Victorian Earrings
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.
2010s North American Victorian Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
1830s Antique Victorian Earrings
White Diamond, Sapphire, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Palladium
1880s American Antique Victorian Earrings
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1870s Antique Victorian Earrings
Pearl, Enamel
Late 19th Century French Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Earrings
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
1950s Italian Vintage Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Opal, 9k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Earrings
Chrysoberyl, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Earrings
Cut Steel
1880s American Antique Victorian Earrings
Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Earrings
Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Belgian Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Jade, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s European Victorian Earrings
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Earrings
14k Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Enamel
1980s European Vintage Victorian Earrings
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Victorian Earrings
Emerald, Diamond, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
20th Century Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1890s British Antique Victorian Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Earrings
14k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Earrings
Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Mixed Metal
2010s American Victorian Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Victorian Earrings
Onyx, 18k Gold, White Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, White Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Earrings
Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century American Victorian Earrings
Enamel
2010s Indian Victorian Earrings
Diamond, White Diamond, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary British Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Gold Plate, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Earrings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
