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.
Unusual 15 Karat Plaited Hair Double Sided Cufflinks, circa 1860
Located in Baltimore, MD
Hair jewelry, or more specifically, the art of setting hair in beautiful arrangements as sentimental jewelry, dates from the Georgian era. Its popularity ...
15k Gold
Victorian George Shiebler Sterling Silver Homeric Cufflinks
Located in Venice, CA
In the 1860’s and 1870’s, neoclassicism had a resurgence. In American silver, classical images of Greek gods, goddesses, and warriors were portrayed on medallions to resemble coins a...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Antique 18K Gold Cufflinks, Circa 1890, Victorian
Located in South Pasadena, CA
Tiffany & Co double face and gold cufflinks circa 1890. * ABOUT THIS ITEM: #C-DJ314G. Scroll down for detailed specifications. The designs comprise modified, abstract rectangles...
Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 9ct Gold, Black Onyx & Diamond Shirt Button Hole Studs
Located in London, GB
Beautiful Antique Black Onyx & Diamond Antique Shirt Button Hole Studs with 9ct Gold backs The diamonds are Natural and mine cut Diamond Size a...
9k Gold
Victorian 18ct Gold Cufflink and Button Set, c.1880s
Located in London, GB
Dating to the 1880s this beautiful cufflink and button set are crafted in 18 carat yellow gold. Intricate acanthus patterning is carved into the cufflinks as well as the top of each ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Diamond Sapphire Gold Cufflinks "Clover" Late 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Delicate pair of golden cufflinks set with circular-cut sapphires and rose-cut diamonds in a clover motif. Late 19th century, french import assay marks. These lovely cufflinks comple...
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
Antique Russian Ruby Diamond Gold Cufflinks
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1895 14K rose gold cufflinks set with rubies and old cut diamonds Marked with 56b zolotnik gold standard Length 22 mm
Diamond, Ruby
Charming Victorian Enamel Cufflinks
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Crafted of 18k yellow gold, these cufflinks offer a host of unique details: A horn, a buckle and a jolly chap enjoying the hunt. These whimsical original Victorian creations would ma...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Pair of Late Victorian Garnet Cufflinks
Located in London, GB
A pair of late Victorian garnet cufflinks, each cufflink comprising two plaques, each set with an oval cabochon-cut garnet, estimated to weigh a total of 17 carats, set to a yellow g...
Garnet, Yellow Gold
Antique Victorian Cameo Cufflinks
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 14k rose cold with Shell Cameos. Circa late 1800s
14k Gold
9k Yellow Gold Regimental Cufflinks - Antique Circa 1880
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive pair of antique 9k gold cufflinks - boxed; part of our diverse antique Victorian jewellery and estate jewelry collections. These stunning, fine and impressive Victorian cufflinks have been crafted in 9k yellow gold with 9k rose and white gold accents. The anterior link bears a cast and applied rose gold regimental badge, pertaining to the 59th (2nd Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot. The opposing link is ornamented with a cast and applied white gold fleur-de-lis. The links secure to the reverse with a 9k yellow gold five link chain. The reverse of each cufflink is struck with the maker's mark (BN - Benjamin Ninnes). These antique cufflinks are fitted to the original leatherette presentation box, with a green satin and velvet lining and securing with a push fit catch. The interior of the box bears the retailer's mark B. Ninnes Goldsmith, Hythe Condition: These impressive antique gold regimental cufflinks...
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Large Niello Oval Cufflinks, circa 1890
Located in Baltimore, MD
We love the pleasing niello design of the dotted squares on these substantial cufflinks. The word "niello" is a derivation of the Latin word for "niger" meaning black. Niello was an ...
Niello, Silver
Pair of Mellerio Nail and Horn Cufflinks
By Mellerio
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of Turn-of-last-Century cufflinks, each cufflink comprising a nail and hunting horn motif, with chain fitting, all in yellow gold, signed Mellerio 2355M, bearing Fench ha...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold