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.
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Jade, Pearl, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Garnet, Sterling Silver, Gold-filled, Silver
Early 20th Century English Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Enamel, 15k Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate, 14k Gold, 15k Gold, Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s German Victorian Necklaces
White Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Natural Pearl, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Blue Topaz, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s German Victorian Necklaces
White Gold, Enamel
Mid-19th Century American Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, 22k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Tourmaline, Gold-filled, Bronze, 14k Gold
2010s German Victorian Necklaces
Yellow Gold, Enamel
2010s Victorian Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Enamel, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Garnet, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
18k Gold, Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 9k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl
Mid-19th Century French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl
2010s Victorian Necklaces
Labradorite, Topaz, Sterling Silver, Silver
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Gold-filled
1880s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
1870s Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold
1860s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Early 20th Century European Victorian Necklaces
Silver
19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pinchbeck
2010s Italian Victorian Necklaces
Vermeil
2010s Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
1880s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold Plate, Silver
1880s French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Moonstone, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century European Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Victorian Necklaces
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Rose Gold
19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pink Sapphire, Gold Plate, Bronze
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, 22k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold