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 Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Sapphire, 14k Gold
2010s French Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Brass
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gilt Metal
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
1850s Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold
1880s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1980s American Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Brass
2010s French Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
Ruby, Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate
2010s Chinese Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Onyx, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary German Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Tiger's Eye, Gold-filled
1880s Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Dutch Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1850s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate, 18k Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Indonesian Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, South Sea Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
1880s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Enamel, Gold
1870s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
Emerald, Silver, Sterling Silver, Brass
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
Black Diamond, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold
2010s Chinese Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold-filled, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Rose Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Onyx, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Mid-19th Century French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Citrine, 18k Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold, 22k Gold, 24k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1990s Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
1880s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
Late 18th Century Australian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold
2010s Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Spinel, Black Spinel, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Gold