Victorian Paste Buckle Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Lovely Victorian Paste Buckle Brooch from the late 19th Century. Originally a buckle but converted
Antique 1880s American Late Victorian Brooches
Vermeil, Silver
Victorian Paste Buckle Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Lovely Victorian Paste Buckle Brooch from the late 19th Century. Originally a buckle but converted
Vermeil, Silver
Antique Monkey Brooch Pendant Paste Stones Victorian Silver
Located in Mārupe, LV
Antique Victorian Driving Monkeys Paste Stone Brooch – 19th Century Silver Bicycle Brooch This
Silver
Sterling Silver French Paste Starburst Pin Brooch Victorian Jewelry
Located in Monroe Township, NJ
A stunning example of Victorian elegance, this sterling silver pin brooch features a dazzling
Sterling Silver
Victorian Paste Cabochon Foil and 15K Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine and impressive antique Victorian paste and 15 karat yellow gold brooch; part of our antique
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Paste Butterfly
Located in New York, NY
Lovely sterling butterfly brooch done in the Victorian era of clear and colored pastes. A large
Sterling Silver
Victorian 18 Karat Gold Red Paste Snake Stick Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian snake stick pin brooch. It is crafted in 18K gold. The piece features red paste
Gold
$595
H 0.94 in W 1 in D 0.48 in
Vintage Victorian Gold Plated, Black Enamel, & Glass Paste Floral Brooch / Pin
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Victorian floral brooch. In a gold plated (or gold filled) setting. With 9 glass
Gold Plate, Enamel
Victorian Paste Set Monkey
Located in New York, NY
Charming paste set monkey dangling from a bar. Completely set in sterling with handmounted pastes
Sterling Silver
$2,490
H 0.51 in W 1.34 in L 1.92 in
Antique Victorian 19k Yellow Gold & Silver Onyx and Red Paste Brooch
Located in New York, NY
This antique brooch is crafted in rich 19k yellow gold with silver detailing and features a
Onyx, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Enamel & Paste Blue Pansy Brooch 1890s
Located in Towson, MD
blue, white, black, and yellow enamel. A single 2mm round paste stone—lead glass cut to sparkle like a
Yellow Gold, Enamel
$695
W 0.5 in D 0.75 in L 3.59 in
Antique Victorian Scottish Agate, Jasper, Paste Sterling Silver Dirk Kilt Brooch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Scottish market kilt brooch in the form of a Dirk. In (English) sterling silver. Set with
Agate, Jasper, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Sterling Paste Victorian Playful Monkeys
Located in New York, NY
Charming paste on sterling playful monkeys from the late 19th Century. One with green eyes is
Sterling Silver
Victorian 18 Karat Gold Rose Cut Diamond Red Paste Horseshoe Stick Pin Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a Victorian horseshoe stick pin brooch. It is crafted in 18K gold. Circa 1900. The piece
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
Massive 19th Century Paste Sword Jabot Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Massive and exceptional 19th Century Paste Sword Jabot Brooch from the l9th Century. Designed
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Victorian Huge Black Dot Paste Horseshoe c. 1880
Located in Stamford, CT
pastes are closed backed and shine brilliantly. The brooch is stunning as you see in the photos. They are
Other, Sterling Silver
Ciro 'SCP' 1940s Silver and Paste Vintage Star Brooch
Located in Skelmersdale, GB
floral motif replicating a style of brooch seen in the Victorian era. It is set with small, round
Silver
Antique early 20th century silver and paste lizard salamander brooch
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
A fine antique early 20th century paste lizard or salamander brooch, artfully and expertly
Silver
$2,355
H 0.79 in L 1.19 in
Antique Austro-Hungarian Gold Brooch with Paste Stone Seed Pearls, Ca. 1866-1872
Located in Rotterdam, NL
This elegant oval brooch is a beautiful example of Austro-Hungarian craftsmanship from the mid 19th
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Paste Assemblage, Studio VL
By Leslie Chin x Studio VL
Located in New York, NY
Unusual Antique Paste Assemblage in sterling silver by Studio VL. Antique 19th and 20th Century
Sterling Silver
Extraordinary 19th Century Paste Spray in the Naturalist Style
Located in New York, NY
Massive paste set spray of a life like orchid spray from the mid 19th Century. Set in sterling with
Sterling Silver
Antique 14k Yellow Gold Seed Pearl and Paste Ornate Stick Pin
Located in New York, NY
A romantic late Victorian 14k yellow gold stick pin, lavishly detailed with scrolling foliate
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century 18K Rock Crystal Lover's Eye with Silver & Paste Teardrop
Located in New York, NY
by the Prince of Wales’ famously illicit romance with Maria Fitzherbert—this brooch plays with the
Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Victorian Paste Floral Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Victorian Paste Floral Brooch from the 19th Century. 3 dimensional flower head is set in a
Silver, Sterling Silver
Victorian Diamond and Green-Paste Brooch
Located in London, GB
A Victorian diamond and green-paste brooch, the brooch in the form of a flower with a cushion
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Suffragette Victorian Silver Paste Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
To read more please click continue reading below- This fabulous Sterling Silver Victorian Paste
Sterling Silver
Victorian French Paste Brooch Pendant
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An absolutely stunning piece of Victorian craftsmanship, this brooch is made from fantastic French
Other, Silver
Victorian Paste Silver Crescent Moon Brooch
By Knoll and Pregizer
Located in Boston, Lincolnshire
A Beautiful Antique Victorian late 1800s Silver and Paste crescent brooch by Knoll & Pregizer. Rare
Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Paste Blue and White Paste Crescent Brooch
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Victorian crescent brooch is set in Sterling Silver. Circa 1900. Beautiful Bristol
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Stone Silver Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Victorian Paste Stone brooch is set in Silver, Circa 1900. The brooch is adorned in
Silver
Antique Victorian French Paste Butterfly Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
Butterfly brooch is genuine Victorian Circa 1900. Butterfly or insect jewellery is highly collectable and
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Butterfly Paste Brooch Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This beautiful Antique Victorian brooch has been modelled to represent the shape of a butterfly in
Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Butterfly Paste Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
butterfly brooch is genuine Victorian Circa 1900. Butterfly or insect jewellery is highly collectable and
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Paste Amethyst circa 1900 Brooch
Located in Lancaster , GB
This wonderful antique Silver, Amethyst brooch is Victorian Circa 1900 The lovely piece is
Amethyst, Silver
Unavailable
H 1.86 in W 2.05 in D 0.48 in
Antique Victorian Paste Stone Butterfly Silver circa 1880 Brooch
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This beautiful Victorian butterfly brooch has been sculpted in silver. It contains sixty two clear
Antique Victorian Paste Stone Butterfly Brooch Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This beautiful Victorian butterfly brooch is, Circa 1880. The brooch is adorned with green Paste
Pearl, Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Stone Lizard Brooch Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster , GB
A delightful antique Victorian Lizard brooch crafted in Silver and decorated with sparkling white
Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Crescent Moon Brooch Silver, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This simply stunning Antique Victorian brooch is modelled from Silver in the shape of a crescent
Silver
Antique Victorian Large Paste Crescent Brooch Silver, circa 1860
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
old cut Paste Stones are set into this amazing Victorian brooch. The largest Paste stones are 1.75ct
Sterling Silver
Unavailable
H 0.56 in W 1.5 in L 3.55 in
Antique Victorian Lizard Brooch Paste Sterling Silver, circa 1890
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
A fabulous Antique Victorian brooch modelled in Sterling Silver, depicting a colourful lizard
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Stone Snake Brooch Silver, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
A fabulous antique Victorian serpent brooch C. 1900, depicting a wonderful coiled snake which
Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Tanzanite Garnet Butterfly Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
butterfly brooch is set with Paste, Tanzanite and Garnet stones. Circa 1900 This spectacular butterfly is
Garnet, Tanzanite, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Horseshoe Riding Brooch Paste Stones, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This delightful antique Silver Riding brooch is from the Victorian era, Circa 1900. Riding
Silver
Antique Victorian Orange Paste 18 Carat on Pinchbeck, circa 1880 Brooch
Located in Lancaster , GB
A grand antique Pinchbeck knot brooch that was beautifully made during the Victorian era, Circa
18k Gold, Pinchbeck
Unavailable
W 1.19 in D 0.4 in L 2.37 in
Antique Victorian Paste Salamander Brooch 9 Carat Gold Silver, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
60mm x Depth 10mm METAL: 9ct Yellow Gold, Silver STONES: Paste AGE: Victorian, Circa 1880 ORIGIN
9k Gold, Silver
Unavailable
H 1.78 in W 1.74 in
Antique Victorian Snake Brooch Silver Gold Fire Opal Paste, circa 1850
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
