Preserved vs pressed flower jewelry: what is actually the difference?

Both types of flower jewelry use real botanicals. But the process, the result, and the longevity are quite different, and it matters for what you are buying.

Pressed flowers

Pressed flowers are exactly what they sound like. A bloom is placed between absorbent material and flattened under weight until the moisture is removed. The result is a 2D, paper-thin version of the original flower. Pressed flower jewelry typically showcases the flat, translucent result under resin or glass, and it is genuinely beautiful.

The tradeoff is fragility. Because pressed flowers retain no structural volume, they are more susceptible to fading from UV exposure over time, and the flat result means the piece has a different visual quality than a three-dimensional bloom. Many pressed flower pieces have a delicate, vintage quality to them because of this.

Preserved flowers

Preservation is a different process. Instead of flattening the flower, preservation replaces the moisture inside the petals with a stabilizing solution that maintains the flower's original shape, texture, and three-dimensional form. A preserved rose looks and feels like a rose, not a flat impression of one.

When preserved flowers are sealed in resin inside a locket, the result is a bloom that looks as if it was just picked, suspended in time. Because the structural integrity of the petal is maintained, preserved flowers tend to hold their color and shape better over long periods than pressed alternatives.

Which is better for a locket?

For a locket specifically, preserved flowers are more suitable. The three-dimensional nature of a preserved petal means it fills the locket space beautifully and the colors tend to be more vivid when viewed through the locket window. Pressed flowers work well in open-faced resin pieces where the flat, translucent quality is part of the aesthetic.

At Greene Is Gold, every locket is made with real preserved petals. This is why the Lily of the Valley inside a Lily of the Valley Locket looks genuinely like a small sprig of flowers rather than a pressed memory of one.

What about the flowers used at Greene Is Gold?

The flowers used in Greene Is Gold lockets come from multiple sources depending on the design, including blooms preserved specifically for jewelry from US flower farms. For custom orders, the Custom Flower Locket builder shows exactly which flower varieties are available in each design.

If you have ever held a Greene Is Gold locket and been surprised by how vivid the flowers look, this is why. Preservation, done well, keeps a flower looking alive in a way that pressing alone cannot.

If you have questions about a specific flower variety or want to know how a bloom you love preserves, feel free to reach out. I am happy to answer.

With love,
Mikaela