TL;DR: for a grandmother who has everything, a photo locket is the gift that keeps her grandchildren close. The heart and oval lockets cost EUR 34.90 each, hold two photos, and include the engraving in the price. You choose the chain length when you order, and delivery to the EU and UK takes 3-7 business days.
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Gifts for grandma are a funny category. She has the tea towels, the scarves and the talcum powder, and she insists she wants nothing. Yet there is one thing most grandmothers never have enough of: a way to carry the grandchildren with her. That is the idea behind a locket for grandma. Choose the heart photo locket or the oval photo locket, add two photos and a short engraving, and you have a present that is warm, wearable and entirely about her family.
Why is a locket such a good gift for grandma?
A grandmother's pride is her family, and a locket lets her show it quietly. She can wear it to church, to the shops, to the garden centre, and tell anyone who asks which grandchild is which. Unlike a framed photo, it goes where she goes.
There is a practical side too. Many grandparents live a long way from their grandchildren, in another county or even another country. A locket with two photos means the faces are with her between visits. If you have been looking for something to send across the water to Ireland or from Ireland to the UK, we deliver across the EU and UK in 3-7 business days from order to door.
It is also a considered amount to spend. Finder's 2025 research suggests Brits plan to spend an average of £514 each on Christmas gifts in total, which has to be shared across many people. At EUR 34.90 with the engraving included in the price, a locket is a gift under EUR 50 that does not feel thin.
Heart or oval for grandma?
Both lockets are gold-tone stainless steel and hold two photos. Here is how they differ.
| Heart locket | Oval locket | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | about 25 mm | 30 x 23 mm |
| Finish | gold-tone stainless steel (IP coating), clear zircon border | gold-tone stainless steel |
| Photos | room for 2 | room for 2 |
| Price | EUR 34.90, engraving included | EUR 34.90, engraving included |
| Suits | a grandma who enjoys a bit of sparkle | a grandma who prefers a classic shape with slightly more room |
For many grandmothers the larger oval is easier to open and to see, which can matter if her eyesight or dexterity is not what it was. The heart is the prettier choice for a granddaughter-to-grandma gift. Both are simple to wear and neither needs any care beyond a soft cloth. Explore the rest of our pieces in the jewellery collection.
Which photos belong in a locket for grandma?
The best pairings put people together who rarely get to be in the same frame. Try one of these:
- Two grandchildren, one on each side, taken in the last year.
- Grandma and grandad on their wedding day, and with the family now.
- Grandma as a young woman, and her youngest grandchild today.
- A grandchild at birth, and the same grandchild at school age.
- Her late husband on one side and the family on the other, kept private and close.
- Your mum and you as a child, so three generations meet in one pendant.
Choose clear close-ups. If you need advice on preparing the image, read how to put a photo in a locket. And if the second photo is of someone no longer here, our guide to a memorial locket covers that kind of gift with care.
What should you engrave for grandma?
Names she is called by are the most touching engraving of all. These are some short ideas, written in the way families really speak:
- Nana
- Granny
- Gran, with love
- Nan x
- Oma & Opa
- Our wonderful Nan
- Ben, Ava, Leo
- Est. 1962 (the year she married)
Initials of all the grandchildren in a row also look neat and leave room to breathe. Because the surface is small, resist the urge to add a full sentence; put that on the card instead.
How do you order a locket for grandma?
- Choose the heart or the oval locket.
- Upload two photos, ideally clear close-ups.
- Add the engraving text, kept short.
- Choose the chain length when you order. A slightly longer chain is often easier for her to put on over her head.
- Pay, and delivery follows in 3-7 business days across the EU and UK.
Each locket is personalised and engraved in the EU. If you are not the one who will be handing it over, you can have it sent straight to her, and a card goes in with the gift.
How do you make the moment special?
Let the grandchildren take part. Have the youngest hand over the box, and ask her to open the locket right there. She will see the two small faces and the day is made. A card line that works well: "For Nana, so we are always with you." If the grandchildren are old enough, let each of them write a few words and slip the notes in too.
Helping her wear it matters too. Offer to fasten it, and show her how the locket opens. It is best put on after hairspray and perfume and removed before bathing.
If you are also shopping for another family member, read our guides to personalised gifts for mum and a Christmas gift for mum.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the locket?
The heart locket is about 25 mm, and the oval locket measures 30 x 23 mm. The oval is the more spacious of the two, which some grandmothers find easier to open and see. Both are comfortable to wear daily and neither feels bulky on a chain.
What is the locket made of?
Both lockets are made of gold-tone stainless steel. The heart locket has a gold-tone IP coating and a clear zircon border, and the oval has a smooth, plain gold-tone finish. That finish is what keeps the price at EUR 34.90.
Which photos fit in the locket?
Each locket holds two photos, one on each side. Clear close-up portraits work best. You upload the pictures when you order, so a recent phone photo or a picture of an old print are both fine, as long as the faces are in focus.
How does the engraving work?
You type the engraving into the order form, and it is included in the price of EUR 34.90. The area is small, so names, initials, dates and short phrases look best. Nicknames like Nana or Granny are a lovely choice and fit easily.
Can I choose the chain length?
Yes, you choose the chain length when you order. For a grandmother, many people pick a length that is easy to fasten and sits comfortably over the clothes she wears most. If you are unsure, ask someone close to her which necklaces she wears already.
How long does delivery take?
Delivery to the EU and the UK, Ireland included, takes 3-7 business days from order to your door. The locket is personalised and engraved in the EU before it is sent. Order a little early if you are buying for a birthday or family gathering.
Can the whole family give one locket together?
Yes, and it is a lovely idea. One person places the order and uploads the two photos, while the others share the cost and each write a line for the card. Choose the two photos together so that every grandchild feels included, then send it to one address for the handover.
Is it a good gift under EUR 50?
Yes. At EUR 34.90 with engraving included in the price, it comes in under EUR 50 while still being a personalised, wearable keepsake. For a lot of families that makes it easy to buy for grandma and still have a budget for everyone else.
