Georgian Mourning Jewelry
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1790s Georgian Fashion Rings
Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
Antique 1820s Unknown Georgian Band Rings
18k Gold
Antique 1810s Georgian Band Rings
Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18th Century Brooches
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1780s Unknown Georgian Pendant Necklaces
15k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1810s Georgian Engagement Rings
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1780s British Georgian Fashion Rings
Enamel
Antique Early 1800s British Georgian Brooches
Garnet, Gold
Antique 1830s British Georgian Cluster Rings
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 18th Century Georgian Band Rings
Yellow Gold
Antique 1770s Georgian Engagement Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1810s British Georgian Fashion Rings
Enamel
Antique 1850s English Georgian Fashion Rings
Gold
Antique 18th Century Georgian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 18th Century Georgian Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1770s Georgian More Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 18th Century European Georgian Brooches
Gold
Antique 1830s British Georgian More Rings
Crystal, 18k Gold, Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Link Bracelets
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Unknown Georgian Brooches
Pearl, 10k Gold
Antique 1780s Georgian Signet Rings
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Garnet, Pearl, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1820s British Georgian Band Rings
Yellow Gold, Enamel, Gold
Antique 1820s European Georgian Brooches
14k Gold
Antique 19th Century European Georgian Brooches
Pearl, Gold
Antique 1820s British Georgian Signet Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1820s British Georgian Brooches
14k Gold
Antique 18th Century Unknown Georgian Brooches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1820s Band Rings
18k Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Antique 1830s British Georgian More Rings
Crystal, Pearl
Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Dome Rings
Garnet, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1820s British Georgian More Rings
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Antique 1820s British Georgian Brooches
10k Gold
Antique Early 18th Century English Georgian Cluster Rings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Enamel, 18k Gold
Antique 1820s English Georgian Fashion Rings
Onyx, Garnet, Enamel, 15k Gold, Gold
Antique Early 1800s Engagement Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1820s English Georgian Dangle Earrings
Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Signet Rings
Crystal, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 18th Century European Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Pearl, Gold
Antique 18th Century Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary American Georgian Beaded Necklaces
Cultured Pearl, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Turquoise, Sterling ...
Antique Late 18th Century British Georgian Cluster Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century European Georgian Charm Bracelets
Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Band Rings
22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1790s British Georgian Band Rings
Rose Gold
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Agate, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Signet Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British George III Brooches
Turquoise, 15k Gold
Antique 18th Century More Rings
Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1820s British George IV Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 1770s British Georgian Signet Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Gold-filled
Antique 18th Century British Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 1790s British Georgian Band Rings
22k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 1800s American Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Gold
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Shopping for Antique Georgian Mourning Jewelry?
While it first came into fashion during the Georgian period, mourning jewelry had a resurgence during the Victorian era. With respect to Victorian jewelry, the era’s Grand Period (ca. 1860–80) is most often associated with antique mourning jewelry.
Scholars note that Romantic period jewelry was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. But everything changed with the premature death of Prince Albert in 1861. This traumatic event changed the way the Queen’s public perceived her and in the way she presented herself. The heartbroken Queen donned black clothing and went into mourning. Her taste for jewelry reflected her deep sorrow as well.
Victorian mourning jewelry still tends to be romantic, a way to honor the memory of the departed, while Georgian mourning jewelry was more focused on the macabre. During the Georgian era, portrait miniatures, hair jewelry, cameos, enamels and micromosaics were fashionable.
Most materials used in antique mourning jewelry were also black, the universal signifier of grief. Naturally jet, onyx and gutta percha were the most popular. Dark red garnets and black enamel were often used in combination with these materials (enameling is one of the oldest forms of surface decoration). Hair jewelry became incredibly intricate, and some pieces were made with strands from various family members woven into a complex floral pattern.
“Unlike most other pieces of antique jewelry, mourning jewelry has an easily accessible history,” Lindsay Salmon, part of the duo behind jewelry line Erica Weiner.
“These pieces are often inscribed with a name, a date of death and the age of the deceased. For many people, myself included, having this information about the person a piece of jewelry was made to commemorate is both fascinating and romantic; it grounds the piece in a historical and personal context.”
Find a collection of antique Georgian mourning jewelry on 1stDibs.
A Close Look at Georgian Jewelry
Georgian jewelry is named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who in succession ruled England starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign, which lasted until 1837). A slew of beautiful pieces were produced during the period, and today antique Georgian rings, necklaces and other accessories are coveted by fine jewelry collectors.
There are certain features that distinguish jewelry from this era, including the fact that pieces from the 18th and early 19th centuries were handmade (so don’t let the absence of a maker’s mark lead you to believe otherwise). Antique Georgian jewelry also has a certain “look.” It’s a bit gray because stones were often set in silver, and because stonecutting techniques were not as advanced as they are today, the gems do not possess the level of sparkle to which we have become accustomed.
Intricate metalworking techniques such as repoussé (the hammering of metal into ornate designs) and cannetille (a method of working the gold wire to make it look woven) allowed goldsmiths to really flex their muscles. These gold pieces, either on their own or combined with gemstones, made for highly original and dramatic jewelry. The era also saw pieces with ornately woven strands of human hair.
Pearls, along with colored gemstones like garnets, rubies and sapphires, were widely used in Georgian jewelry. These were often cut in the shape of a cabochon or teardrop. It was fashionable to combine garnets or rubies with seed pearls. In Georgian diamond rings, popular cuts for diamonds included rose, old mine and table. Around the 1780s, paste jewelry, or hand-cut glass on foil, was used to imitate diamonds.
Browse a collection of antique Georgian diamond rings, earrings, brooches and other authentic Georgian jewelry today on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, some jewelers still make mourning jewelry. Mourning jewelry was very popular in the Georgian era and experienced a resurgence in the Victorian Era when Queen Victoria wore it in memory of Prince Albert after he passed. Today, there is more versatility in what is considered mourning jewelry and limitless options for customizing it. Find vintage and contemporary mourning jewelry from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
- Did men wear mourning jewelry?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, men wore mourning jewelry as well as women. It became popularized during the Victoria era, but was a tradition that has stretched in history far back before this period. Shop an array of authentic mourning jewelry from top sellers on 1stDibs.
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