Victorian 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 Necklaces
Ruby, Pearl, Opal, Tourmaline, Gold Plate, Bronze, Gold-filled
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 18th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Blue Sapphire
1880s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
2010s Swedish Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Gold Plate, Brass, 18k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1870s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, 9k Gold
19th Century French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s Colombian Victorian Necklaces
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Tourmaline, Ruby, Pearl, Opal, Bronze, Gold Plate, Gold-filled
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
1880s French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl, Aquamarine, Gold-filled
1880s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Opal, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold
1870s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Enamel
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Topaz, Gold, 14k Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Base Metal, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
19th Century Colombian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, Silver, Gold
1880s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Garnet, Vermeil
1880s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amber, Amethyst, Silver
1860s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Opal, Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Silver, Gold
1870s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 15k Gold, Silver
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Garnet, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
1890s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Enamel, 18k Gold, White Gold
Early 1800s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Emerald
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
1860s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Necklaces
Crystal, Cultured Pearl, Quartz, Sterling Silver
1860s Hungarian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, Enamel
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Silver
1860s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, Enamel
1890s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Peridot, Gold, 15k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
1850s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
Late 20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Crystal, Gold Plate
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold