Early Victorian Jewelry
Also called Romantic period jewelry, antique early Victorian jewelry and watches were a celebration of the young monarch’s love.
When Prince Albert became engaged to Queen Victoria, he gave her a serpent ring with emerald eyes, her birthstone. While this may seem a bit simple for our contemporary tastes, the serpent symbolizes eternity, and has become a popular motif in jewelry. The tail in the serpent’s mouth forms an unbroken circle. This dewy-eyed happiness trickled down to the masses and men and women favored jewelry that was sentimental and full of symbolism. Today, antique Victorian jewelry is very coveted and highly collectible.
Romantic period jewelry tends to be feminine and ornate. Flowers, hearts, birds, and bows were just some of the common decorative motifs. These pieces were embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise. It was common to express your devotion with jewelry — REGARD and DEAREST rings were particularly popular. These rings were set with stones that corresponded to each letter: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond.
Most often, the design of the ring was simple, with the stones going across the shank of the ring in a line, but it was not uncommon to see a REGARD ring in a flower formation, with each stone set in the petal of the flower.
Another common early Victorian ring style was two hands clasping a flower or stone. They came in many styles and were made of coral and ivory but also of gold with precious and semiprecious gemstones. These rings, while not exclusively Victorian, are often associated with the time period and symbolized friendship. Lockets enclosed with hair, cameos depicting cupid or a loved one’s face and enamel pieces were also popular.
The early Victorian period corresponded with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Jewelry, no longer made only by hand, became more affordable during the 19th century. The growing middle class also helped increase the demand for it. This was reflected in how women styled their jewelry; they were not afraid to adorn themselves from head to toe with stacking and layering in between. Considering the time period (this was before the California Gold Rush), a lot of pieces in the Romantic period were made using low-karat gold or were gold-plated. Fine gold wire was also employed frequently to add to the design. This is a nice trick to know when determining the date of Victorian jewelry.
Find a range of antique Romantic period brooches, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
1980s French Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterl...
1840s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sterling Silver
Late 18th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Silver, Sterling Silver
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Agate, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Chalcedony, Gold, 9k Gold
Mid-19th Century French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Rock Crystal, Gold, 18k Gold
1850s European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
Early 19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold-filled
Early 19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Carnelian, 15k Gold
19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Agate, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
1890s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Imperial Topaz, Topaz, Silver, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Sapphire, Platinum
1840s European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Afghan Early Victorian Jewelry
Tourmaline
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Emerald, Ruby, Natural Pearl, Garnet, Diamond, Amethyst, Enamel, Gold
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
1840s European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold
2010s Asian Early Victorian Jewelry
Pink Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Turquoise, Pearl, Diamond, Sterling Silver, Gold
1980s French Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, 18k Gold
1840s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1840s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Beryl, Garnet, Ruby, Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
18k Gold
20th Century European Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Coral, 18k Gold
1960s German Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
2010s Zambian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Asian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sterling Silver
2010s Asian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Steel
1970s German Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
1980s French Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
1920s Italian Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Agate, 14k Gold
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
1820s American Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Citrine, Topaz, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterl...
19th Century Austrian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Silver Plate
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Gold, 15k Gold
1850s English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s Belgian Early Victorian Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, S...
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Ruby, Gold, Enamel, 15k Gold
Early 19th Century Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, 18k Gold
1820s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, ...
1840s Swiss Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterl...
Early 19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold, Enamel
19th Century Italian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
1880s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold