Co-founders and sisters Joy and Sarah Haugaard honored the milestone last week during Nowruz, the Persian New Year which is observed on the spring equinox.
“As Lionheart marks 13 years of Cassandane, the number itself feels especially fitting: a symbol of fortune and transformation, and a reminder that the most powerful designs are those that endure,” said Sarah, operations director at Lionheart.
“This Nowruz, the Cassandane collection celebrates renewal, devotion, and the timeless beauty of love … an heirloom of luck, light, and love to carry into the year ahead.”
Joy, Lionheart’s designer, first created and copyrighted the Cassandane heart motif in 2013, before the brand was founded in 2018.
Since then, the Cassandane collection has evolved into a signature line for Lionheart.
It includes heart, sun, and clover motifs, which symbolize love, light, and luck, through 18-karat yellow gold fluted medallions framed by a beaded border and diamond accents.
The “Cassandane” double heart earrings with 2.30 carats of diamonds in 18-karat yellow gold ($14,450)
The large “Cassandane” clover medallion featuring 1 carat of diamonds in set in 18-karat yellow gold ($8,950)
A pair of “Cassandane” sun drop earrings with 1.20 carats of diamonds in 18-karat yellow gold ($7,950)
A “Cassandane” heart signet ring featuring 0.20 carats of diamonds set in 18-karat yellow gold ($4,850)
Joy was inspired by the Persian Empire (founded around 550 BC), specifically the love story between Queen Cassandane and Cyrus the Great.
“The romance between them really stands apart in ancient imperial history. Queens were barely recorded, but I love that Cassandane appears in historical accounts with unusual reverence,” she said.
“When she died, Cyrus is said to have ordered mourning throughout the empire, a rare decree that speaks to his depth of devotion and to the respect that Cassandane commanded. I see this collection as a celebration of female empowerment and a testament to the enduring power of true love.”
Beyond symbolizing romantic love, the heart motif is a tribute to the many forms that love can take—between partners, friends, family, and oneself.
Joy’s goal with these pieces was to create jewelry that embodied the abiding bond between Cassandane and Cyrus and serve as a tangible symbol of love to hold close, wear daily, and pass down through generations.
The Cassandane motifs are seen in medallions, rings, earrings, and bracelets.
The Cassandane collection retails from $5,000 to $40,000 and is available on the Lionheart website.