Edwardian Fob Watch Chains
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pocket Watches
9k Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Pocket Watches
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Pocket Watches
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel, Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Mexican Edwardian Vanity Items
Silver
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Early 20th Century French Victorian Choker Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century American Pocket Watches
Diamond, Enamel, Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
Brass
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Pocket Watches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century British Retro Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Drop Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century British Charm Bracelets
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Link Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Gold
Antique 1880s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Art Nouveau Wrist Watches
14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Wrist Watches
Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Recent Sales
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Australian Edwardian Necklace Enhancers
Natural Pearl, 15k Gold
Early 1900s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Oil
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Edwardian Pocket Watches
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold
Early 20th Century American Chain Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Link Necklaces
Carnelian, Rose Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian More Jewelry
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian More Jewelry
Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
Quartz, Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pocket Watches
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Edwardian Drop Necklaces
10k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Pocket Watches
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Rose Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
Chalcedony, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
Labradorite, 14k Gold
Edwardian Fob Watch Chains For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Edwardian Fob Watch Chains?
A Close Look at edwardian Jewelry
Antique Edwardian jewelry is named for King Edward VII of Great Britain, who ruled from 1901 until 1910. Classic Edwardian necklaces, engagement rings, earrings and other jewelry are often overshadowed by the more popular style of the era, Art Nouveau, which is a shame. At its best, Edwardian jewelry was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron.
Edward introduced incredibly formal Buckingham Palace court presentations, balls and soirées, resulting in a huge demand for diamond jewels starting with his coronation in 1902. Dozens of tiaras and formal jewels in an updated 18th-century style were purchased from French jewelers Boucheron and Chaumet and from Russia’s Fabergé. The court jewelers Asprey, Garrard, Carrington and the newly opened London branch of Cartier were all overwhelmed with orders for sumptuous diamond jewelry to be worn at the king’s elaborate coronation.
During the Edwardian era, pearls were more valuable than diamonds. The pear-shaped pearl La Peregrina, for example, belonged to some of the most fabulous and strongest women in history and bounced among royal courts in Spain, France and Russia for several centuries. So while today the scale and clarity of a diamond ring matters, back then the size and quantity of your pearls was more important a declaration of wealth. And just as Victorian notions of propriety and femininity began to change after Queen Victoria died in 1901, jewelry design also evolved but there was some overlap with late Victorian styles.
Women of the Edwardian period sported bejeweled headpieces like tiaras and bandeaus with feathered aigrettes. Another popular piece of jewelry that is said to have been directly inspired by Queen Alexandra were colliers de chien, or dog collars — today's choker necklaces — which consisted of either a ribbon decorated with a brooch, a gemstone or several strands of pearls strung closely together.
Two major jewelry houses, Cartier and Boucheron, were founded in the mid-1850s, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the wealthy considered them household names. The Cartier brand became even more desirable once the house became the official jewelry supplier to King Edward VII. Cartier took this title seriously and designed some of the most innovative jewelry of its day, since it was willing to experiment with new materials like platinum and because it was mindful of fashion trends. Filigree settings also became popular. This saw-piercing technique was decorative and at the same time created a sense of lightness.
Perhaps even more important than Cartier’s use of platinum was the founding of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 1888. The discovery of new diamond mines made the stone more affordable and prompted the introduction of new gemstone cuts. It is not uncommon to see Edwardian jewels with baguette or briolette diamonds.
Find antique Edwardian rings, bracelets, watches and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage necklaces designed by David Webb — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Cartier, Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.