Gold Victorian Pencils
Antique 1880s British Victorian More Jewelry
Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Bangles
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Desk Accessories
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Desk Accessories
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 10k Gold
20th Century Victorian Scientific Instruments
Gold, Lead
Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
10k Gold, Mixed Metal, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Desk Accessories
Onyx, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Early Victorian Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
Gold, Stainless Steel
1890s Victorian Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
Gold
Recent Sales
Antique 1880s English Victorian Tableware
Gold
Antique 1870s English Victorian Sterling Silver
Gold
Antique 1880s English Victorian Sterling Silver
Gold
Antique 1870s English Victorian Tableware
Gold
Antique 1880s English Victorian Tableware
Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Enamel Frames and Objects
Diamond, White Diamond, Moonstone, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1870s Unknown Victorian Sterling Silver
Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s American Victorian Desk Accessories
Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Great Britain (UK) Early Victorian More Dining and ...
Gold, Stainless Steel
Antique 1890s English Victorian Desk Sets
Gold
Antique 1860s English Victorian Decorative Boxes
Wood
Antique Early 1900s English Victorian More Desk Accessories
18k Gold, Enamel
Antique 1890s Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Sterling Silver, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Desk Accessories
Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English More Furniture and Collectibles
Antique 1880s French Victorian More Desk Accessories
Gold, Enamel
20th Century American Late Victorian Desk Accessories
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
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White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
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Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
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Rainbow Moonstone, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary European Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Opal, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
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Ruby, Pearl, Sapphire, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century French Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Pearl, 18k Gold
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Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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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.
Read More
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Why Victorian Snake Jewelry Is Anything but Scary
Representing everlasting love, serpentine often appear on fashionable gems from the era on Queen Victoria.
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Canadian Designer Philip Mitchell Masterfully Balances Tradition and Glamour
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How to Buy a Vintage or Antique Engagement Ring
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