Edwardian Drop Earrings
Antique Edwardian jewelry is named for King Edward VII of Great Britain, who ruled from 1901 until 1910. Classic Edwardian necklaces, engagement rings, earrings and other jewelry are often overshadowed by the more popular style of the era, Art Nouveau, which is a shame. At its best, Edwardian jewelry was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron.
Edward introduced incredibly formal Buckingham Palace court presentations, balls and soirées, resulting in a huge demand for diamond jewels starting with his coronation in 1902. Dozens of tiaras and formal jewels in an updated 18th-century style were purchased from French jewelers Boucheron and Chaumet and from Russia’s Fabergé. The court jewelers Asprey, Garrard, Carrington and the newly opened London branch of Cartier were all overwhelmed with orders for sumptuous diamond jewelry to be worn at the king’s elaborate coronation.
During the Edwardian era, pearls were more valuable than diamonds. The pear-shaped pearl La Peregrina, for example, belonged to some of the most fabulous and strongest women in history and bounced among royal courts in Spain, France and Russia for several centuries. So while today the scale and clarity of a diamond ring matters, back then the size and quantity of your pearls was more important a declaration of wealth. And just as Victorian notions of propriety and femininity began to change after Queen Victoria died in 1901, jewelry design also evolved but there was some overlap with late Victorian styles.
Women of the Edwardian period sported bejeweled headpieces like tiaras and bandeaus with feathered aigrettes. Another popular piece of jewelry that is said to have been directly inspired by Queen Alexandra were colliers de chien, or dog collars — today's choker necklaces — which consisted of either a ribbon decorated with a brooch, a gemstone or several strands of pearls strung closely together.
Two major jewelry houses, Cartier and Boucheron, were founded in the mid-1850s, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the wealthy considered them household names. The Cartier brand became even more desirable once the house became the official jewelry supplier to King Edward VII. Cartier took this title seriously and designed some of the most innovative jewelry of its day, since it was willing to experiment with new materials like platinum and because it was mindful of fashion trends. Filigree settings also became popular. This saw-piercing technique was decorative and at the same time created a sense of lightness.
Perhaps even more important than Cartier’s use of platinum was the founding of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 1888. The discovery of new diamond mines made the stone more affordable and prompted the introduction of new gemstone cuts. It is not uncommon to see Edwardian jewels with baguette or briolette diamonds.
Find antique Edwardian rings, bracelets, watches and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Jade, Opal, Ruby, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Amethyst, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Indian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Onyx, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century English Edwardian Drop Earrings
15k Gold
2010s Indian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Drop Earrings
Jade, Gold
2010s Indian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sterling Silver
1980s German Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Gold Plate
Early 1900s Antique Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Garnet, Moonstone, Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s Turkish Edwardian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Diamond, Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
1910s Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Diamond, White Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Antique Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 9k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s American Antique Edwardian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold
1930s European Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Drop Earrings
Topaz, Blue Topaz, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Yellow Diamond, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
2010s Australian Edwardian Drop Earrings
Opal, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Jade, 18k Gold
2010s Australian Edwardian Drop Earrings
South Sea Pearl, Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1960s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
2010s American Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Antique Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum
2010s British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Antique Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
1910s French Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold, Silver
1910s British Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Edwardian Drop Earrings
Amethyst, Pearl
Early 1900s British Antique Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Platinum, 18k Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Edwardian Drop Earrings
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Pearl, Peridot, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s French Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
1910s British Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Peridot, Gold, Silver
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Platinum
1990s Unknown Edwardian Drop Earrings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Drop Earrings
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, Platinum
