Victorian Riviere Necklace
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
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Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Link Necklaces
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, 15k Gold, 9k Gold
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Amethyst, Pearl, Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
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Amethyst, 15k Gold
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Silver, Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Link Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
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Antique 1890s Late Victorian Link Necklaces
Pearl, Tourmaline, 22k Gold
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Garnet, 9k Gold
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Amethyst, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
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Amethyst, Gold, 9k Gold
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Amethyst, Diamond, Yellow Gold
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Aquamarine, Silver
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Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
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Topaz, 15k Gold
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Amethyst, 14k Gold
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Diamond
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White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, Gold, Silver
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Opal, 18k Gold
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Citrine, Gold
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Amethyst, Gold
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Amethyst, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
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White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Link Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
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Silver
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White Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
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White Diamond, 18k Gold
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Zircon, Silver
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Amethyst, 9k Gold
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Citrine, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Citrine, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
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Amethyst, Gold Plate, Silver
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Amethyst, Gold
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Amethyst, 18k Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
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Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
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Tourmaline, 18k Gold
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Amethyst, 15k Gold
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Amethyst, Gold
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Silver
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Amethyst, Silver
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Amethyst, Gold, Silver
Antique 1850s British Victorian Link Necklaces
Amethyst, Pinchbeck
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Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Late Victorian Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Rose Gold
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Diamond, Silver, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s British Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Diamond, Emerald, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Choker Necklaces
Amethyst, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Choker Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Chain Necklaces
Citrine, 15k Gold
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Diamond, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
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Victorian Riviere Necklace For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Riviere Necklace?
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.
Finding the Right Necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage David Webb necklaces — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.
- What is a Riviere necklace?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Riviere necklace is a diamond necklace that features a continuation of gemstones all the way around the neckline. The size of the gems can either be uniform or be larger in the front, gradually getting smaller toward the back. Shop a collection of Riviere necklaces from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The rivière necklace features gemstones of the same type that are either all the same size and shape or, more frequently, they graduate from smaller in back to larger gems in the front center. In the Georgian Period, or from 1714 to 1837, rivière necklaces had become popular and remained so throughout the century, sometimes with the addition of a pendant in the later years. In the 1920s, the channel-cut necklace replaced the rivière necklace in popularity. Find a collection of vintage and modern rivière necklaces on 1stDibs.