How Pressed Flower Lockets Are Made: A NYC Studio Walkthrough

If you have ever wondered how a pressed flower locket actually comes together, this is the walkthrough. We make all of our lockets by hand in our NYC studio, one piece at a time. The process is slower than factory production, but that is the point. Here is exactly how it works, from the moment a flower comes through the door to the moment a finished locket ships out.

Step One: Sourcing the Botanicals

Flowers for our lockets come from a few different places. Some we source directly from flower markets in New York City, selecting blooms based on color, shape, and how well we know they press. Others come from customers who send us flowers from a specific event: a wedding bouquet, a grandmother's garden, a memorial arrangement, flowers from a first date.

When customers send flowers, they arrive in a small padded envelope, usually wrapped in a paper towel or placed in a small box. We handle them carefully from the moment they arrive. Each set of customer flowers is labeled with the order number and kept separate throughout the entire process so there is never any mix-up.

Step Two: Preparing and Pressing

Before pressing, each flower is examined. We remove any damaged petals, trim stems, and gently flatten the flower by hand to prepare it for pressing. Thick blooms like roses are usually deconstructed into individual petals, which press more cleanly than the full flower.

We use a traditional pressing method: flowers are placed between layers of absorbent paper and pressed flat under weighted boards. The boards stay in place for two to four weeks, depending on the flower's water content. Checking too early can disturb the pressing. Patience is a real part of the process.

We press many flowers at once in batches, but each batch is organized carefully so we always know which flowers belong to which order.

Step Three: Inspecting and Selecting

Once pressed, each flower is inspected under good light. We are looking at color retention, flatness, and whether the petal or bloom will fit the locket casing we have planned for it. Some flowers press brilliantly: larkspur and pansies, for example, almost always come out with vibrant color and a clean flat profile. Others are more unpredictable.

If a flower does not press the way we hoped, we either try again with a new flower from the same batch or, for custom orders, we reach out to the customer to discuss options. We never set a flower that we are not happy with.

Step Four: Setting the Locket

Setting is the most detailed part of the process. The pressed flower or petal is trimmed with small scissors to fit the interior of the specific locket casing being used. Too large and it will bunch or wrinkle under the glass. Too small and it will float loosely and move around.

Once trimmed and positioned, the flower is placed inside the locket casing and secured under a glass or resin cover. We use a small tool to position the petals exactly where we want them before the cover is set. This is done with a magnifier and takes a steady hand.

The final step is closing and finishing the locket: polishing the metal, checking the clasp, and doing a final inspection of the glass or resin surface for any bubbles or debris.

Step Five: Quality Check and Packaging

Every finished locket is held up to natural light before it goes into its box. We are checking the flower placement one last time, the clarity of the glass or resin, and the overall condition of the metal.

Lockets are packaged in a small kraft box with a ribbon, a care card, and a short note about the flower inside if it is a ready-made piece. Custom orders include a note acknowledging the specific flowers used.

Why It Takes the Time It Takes

A full custom pressed flower locket order typically takes four to six weeks. The pressing alone is two to four weeks. Setting, inspecting, and packaging add more time on top of that.

We know that is longer than most online orders take to arrive. But there is no way to rush pressing without compromising the result. The flowers have to dry completely or they will discolor inside the locket. We would rather take the time to do it right than rush a piece out that will not hold up.

If you want to see our current ready-made lockets, those ship within one to three business days. Custom orders using your own flowers open a few times a year. You can join the waitlist through our contact page.