Victorian Medal
Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches
Ruby, Enamel, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 1890s American Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gilt Metal
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 10k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Pearl, Black Pearl, Quartz, Gold-filled
2010s American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Chrysophrase, Pearl, Black Pearl, Quartz, Gold-filled
2010s American Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold-filled
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate, Brass
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Gold-filled, Silver, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Emerald, Silver, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl, Aquamarine, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Aquamarine, Black Spinel, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Bangles
Brass, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Early Victorian Hoop Earrings
Sterling Silver, Brass
2010s American Early Victorian Hoop Earrings
Sterling Silver, Brass, Gold Plate
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 1870s American Victorian Brooches
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Pearl, Crystal, Black Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Pink Sapphire, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Aquamarine, Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
Vintage 1960s Spanish Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Bronze, Gold-filled
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Pink Sapphire, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Tourmaline, Tanzanite, Pearl, Opal, Bronze, Sterling Silver, Silver, Gol...
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Tourmaline, Tanzanite, Pearl, Opal, Bronze, Sterling Silver, Silver, Gol...
2010s American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Aquamarine, Pearl, Black Pearl, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold-filled, Si...
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Bangles
Gold Plate
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Vermeil, Gold-filled
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Victorian Medal For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Medal?
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.