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.
1960s Unknown Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Silver
1920s Unknown Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Rock Crystal, 14k Gold
1840s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1860s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Early 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Chalcedony, Gold, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate, Silver
Mid-19th Century French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Marcasite, Silver
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Aquamarine, Opal, Pearl, Tanzanite, 10k Gold, Gold Plate
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
1860s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s American Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gilt Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Victorian Necklaces
Alexandrite, Diamond, White Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold
1870s Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Tiger's Eye, Gold-filled
1920s Unknown Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Victorian Necklaces
Alexandrite, Diamond, White Gold
2010s French Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Emerald, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
19th Century British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate, Amethyst, Gold-filled, Brass
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Silver
1860s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Amethyst, Diamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Mid-19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Enamel
1870s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Moonstone, Gold, 15k Gold
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Silver
1890s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Enamel
19th Century Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold Plate, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Agate
2010s Indian Victorian Necklaces
Black Diamond, Gold Plate, Silver
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Crystal, Gold, 15k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Carnelian, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold-filled, Rose Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Labradorite, Opal, Pearl
2010s Chinese Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, 14k Gold
2010s Italian Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold-filled, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Vermeil, Silver
2010s Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Spinel, Black Spinel, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Victorian Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Bronze
1980s American Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Brass
1880s Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
10k Gold, Rose Gold