A wonderful antique Victorian brooch depicting a circular serpent biting its tail which in
Opal, Turquoise, Silver, 18k Gold
Unavailable
Antique Victorian Paste Arrow Pin
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous late 19th century paste arrow pin with curved ribbon and the feathery tail motif. The
Unavailable
W 0.62 in D 0.22 in L 2.02 in
Antique 15ct Gold Diamond Paste Horseshoe Pin Brooch c1840 2.5g 625 Purity
Located in Camelford, GB
: Victorian classic pin in the stock style with lovely gem set horseshoe. Gemstones: Round cut diamond paste
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Victorian Silver Star Paste Brooch, circa 1900
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous antique Silver Star Paste Brooch is genuine Victorian Circa 1900. The wonderful
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Crescent Moon Paste Brooch, circa 1860
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
Brooch is genuine Victorian Circa 1860. The wonderful brooch depicts a crescent moon adorned with
Silver
Victorian Silver and Paste Spider Brooch
Located in NEWARK, GB
A gorgeous antique late Victorian spider brooch in sterling silver and paste. Love them or loathe
Victorian Bohemian Garnet Paste, Floral Spray Brooch
Located in NEWARK, GB
A beautiful antique, Victorian era Bohemian garnet paste brooch. The Victorians could do amazing
Gilt Metal
Antique Paste Star Brooch, Sterling Silver, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
A magical antique, Victorian era paste star brooch. Glittering old cut paste stones set against
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Star Brooch, Sterling Silver
Located in NEWARK, GB
A gorgeous antique, Victorian era star brooch. A small but chunky little brooch crafted in
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Crescent Brooch, Sterling Silver
Located in NEWARK, GB
A very pretty late Victorian, silver and paste crescent brooch. A beautiful curved moon set with
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Crescent Brooch, Moon, Sterling Silver
Located in NEWARK, GB
A very pretty late Victorian, silver and paste crescent brooch. A beautiful chunky curved moon set
Sterling Silver
Late Victorian Paste Amethyst Seed Pearl Gold Pin Brooch
Located in Miami, FL
Late Victorian Paste Amethyst Seed Pearl Gold Pin Bring nostalgia and grace back with this 12
Pearl, Amethyst, Gold
Antique Victorian Man in the Moon and paste Crescent brooch, sterling silver
Located in NEWARK, GB
A stunning antique, Victorian era Man in the Moon and crescent brooch. A scarce antique piece, Man
Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Early Victorian Paste Swallow Bird Brooch With a Garnet Eye
Located in Brighton, GB
Victorian Swallow Brooch Silver Circa 1850 This silver brooch is a stunning example of early
Silver
Sold
W 0.67 in L 1.38 in
Victorian 18 Karat Yellow Gold Seed Pearl Blue Red Paste Butterfly Bar Brooch
Located in Vilnius, Vilniaus apskr.
This is a lovely butterfly or dragonfly bar brooch crafted in 18K yellow gold. It features seed
Freshwater Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Victorian Paste Tremblant Corsage Brooch
Located in New York, NY
Massive Victorian Paste Corsage brooch with tremblant flower heads set in sterling silver. Each
Sterling Silver
Antique Paste Shamrock Brooch, Sterling Silver, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
A beautiful and unusual antique Victorian era sterling silver and paste Shamrock or clover brooch
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Scottish Silver and Paste Brooch
Located in NEWARK, GB
A stunning antique Victorian Scottish silver and paste brooch. An engraved silver base set with
Silver, Silver Plate
Late Victorian Paste Sterling Silver Flower Brooch
Located in Houston, TX
A late Victorian sterling silver and closed-back paste flower pin. The paste stones are nice chunky
Sterling Silver
1890 Victorian Sterling Silver Paste Flower Basket Brooch
Located in Lexington, KY
This absolutely gorgeous Victorian brooch features bright white paste and brightly colored paste
Other, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Emerald Paste Target Brooch 1890s
Located in Wilmslow, GB
An antique emerald target brooch. A very pretty original Victorian target brooch. Set with emerald
Antique sterling silver and rose gold paste brooch, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
A pretty Victorian silver, paste and Rose gold brooch. It is an ellipse shaped brooch with a
Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Paste Crescent moon brooch, 9k gold and silver, Victorian
Located in NEWARK, GB
Victorian, silver and 9ct gold paste crescent brooch. A beautiful chunky curved moon set with pretty
9k Gold, Silver
Antique Victorian Coque de Perle eye brooch, Whitby Jet and paste
Located in NEWARK, GB
A rare and unusual find is this antique Victorian era Whitby Jet and Coque de Perle eye brooch
Victorian Paste Snake Boutonniere/Enhancer
Located in New York, NY
Charming Victorian Paste Snake Boutonniere or enhancer from the late 19th Century. Of French
