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Compass Watch Fob

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1880 Victorian 14 Karat Rose Gold Compass Watch Fob
Located in Lexington, KY
This incredible Victorian watch fob dates back to 1880 and is a stunning 14k rose gold compass! The
Category

Antique 1880s Victorian More Jewelry

Materials

14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold

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Compass Watch Fob For Sale on 1stDibs

Find the exact compass watch fob you’re shopping for in the variety available on 1stDibs. Every item for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using Gold, Yellow Gold and 9k Gold. Finding the perfect compass watch fob may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 20th Century. Finding an appealing compass watch fob — no matter the origin — is easy, but Erin Mac Jewelry each produced a popular version that is worth a look. A compass watch fob can make for a versatile accessory, but a selection from our variety of 3 Carnelian versions can add an especially stylish touch. Today, if you’re looking for a cabochon version of this piece and are unable to find the perfect match, our selection also includes round cut alternatives. Finding a compass watch fob for sale for women should be easy, but there are 14 pieces available to browse for unisex as well as men, too.

How Much is a Compass Watch Fob?

On average, a compass watch fob at 1stDibs sells for $816, while they’re typically $143 on the low end and $3,600 for the highest priced versions of this item.

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. 

Questions About Compass Watch Fob
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A watch fob is a pocket watch chain. It is used to make the pocket watch more accessible, giving the user something to grab on to when pulling a pocket watch out of a vest or pants pocket. The classic way to wear a pocket watch is at the end of a fob in the waistcoat pocket. Shop a range of antique and designer watch fobs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A pocket watch fob refers to the chain or ribbon to which a pocket watch is attached. Its purpose was to make the watch more readily accessible to the wearer. You’ll find a variety of pocket watch fobs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    A fob watch is called a pocket watch. The term comes from the fact that people often tuck the compact timepieces into their pockets after attaching them to a fob. On 1stDibs, find a collection of pocket watches from some of the world's top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    A watch fob was worn in one pocket of a vest. The wearer would feed the fob through a buttonhole and then drop the attached pocket watch into the opposite pocket. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of pocket watches from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An antique fob watch works with the help of a winding mechanism. Turning the winder puts tension on the clockwork gears, allowing them to move. Depending on the watch, you may wind it with a specially designed key or a winding crown located on the stem of the timepiece. You'll find a collection of antique fob watches on 1stDibs.