Victorian Drop Earrings
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.
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Pearl, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Tanzanite, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold
1890s British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Gold, Enamel
1890s Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Drop Earrings
Yellow Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl, Garnet, Emerald, Diamond, C...
Early 2000s Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
1890s French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
1860s British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Gilt Metal
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Vintage Victorian Drop Earrings
Crystal, Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
1880s American Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
10k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Cut Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Silver
1880s French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold
1870s French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Silver, Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings
Emerald, Diamond, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Mid-19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, Yellow Gold, Gold
1880s American Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Jasper, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s French Vintage Victorian Drop Earrings
Brass, Bronze, Gold Plate, Gilt Metal
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Blue Sapphire, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Agate, Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Drop Earrings
Quartz, Zircon, Crystal, Base Metal
1880s American Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
9k Gold, Gold
1870s British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
1960s American Vintage Victorian Drop Earrings
Gilt Metal
1870s American Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Gilt Metal
1880s Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Chalcedony, Zircon, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold, White Gold
1870s American Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century American Victorian Drop Earrings
Blue Sapphire, White Diamond, Gold, Platinum
1890s British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Gold
1870s French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Yellow Gold
1860s American Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
1850s Italian Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
19th Century French Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1860s Unknown Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Coral, 18k Gold
1980s American Vintage Victorian Drop Earrings
14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Natural Pearl, Tiger's Eye, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1860s Italian Antique Victorian Drop Earrings
Yellow Gold, Gold