Vermeil, Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver and Paste Swan Stickpin, circa 1890's
Located in Venice, CA
The swan on this Victorian-era stickpin is adorned with five hand-cut high table paste stones in
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling silver and Moonstone scorpion brooch, blue paste eyes
Located in NEWARK, GB
A gorgeous and mystical antique, sterling silver and Moonstone scorpion brooch. The scorpion body
Moonstone, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian 14 Karat Rose Gold Opal and Paste Stick Pin
Located in Great Neck, NY
Victorian Stick Pin with an opal center surrounded by a halo of green paste and grey paste. Metal
Opal, 14k Gold
Rock Crystal Layering Necklace with Vintage Paste Bird Brooch
Located in Colleyville, TX
glimmering rock crystal ovals is a removable vintage paste bird brooch. Worn separately, or layered in
Crystal, Sterling Silver, Base Metal
Victorian Paste Rosebud Brooch
Located in London, GB
A brooch in the form of a rose bud sprig set with green and red paste. Mounted in silver and gilt
Antique Victorian Blue Paste Gold Brooch
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Aquamarine Paste brooch is Victorian, set in 9ct Yellow Gold. Paste is a heavy, very
9k Gold
Antique Victorian Paste Silver Butterfly Brooch
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This beautiful Butterfly Brooch boasts beautiful coloured Paste Stones and Pearls, all set in
Pearl, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Pearl Paste Bug Brooch
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
to the wearer during the Victorian Eras. The brooch is adorned with beautiful white Paste Stones
Ruby, Gold, Sterling Silver
Victorian Silver Paste Star Brooch, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
To continue reading please click below.... This fabulous antique Victorian Silver Paste brooch is
Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Pendant Brooch, circa 1880
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This fabulous Victorian Sterling Silver pendant brooch is adorned with old cut Paste Stones, all
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Paste Lizard Brooch, circa 1890
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
For more details please click continue reading down below... This genuine Victorian lizard brooch
Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Paste Lizard Brooch Large
Located in Lancaster, Lancashire
This genuine large Victorian lizard brooch is adorned with sparkling old cut Paste Stones. The
Silver
Crescent Moon Brooch with 4.5ct Old Cut Diamonds, circa 1900's
Located in Firenze, IT
Period: XX century Dimensions: 2.90 x 2.80 cm Carats: 4,50 total cts Weight: 5,75 gr This brooch dating back to the beginning of the 20th century stands out for the presence of bril...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver, 18k Gold
$35,000
H 2.76 in W 3.55 in D 2.76 in
Victorian Opal and Diamond Crown Tiara Haircomb Necklace, circa 1880s
Located in Idar-Oberstein, DE
Victorian Opal and Diamond Crown Haircomb Necklace, ca. 1880s A very unusual and stunning Victorian crown, set with fiery opal cabochons and old-mine cut diamonds, from the 1880s. T...
Diamond, Opal, Gold, Silver
Antique Victorian Tiara with Diamond Star - c.1890
Located in London, GB
We are exceptionally delighted to offer this spectacular Victorian diamond star tiara made c.1890. The tiara will come in a fully fitted presentation case as photographed. Upon pond...
Diamond, Gold
Art Nouveau c.1900 French Silver, Plique-à-Jour and Paste Antique Brooch
Located in Skelmersdale, GB
This outstanding brooch was made in France and features a wonderfully elegant original Art Nouveau design. Condition Report: Excellent The Details... This brooch is constructed fro...
Silver
Late Victorian Opal and Diamond Tiara
Located in London, GB
A late Victorian opal and diamond tiara/necklace, consisting of seven knife-edge gold bars graduating from the centre, each set with two round cabochon-cut opals and an old-cut diamo...
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Silver
Edwardian Old Cut Diamond Foliate Scroll Tiara in Silver and Gold
Located in London, England
A truly elegant Edwardian old cut diamond tiara set in silver and gold, circa 1910. This beautifully handcrafted tiara is composed of a number of elegant foliate scroll motifs, com...
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Antique Edwardian Blue Sapphire Filigree Platinum and Yellow Gold Brooch
Located in Towson, MD
This Edwardian platinum and 14 karat yellow gold brooch features an approximately 0.13 carat round pastel blue faceted sapphire that is bezel set in a platinum. Measuring approximat...
Blue Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Antique Georgian Star Sapphire Diamond Guilloche Enamel 14K Gold Ring Circa 1830
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Georgian Period cabochon star sapphire, diamond, cobalt blue guilloche enamel 14K gold ring. Circa 1830 This beautiful antique ring dates from the George IV/Regency Period. ...
