Vulcanite Cameo
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Cuff Bracelets
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Drop Earrings
Gold, 15k Gold
Antique 1880s American Late Victorian Dangle Earrings
Gold-filled
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Platinum
Antique 19th Century British Art Nouveau Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Sterling Silver
20th Century Brooches
Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold, 15k Gold
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Drop Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Fashion Rings
14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Brooches
Gold, 15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Brooches
9k Gold
20th Century Brooches
Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century American Anglo-Indian Brooches
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.
Read More
This Victorian Necklace Features a Rainbow of Gems
If jewelry could talk, we know this piece would have good stories.
Inside the Mansions of HBO’s ‘Gilded Age’ with Set Decorator Regina Graves
Graves filled scores of opulent rooms with furniture and treasures to tell the story of how new money remade New York society.
Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings
Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.
Why Victorian Snake Jewelry Is Anything but Scary
Representing everlasting love, serpentine often appear on fashionable gems from the era on Queen Victoria.
The Original American Silver-Making Company Is Back in the Spotlight
A new show at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, in Providence, reveals why the various and sundry creations of the Gorham Manufacturing Company still shine.
See How New York City Designers Experiment on Their Own Homes
There are many lessons to be learned from the lofts, apartments and townhouses of architects and decorators in Manhattan and beyond.
Canadian Designer Philip Mitchell Masterfully Balances Tradition and Glamour
Enriching rooms with layers of visual interest is key to the New York– and Toronto-based decorator’s signature style.
How to Buy a Vintage or Antique Engagement Ring
Will your beloved be enchanted by an Edwardian ring or a trendy Art Deco piece? We clue you into period styles and tips for finding the perfect ring.