Scottish Locket
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Base Metal, Enamel
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Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
10k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1890s Scottish Victorian Bangles
Agate, Citrine, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Link Bracelets
Sterling Silver
Antique 1840s British Victorian Brooches
Garnet, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1990s Charm Bracelets
Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s American High Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century English Chain Necklaces
9k Gold
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Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Band Rings
Gold-filled
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish High Victorian Brooches
Agate, Gold
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Bronze
Vintage 1980s British Victorian Chain Bracelets
9k Gold
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Antique 19th Century American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
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Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Carnelian, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 1880s Scottish Victorian More Bracelets
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1870s Scottish High Victorian Brooches
18k Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Gold
Antique 18th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Rock Crystal, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Drop Necklaces
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 1860s Scottish Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique 1850s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Late 17th Century British George III Cocktail Rings
Pearl, 9k Gold
Antique 17th Century Renaissance More Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
Antique 1860s Scottish Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Cuff Bracelets
Agate, Silver
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Link Bracelets
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Silver
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.
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