"Lover’s Eyes": The Mysterious Jewelry Collection Born from an 18th-Century Secret Affair

In the mid-1980s, David Skier, a former ophthalmologist, and his wife Nan Skier from Alabama stumbled upon an unusual ring at an antique show. Under the oval glass, framed by blue enamel, pearls, and diamonds, was a hand-painted grey-blue eye gazing thoughtfully off to the side.

Four decades later, the couple has assembled the world's largest collection of 158 relics featuring these so-called "Lover’s Eyes." Their collection has already served as the foundation for two books and traveling museum exhibitions, according to CNN.

The History and Secret Behind the Romantic Trend

The origins of this unusual tradition date back to 1790s Georgian England and are rooted in the secretive, scandalous affair between the future King George IV (then the Prince of Wales) and the Roman Catholic widow Maria Fitzherbert.

To declare his love while bypassing strict court prohibitions, the prince sent his beloved a miniature watercolor portrait of his own eye. Before his death, George IV requested to be buried with a similar miniature depicting Maria’s eye.

Unlike standard portraits, a "Lover’s Eye" allowed someone to wear the image of a loved one (as a ring, brooch, or bracelet) in complete anonymity. Only the owner knew whose gaze was looking out from the piece.

These miniatures were crafted by only a dozen of the era's finest artists (including Richard Cosway and George Engleheart) and were exclusively accessible to the highest aristocracy. By the 1890s, the trend experienced a second revival thanks to jewelry houses like Tiffany’s.

Unique Highlights from the Skier Collection

The Skier family collection extends beyond traditional rings, bracelets, and pendants to include trinket boxes, purses, and even porcelain cups. It features truly extraordinary pieces:

• The "Lover’s Lips" Bracelet: A rare variant of sentimental jewelry where the clasp opens to reveal a painting of a sensual mouth framed by clouds.

• The Family Chandelier Pendant: A gold piece set with multiple tear-drop charms, each containing the eye of a different family member.

• Locket-Hair Miniature Keepsakes: Sentimental items featuring a lock of a lover's hair intricately woven into the back of the portrait.

"There is a love story hidden inside every single one of these items. Someone loved a person so deeply that they captured their gaze in a jewel. We may not know their names, but these objects preserve an incredibly powerful feeling," shares Nan Skier.