Victorian Seal Fob
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Loose Gemstones
Agate
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold Plate
Antique 1880s Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Carnelian, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Chalcedony, Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Gold-filled
Antique 1880s French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century European Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Figurines and Sculptures
Carnelian, Silver, Gold
Recent Sales
Antique 1830s Unknown Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Quartz, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Charm Bracelets
Agate, Rock Crystal, Carnelian, Amethyst, 15k Gold
Antique 1850s British Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Carnelian, 18k Gold
Antique 1850s British Necklace Enhancers
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 1860s British Baroque Necklace Enhancers
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Chalcedony, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1870s British Necklace Enhancers
Agate, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Turquoise, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English More Jewelry
15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 1870s British Victorian More Jewelry
Agate, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian More Jewelry
Quartz, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Carnelian, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Antique 1890s British Victorian More Jewelry
Gold
Late 20th Century British Late Victorian More Jewelry
Citrine, Gold Plate
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
English More Jewelry
18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Jade, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Unknown Victorian More Jewelry
Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Agate, Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Coral, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1850s British Victorian More Jewelry
Chalcedony, 15k Gold
Antique 1850s European Pendant Necklaces
Gold
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold Plate
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold Plate
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 9k Gold, Base Metal
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold Plate
Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Yellow Gold, Bronze
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, 15k Gold
Antique 1840s British Victorian Necklace Enhancers
18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique 1890s English Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1850s British Pendant Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century European Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 1890s British High Victorian More Jewelry
15k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Carnelian, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian More Jewelry
Garnet, Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Citrine, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Unknown Early Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Turquoise, 15k Gold
Antique 1880s British Victorian More Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
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Aquamarine, Moonstone, Zircon, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s French Late Victorian Engagement Rings
Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
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Aquamarine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold
20th Century Unknown Coats and Outerwear
21st Century and Contemporary Three-Stone Rings
Blue Diamond
Antique 1860s British George V Pendant Necklaces
Agate, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 18th Century Victorian Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Victorian Seal Fob For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Seal Fob?
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.
Why Gold Shines in Jewelry Craftsmanship
Gold is the feel-good metal, the serotonin of jewelry. Wear vintage and antique gold necklaces, watches, gold bracelets or gold rings and you feel happy, you feel dressed, you feel, well, yourself.
Gold, especially yellow gold, with its rich patina and ancient pedigree going back thousands of years, is the steady standby, the well-mannered metal of choice. Any discussion of this lustrous metal comes down to a basic truth: Gold is elementary, my dear. Gold jewelry that couples the mystique of the metal with superb design and craftsmanship achieves the status of an enduring classic. Many luxury houses have given us some of our most treasured and lasting examples of gold jewelry over the years.
Since its founding, in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has built its reputation on its company jewelry as well as its coterie of boutique designers, which has included Jean Schlumberger, Donald Claflin, Angela Cummings and Elsa Peretti. There are numerous gold Tiffany classics worth citing. Some are accented with gemstones, but all stand out for their design and the workmanship displayed.
For the woman who prefers a minimalist look, the Tiffany & Co. twist bangle (thin, slightly ovoid) is stylishly simple. For Cummings devotees, signature pieces feature hard stone inlay, such as her pairs of gold ear clips inlaid with black jade (a play on the classic Chanel black and tan), or bangles whose design recalls ocean waves, with undulating lines of lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. And just about any design by the great Jean Schlumberger is by definition a classic.
Even had he eschewed stones and diamonds, Southern-born David Webb would be hailed for the vast arsenal of heavy gold jewelry he designed. Gold, usually hammered or textured in some manner, defines great David Webb jewelry. The self-taught jeweler made very au courant pieces while drawing inspiration from ancient and out-of-the-way sources — East meets West in the commanding gold necklaces made by Webb in the early 1970s. The same could be said for his endlessly varied gold cuffs.
In Europe, many houses have given us gold jewelry that sets the highest standard for excellence, pieces that were highly sought after when they were made and continue to be so.
Numerous designs from Cartier are homages to gold. There are the classic Trinity rings, necklaces and bracelets — trifectas of yellow, white and rose gold. As a testament to the power of love, consider the endurance of the Cartier Love bracelet.
Aldo Cipullo, Cartier’s top in-house designer from the late 1960s into the early ’70s, made history in 1969 with the Love bracelet. Cipullo frequently said that the Love bracelet was born of a sleepless night contemplating a love affair gone wrong and his realization that “the only remnants he possessed of the romance were memories.” He distilled the urge to keep a loved one close into a slim 18-karat gold bangle.
BVLGARI and its coin jewelry, gemme nummarie, hit the jackpot when the line launched in the 1960s. The line has been perennially popular. BVLGARI coin jewelry features ancient Greek and Roman coins embedded in striking gold mounts, usually hung on thick link necklaces of varying lengths. In the 1970s, BVLGARI introduced the Tubogas line, most often made in yellow gold. The Tubogas watches are classics, and then there is the Serpenti, the house's outstanding snake-themed watches and bracelets.
A collection called Monete that incorporated the gold coins is one of several iconic BVLGARI lines that debuted in the 1970s and ’80s, catering to a new generation of empowered women. Just as designers like Halston and Yves Saint Laurent were popularizing fuss-free ready-to-wear fashion for women on the go, BVLGARI offered jewels to be lived in.
Since Van Cleef & Arpels opened its Place Vendôme doors in 1906, collection after collection of jewelry classics have enchanted the public. As predominantly expressed in a honeycomb of gold, there is the Ludo watch and accessories, circa the 1920s, and the golden Zip necklace, 1951, whose ingenious transformation of the traditional zipper was originally proposed by the Duchess of Windsor. Van Cleef's Alhambra, with its Moroccan motif, was introduced in 1968 and from the start its popularity pivoted on royalty and celebrity status. It remains one of VCA’s most popular and collected styles.
Mention must be made of Buccellati, whose name is synonymous with gold so finely spun that it suggests tapestry. The house’s many gold bracelets, typically embellished with a few or many diamonds, signified taste and distinction and are always in favor on the secondary market. Other important mid-20th-century houses known for their gold-themed jewelry include Hermès and Ilias Lalaounis.
Find a stunning collection of vintage and antique gold jewelry on 1stDibs.