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.
Tiffany & Co. Coffee/Tea Set Antique Victorian Regency Engraved Sterling
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Fabulous Regency Sterling Silver Coffee or Tea set. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. This set comprises 3 pieces: coffeepot/teapot, creamer, sugar. In the celebrated pattern t...
Sterling Silver
$204Sale Price|20% Off
ORiGINAL ANTIQUE 1882 - 1901 DANIEL & ARTER A1 SILVER PLATED CREAM OR MILK JUG
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely original antique fully hallmarked Daniel & Arter Silver Plated Milk or Cream jug in A1 plate A ...
Silver Plate
$13,200Sale Price / set|30% Off
James Charles Edington Silver Set, Circa 1840
Located in Princeton, NJ
Coffee, tea, sugar, and cream set featuring gilded interior with ivory fitting, ornate foliate design including an eagle on the lid and an additional Harlequin patterned design. Engr...
Silver, Gilt Metal
$1,600
H 3.13 in W 1.5 in L 5.5 in
Figural Israel & Son Ltd. Sterling Silver Cow Creamer or Milk Pitcher
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine figural sterling silver creamer or milk pot by Israel Freeman & Son. In the form of a cow with a loop 'tail' handle, hinged lid to the back, and spout at the mouth. A t...
Sterling Silver
Six-Piece Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Kettle on Cradle W Serving Tray 7.3 Kg
Located in New York, NY
Very Exclusive A Tiffany & Co maker's sterling silver tea set, complete with serving tray. Six Piece Tiffany & Co. Makers Sterling Silver Complete Tea Set Each piece is signed and e...
Sterling Silver
$395
H 0.38 in W 1.37 in L 3.15 in
Vintage Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Figural Shell Tea Caddy Spoon
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed silver tea caddy spoon. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. With a scalloped shell bowl and a wide tab handle. Fully marked to the reverse. Simply a wonderful Tiffany tea caddy...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver 5 Piece Tea Service in Pattern 80
By Georg Jensen
Located in Brisbane City, QLD
A five-piece tea and coffee service in sterling silver with ebony handles and finials in Georg Jensen's pattern 80, designed in 1915, hallmarked for a post-1945 manufacture. While Jensen's reverence for traditional Danish design and interest in themes of nature were often married in equal part to the popular Art...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Lapis Lazuli Silver Plated Spoon Set of Six by Marina J.
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Amazing One of a Kind Spoon Set by Marina J. Each spoon in this set of 6 is composed of clean and graceful lines giving this elegant set a modern flare. The lapis lazuli beads attach...
Lapis Lazuli, Silver Plate
$320Sale Price|20% Off
L 4.5 in
Marina J. Mothers Day Gift, Vintage Silver Plated Spoon Set with Baroque Pearls
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
One of A Kind Marina J. Vintage Silver Plated Spoon set of 6, reworked to have gorgeous Baroque Pearl tip details. The cultured Baroque Pearls Di...
Pearl, Silver Plate
$2,950Sale Price|39% Off
Archibald Knox Liberty Tudric Pewter Tea Set and Tray, circa 1905
Located in Toronto, ON
Archibald Knox Liberty Tudric pewter Tea set and Tray, C.1905.Teapot, cream jug, sugar and tray, each with relief whiplash curved celtic ornament interl...
$240Sale Price|20% Off
L 3.75 in
Marina J 6 Rhodium Plated Sterling Silver Tea Spoon Set with Lapis Lazuli Stones
By Marina J.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This set of 6 rhodium-plated sterling silver teaspoons with lapis lazuli stones are elegant, with spiral handles. These vintage spoons were re-imagined ...
Lapis Lazuli, Rhodium, Silver, Sterling Silver
$695
W 0.91 in D 0.36 in L 4.41 in
Antique Imperial Russian Silver & Cloisonne Enamel Tea or Kvosh Spoon
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine antique Russian tea or kvosh spoon. With polychrome cloisonné enamel decoration to both the front and reverse. Simply a wonderful piece of Imperial Russian silver! Dat...
Silver, Enamel
Antique Christofle French Silver Plated Tea Strainer
By Christofle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine French silver plated tea strainer. By Christofle et Cie. With a pierced and scalloped body, curved legs, ball feet and a turned wooden handle. Simply a wonderful, high-lev...
Silver Plate
Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Tea Caddy with Monogram #16850
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Sterling silver tea caddy by Tiffany & Co with monogram. Monogram appears to be MSC This beautiful urn style tea caddy is done in an Art Deco pattern featuring flowers and lines. P...
Sterling Silver
$1,800
H 0.5 in W 3.5 in L 6.75 in
Alexandra Solowij Watkins Modernist Sterling Silver Tea or Cocktail Strainer
By Alexandra Watkins
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Offered here for your consideration is, A fine Mid-Century Modern hand-crafted tea strainer. In sterling silver. By Alexandra Solowij Watkins. Solowij Watkins is a renowned Polish-American female silversmith. After training in Montreal she was hired by Gorham as one of the important designing artists - a peer of John Prip and Mary Ann Scherr...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 5.25 in W 8 in L 4 in
Antique Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Lidded Sugar Bowl and Creamer #18706
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Antique Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Lidded Sugar Bowl and Creamer This gorgeous antique sterling silver double handle sugar bowl by amazing designer Tiffany & Co with a berry fini...
Sterling Silver
Antique American Samuel Kirk & Son Co. Repoussé Sterling Tea and Coffee Service
Located in Baltimore, MD
Antique American Samuel Kirk & Son Co. Sterling Repoussé Tea & Coffee Service 6 Piece Set. Scenic landscape pattern of castles, ram heads, deer, other anim...
Sterling Silver
Gorham Medallion Tea Set - Historic Pattern - American Coin Silver - C 1865
By Gorham
Located in New York, NY
Coin silver tea set in Medallion pattern. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca. 1865. This set comprises 2 teapots, 1 sugar, 1 creamer, and 1 waste bowl. Oval bodies and scrolled bracke...
Sterling Silver
Dramatic Dragon Teapot by Khecheong - Chinese Export Silver - C 1850
Located in New York, NY
Dramatic silver teapot. Made by Khecheong in Canton, ca. 1850. Upward tapering sides, side-hinged and curved cover, scroll handle, and scrolled vertical spout. The sides have raised ...
Sterling Silver