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A Close Look at victorian Jewelry
The reign of Queen Victoria encapsulates a quickly evolving period of history — and jewelry styles were no exception. No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Today, there is a vast collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry and watches on 1stDibs.
Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. (She was surpassed by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015.) During this time, different styles of fashion and jewelry came and went. Thanks to our fascination with royalty and swoon-worthy melodramas like Netflix’s The Crown — which is rife with evocative fashion, jewelry and interiors — and the 2017 feature film Victoria & Abdul, we are all familiar with her story. After the death of Victoria’s father and three childless uncles, she ascended to the throne at age 18. In 1840, Queen Victoria married the love of her life, her first cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and she had even more power to shape trends than Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle do today. The British monarch’s best-known piece in this mold is the gold coiled-snake engagement ring she received from Prince Albert — the sinuous reptile was considered a symbol of everlasting love.
The Queen's 63-year reign has been divided by historians into the Romantic period, the early happy years, circa 1837–60; the Grand period, marked by the deaths of the Queen’s mother and husband, circa 1860–80; and the late Victorian or Aesthetic period, which lasted from about 1880 until 1901 and ushered in the Belle Époque. Queen Victoria wore her heart on her sleeve, and her fashion and jewelry reflected her emotions.
Romantic period jewelry, which featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise, was a celebration of the young monarch’s love. Everything changed with the death of Prince Albert, and the Grand period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. Jewelry was smaller, lighter and more dainty during the late Victorian period. During this era, diamonds came into fashion, and semiprecious gems such as amethysts and opals became prevalent, too. Using gemstones for their natural beauty and not their worth was something that jewelers of the era felt passionate about, and this ideology would really become relevant in Art Nouveau jewelry.
Find a collection of authentic antique Victorian jewelry — from rings, necklaces and brooches to a range of other accessories — 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.
- How much is a diamond necklace?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021The cost of a diamond necklace can range quite a bit depending on material, craftsmanship, quality, and condition. On 1stDibs.com, you can shop a variety of diamond necklaces at a range of prices. Browse contemporary and antique necklaces starting at $125.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 19, 2021Tiffany diamond necklaces are dazzling and covetable pieces of jewelry. Tiffany & Co. is one of the most prominent purveyors of luxury goods in the United States, and has long been an important arbiter of style in the design of necklaces as well as diamond engagement rings. When a jewelry enthusiast mentions “the Tiffany Diamond,” this refers to the 128.54 yellow-carat Tiffany Diamond, which was found in the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa in 1877. This jewel was worn by pop music icon Beyoncé in a 2021 ad campaign. The estimated value of the Tiffany Diamond in 2019 was $30 million. Shop a range of antique and vintage Tiffany diamond necklaces on 1stDibs today.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022What a diamond heart necklace means is largely a matter of personal interpretation. Most people associate the heart shape with love. As a result, giving a person a heart necklace is often a way of expressing that you love them. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of diamond heart necklaces.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023Diamond tennis necklaces remain popular even as trends change from season to season. This style of accessory is luxurious, nostalgic, wearable everyday and delights the eye with its sparkle. Plus, the tennis chain is versatile. It can coordinate with both casual and dressy attire and be worn alone or layered. Explore a variety of diamond tennis necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023Whether a diamond necklace is a good gift is largely a matter of preference. However, diamonds offer timeless appeal, and with respect to styles, all kinds of diamond necklaces have been made over the years, which means you’ll have a lot of options when it comes to shopping for a gift. From “A Diamond Is Forever” to “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” pop culture has ingrained in our minds that diamonds are the most desired, the most lasting and the most valuable gemstone. They are the hardest gemstones, and diamonds are quite rare, according to the Gemological Institute of America, and only 30 percent of all the diamonds mined in the world are gem quality. Shop a selection of diamond necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 6, 2023There is no hard-and-fast rule for how many carats a diamond necklace should be. On average, solitaire diamond necklaces range from 0.5 to 1 carat, but you can find pieces with larger and smaller stones. Tennis chains that feature continuous diamonds set into links usually have much higher total carat weights. For example, one might feature 60 individual diamonds, each 0.20 carats in size, for a total carat weight of 12.0 carats. Shop a wide range of diamond necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022The best way to tell if a diamond tennis necklace is real is to hire a licensed appraiser to evaluate it. While you can perform tests like seeing if fog dissipates quickly after breathing on it, it's generally not possible to verify for certain that diamonds are real on your own. You'll find a range of expertly vetted diamond tennis necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 4, 2023Yes, some Vivienne Westwood necklaces are real diamonds. However, the luxury jewelry brand also uses other materials, like glass and acrylic rhinestones, in some pieces. Generally, necklaces from the company’s fine jewelry collection are more likely to feature real diamonds than those from Vivienne Westwood's fashion jewelry line. Shop a selection of Vivienne Westwood jewelry on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023Yes, you can generally wear a diamond tennis necklace every day. Due to the small size of the stones, tennis necklaces can complement casual attire as easily as they can dressier ensembles. However, you should remove your necklace before you shower and when you're exercising, playing sports and doing other activities that could damage your jewelry. Find a collection of diamond tennis necklaces on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 4, 2023Yes, men can wear a diamond tennis necklace. Since there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to men's jewelry, you're free to sport anything that you find appealing. Pete Davidson, Drake and Timothée Chalamet are just some of the famous men who have been spotted wearing tennis chains. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of diamond tennis necklaces.
- 1stDibs ExpertDecember 4, 2023There is no single best setting for a diamond tennis necklace. You can find tennis chains with both prong and bezel settings, and both types can keep diamonds secure when they are well crafted. The biggest difference is that full bezel settings encircle the gemstones, while prongs hug the stones with three or four metal elements, leaving most of their edges visible. Feel free to choose the type of setting that appeals most to you. On 1stDibs, explore a wide range of diamond tennis necklaces.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023Yes, you can wear diamond stud earrings with a pearl necklace. The elegant combination is fashionable for everything from a day at the office to Sunday brunch to a night on the town. To create a bold look, try pairing large diamond studs with a single strand of pearls or a dramatic multi-strand pearl necklace with smaller stud earrings. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of diamond stud earrings and pearl necklaces.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 1, 2023There is no set number of diamonds on a 16-inch tennis necklace. The number of diamonds that make up a tennis chain often depends on the size of the gemstones. Generally, the larger the diamonds are, the fewer there are on a tennis necklace. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of tennis necklaces.