Victorian Hair Mourning
Antique 1850s Victorian Brooches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Gold-filled
Antique Early 19th Century European Victorian Brooches
Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Mid-19th Century American Victorian Cuff Bracelets
14k Gold
Antique 1860s Victorian Signet Rings
10k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
Antique 1880s English Victorian More Rings
18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown High Victorian Brooches
Gold-filled
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Quartz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Brooches
Agate, 10k Gold
Antique 1830s Victorian Fashion Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Cocktail Rings
Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Brooches
Onyx, Cultured Pearl, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1860s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Antique 1850s Victorian Band Rings
14k Gold
Antique 1850s Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Gold
Antique 1850s English Victorian More Rings
18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 10k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Brooches
14k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Bangles
Rose Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Link Bracelets
Garnet, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Brooches
Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s Victorian Signet Rings
Quartz, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 1840s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s Victorian Engagement Rings
Quartz, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1840s European Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings
Natural Pearl, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Link Bracelets
Garnet, 15k Gold
Antique 1840s Victorian Brooches
Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1860s British Victorian More Rings
Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Cuff Bracelets
18k Gold
Antique 1850s Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Brooches
Gold
Antique 1850s American Victorian Band Rings
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Garnet, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1860s British Victorian Band Rings
Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Gold-filled
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Garnet, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century Victorian Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
9k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Band Rings
18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Retro Fashion Rings
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Early 19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, Enamel
Antique 1850s Victorian Band Rings
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Georgian Brooches
Gold, Silver, Enamel
Antique 1820s British Georgian Brooches
14k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Georgian Pendant Necklaces
Gold-filled
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian More Jewelry
Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1840s English Cocktail Rings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 1850s Victorian Band Rings
Yellow Gold, Enamel
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Victorian Hair Mourning For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Hair Mourning?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021As the name suggests, mourning jewelry represents connection to a deceased individual or loved one. In the Victorian era, people were expected to wear mourning clothing and accessories following the death of a loved one. As brooches were popular during the Victorian period, they became a favorite for those who wanted to memorialize the dead. Find a collection of vintage and antique brooches on 1stDibs today.
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