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-20th Century American Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Tsavorite, 14k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Opal, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Yellow Gold, Vermeil
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold
1870s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Opal, Ruby, Gold Plate, Silver, Brass
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Rose Gold
1870s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
1880s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Opal, Gold-filled, Bronze
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
15k Gold, Enamel
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-19th Century American Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, 22k Gold
Late 19th Century German Antique Victorian Necklaces
Onyx
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
18k Gold, White Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1860s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Quartz, Topaz, 14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Sterling Silver
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Enamel
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
1860s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Opal, White Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Peridot, 15k Gold, Silver
1930s Portuguese Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Natural Pearl, Sapphire, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold
19th Century Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Gold Plate, Silver
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate
1880s Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
1840s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Crystal, Diamond, Opal, Rock Crystal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
1840s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Beryl, Garnet, Ruby, Gold
1870s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Other
19th Century Japanese Antique Victorian Necklaces
18k Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Black Pearl, Chrysophrase, Quartz, Gold-filled
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Opal, Black Pearl, Tourmaline, Chrysophrase, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
19th Century German Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Citrine, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver