Victorian Chain Trombone
Antique 19th Century European Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Link Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold-filled
20th Century Victorian Drop Necklaces
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Emerald, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage 1930s French Byzantine Brooches
Amethyst, Pearl, Quartz, Gold, Gilt Metal, Yellow Gold
People Also Browsed
2010s Turkish Modern Fashion Rings
Garnet, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century European Contemporary Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Chain Necklaces
18k Gold
2010s Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Quartz, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s American High Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1970s American Drop Necklaces
Vintage 1920s British Art Deco More Bracelets
9k Gold, Gold
Vintage 1920s Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Gold
Antique Early 1900s British Edwardian More Jewelry
Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Pinchbeck
Recent Sales
Antique Early 1900s Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold
Antique 1870s British Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1890s English Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Chain Bracelets
Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian More Jewelry
Yellow Gold, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century English Victorian Link Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Link Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1880s British Victorian More Bracelets
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Choker Necklaces
9k Gold, Silver
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Victorian Link Necklaces
18k Gold, Platinum
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s British Victorian Chain Bracelets
Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, 15k Gold, Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian More Jewelry
Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian More Bracelets
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century English Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Drop Necklaces
White Diamond, Emerald, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Platinum
Antique 1890s British Victorian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Sterling 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.
- What is a Victorian book chain?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021A Victorian book chain is a piece of jewelry — usually a necklace — that can be found in gold, sterling silver and other materials. Each link in the chain is a rectangle-shaped piece of folded metal that resembles a book. Shop a collection of vintage and modern Victorian book chains from some of the world’s top jewelers on 1stDibs.