Scottish Montrose Agate
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 1870s Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s Scottish Victorian Cuff Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Drop Earrings
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Onyx, Rose Gold, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish High Victorian Brooches
Quartz, Agate, Citrine, Gold
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Diamond, Ruby, Green Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique 1890s European Victorian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque More Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Brooches
Agate, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
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Gold, 24k Gold
Early 20th Century Israeli Brooches
Garnet, Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Greek Revival More Rings
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1920s American Hats
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Early 20th Century Unknown Drop Necklaces
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Antique 17th Century Italian Renaissance Pendant Necklaces
Multi-gemstone, Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
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Silver
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Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
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Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Scottish More Bracelets
Antique 1880s Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1910s British Art Deco Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Early Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Amethyst, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique 1860s Scottish High Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Scottish Revival Brooches
Agate, Quartz, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, 10k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Bracelets
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine
Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Victorian Bangles
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Letter Openers
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, 18k Gold, Pinchbeck
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Sterling Silver
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.