Diamond, Star Sapphire, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 14k Gold
Antique 9ct Gold, Victorian Enamel Heart Bow Brooch, Hallmarked Chester 1897
Located in Brighton, GB
Antique Bow Brooch 9ct Gold Hallmarked Chester 1897 Introducing a beautiful Victorian bow-shaped gold brooch adorned with blue enamel Heart The brooch measures approximately 2...
Gold, 9k Gold, Enamel
Vintage Blue Enamel & Diamonds Locket Pendant in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
Located in San Diego, CA
Vivid Royal Blue Enamel & Diamond Oval Locket Pendant Style: Locket ( listing is for Locket only chain not included ) Metal: 18kt Yellow Gold. 24.1 grams Size / Measurements: ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$65,700
W 0.5 in L 16.5 in
Georgian Riviera Necklace Rose Cut Diamond Silver Gold Riviere Antique Jewelry
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
An impressive Georgian Riviera necklace made of 14k rose gold and silver, featuring rose cut diamonds. “Riviera” is a style of a necklace named for the Mediterranean coastline as som...
Diamond, Silver, Gold, 14k Gold
$58,000
H 0.5 in Dm 1.65 in
Victorian 12.50 Carats Total Old European Cut Diamond Eight Point Star Brooch
Located in New York, NY
A diamond star brooch of 49 old European cut diamonds weighing approximately 12.50 carats total, set on an antique-style prong setting. Accented with a silver topped gold mounting. C...
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Victorian Crescent Moon Brooch
Located in London, GB
This enchanting Victorian crescent moon brooch, circa 1890, showcases approximately 2.5 carats of old cushion-cut diamonds, each set in crimped silver collet mounts against a warm go...
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
A Gold and Silver Crescent Brooch with Diamonds
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A 13.56-carat gold crescent brooch with 62 old-cut diamonds and 4 rose diamonds (app. 4 carats) set in silver, circa 1860. weight: 8.3 g dimensions: 3.4 x 3.2 cm
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Unavailable|$1,914
Georgian Halley's Comet Rose Cut Diamond Brooch
Located in London, GB
Here we have a charming little Halley's Comet brooch taken from the Georgian period. Crafted from a blend of old gold and silver, it showcases a striking design with a white rose cut...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique Gold Silver Diamond Starburst Brooch Pendant
Located in New York, NY
Antique 14k gold and silver starburst brooch/pendant, adorned with approx. 1.50ctw in rose and old mine cut diamonds. Brooch measures 1.5" x 1.5". Weight - 13.1 grams.
Diamond, Gold, Silver
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.
Vintage brooches, which refer to decorative jewelry traditionally pinned to garments and used to fasten pieces of clothing together where needed, have seen increasing popularity in recent years.
While jewelry trends come and go, brooches are indeed back on the radar thanks to fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Dior and Saint Laurent, all of which feature fun pinnable designs in their current collections. Whether a dazzlingly naturalistic Art Nouveau dragonfly, a whimsical David Webb animal, a gem-studded bloom or a streamlined abstract design, these jewels add color and sparkle to your look and a spring to your step.
Given their long history, brooches have expectedly taken on a variety of different shapes and forms over time, with jewelers turning to assorted methods of ornamentation for these accessories, including enameling and the integration of pearls and gemstones. Cameo brooches that originated during the Victorian age are characterized by a shell carved in raised relief that feature portraits of a woman’s profile, while 19th-century micromosaic brooches, comprising innumerable individually placed glass fragments, sometimes feature miniature depictions of a pastoral scene in daily Roman life.
At one time, brooches were symbols of wealth, made primarily from the finest metals and showcasing exquisite precious gemstones. Today, these jewels are inclusive and universal, and you don’t have to travel very far to find an admirer of brooches. They can be richly geometric in form, such as the ornate diamond pins dating from the Art Deco era, or designer-specific, such as the celebrated naturalistic works created by Tiffany & Co., the milk glass and gold confections crafted by Trifari or handmade vintage Chanel brooches of silk or laminated sheer fabric. Chanel, of course, has never abandoned this style, producing gorgeously baroque CC examples since the 1980s.
Brooches are versatile and adaptable. These decorative accessories can be worn in your hair, on hats, scarves and on the lower point of V-neck clothing. Pin a dazzling brooch to the lapel of your blazer-and-tee combo or add a cluster of smaller pins to your overcoat. And while brooches have their place in “mourning jewelry,” in that a mourning brooch is representative of your connection to a lost loved one, they’re widely seen as romantic and symbolic of love, so much so that a hardcore brooch enthusiast might advocate for brooches to be worn over the heart.
Today, find a wide variety of antique and vintage brooches for sale on 1stDibs, including gold brooches, sapphire brooches and more.