you
Still falling
Found you
Loved always
Secret Messages & Inside Jokes
Some of the most treasured engravings are the ones only two people understand:
Our thing
You know why
As promised
Same time tomorrow
Don’t forget me
These make engraving feel truly personal, and utterly unique.
Alphabetical Inspiration (Classic Meets Modern)
A selection of traditional phrases, many of which can be shortened or adapted for modern engraving:
Hearts Truly Tied None Can Divide
Not Two But One Till Life Be Done
Till Death Depart You Have My Heart
My Love To Thee Shall Ever Be
No Star To Me So Bright As Thee
A Final Thought on Engraving
Engraving is at its most beautiful when it feels authentic - whether that’s a line of 16th-century verse or a single modern word that means everything to you.
Short messages engrave cleanly, age gracefully, and often feel more timeless than long declarations. Dates, initials, symbols and private phrases are just as romantic as poetry - sometimes more so. You can read all about how we engrave gifts by visiting our Engraving FAQs.
We hope this updated collection inspires you to choose words that feel right for your story or your Valentine's message.