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.
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Rose Gold
1980s British Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1990s Dutch Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s French Victorian Necklaces
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Peridot, 15k Gold, 9k Gold
1950s Dutch Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Czech Victorian Necklaces
Onyx, Rock Crystal, Pyrite
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 20th Century French Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century French Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century European Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century European Victorian Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Rock Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Italian Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Topaz, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Turkish Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century German Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Brass, Gilt Metal
20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Dutch Victorian Necklaces
Emerald, Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Necklaces
9k Gold
Early 20th Century American Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Blue Sapphire, Ruby, Lapis Lazuli, Garnet, Emerald, Blue Diamond,...
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Early 1900s Italian Antique Victorian Necklaces
Coral, 14k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Early 20th Century French Victorian Necklaces
18k Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold
1980s German Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 20th Century American Victorian Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century English Victorian Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Necklaces
Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Necklaces
Yellow Gold
1980s Italian Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Gold Plate
Early 1900s French Antique Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Enamel
Late 20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Aquamarine, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s English Antique Victorian Necklaces
Blue Sapphire, 9k Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Mixed Metal, Silver
1930s Vintage Victorian Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold
20th Century Italian Victorian Necklaces
Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
20th Century Victorian Necklaces
White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel