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.
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold-filled
1870s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
1860s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Sapphire, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl
1860s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Onyx, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Garnet, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century European Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Moonstone, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Onyx, Gold-filled
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold
1870s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Gold Plate, Brass, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Quartz, Rock Crystal, 14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Asian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century Dutch Victorian Necklaces
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
Mid-20th Century English Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Silver
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Jade, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
1880s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
Mid-19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Topaz, Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Indian Victorian Necklaces
Turquoise
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Italian Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Garnet, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Tiger's Eye, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Turquoise, 18k Gold