Victorian Chain Necklaces
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 American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Pearl, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold Plate, Bronze, Gold-filled
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, White Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Opal, Silver, Sterling Silver
1890s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Garnet, 9k Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Tourmaline, Ruby, Pearl, Opal, Bronze, Gold Plate, Gold-filled
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold Plate, Brass, Silver
1880s Swiss Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Niello
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
1890s Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
1870s English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold, 18k Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s Swedish Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold Plate, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s French Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver, Silver
Mid-19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Chrysoberyl, Yellow Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Gold-filled, Silver, Bronze
1870s American Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Emerald, Gold-filled, Silver, Bronze
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Black Pearl, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling S...
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Gold-filled, Silver, Bronze
20th Century Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Silver, 18k Gold, Gold Plate
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
20th Century European Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
1860s Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
1840s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Garnet, 15k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Swedish Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Ruby, Gold Plate, Silver, Brass
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, White Diamond, Sterling Silver, Silver
Late 20th Century Unknown Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Garnet, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, Opal, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Amber, Amethyst, Silver
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Black Pearl, Tourmaline, Chrysophrase, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold