Early Victorian Jewelry
Also called Romantic period jewelry, antique early Victorian jewelry and watches were a celebration of the young monarch’s love.
When Prince Albert became engaged to Queen Victoria, he gave her a serpent ring with emerald eyes, her birthstone. While this may seem a bit simple for our contemporary tastes, the serpent symbolizes eternity, and has become a popular motif in jewelry. The tail in the serpent’s mouth forms an unbroken circle. This dewy-eyed happiness trickled down to the masses and men and women favored jewelry that was sentimental and full of symbolism. Today, antique Victorian jewelry is very coveted and highly collectible.
Romantic period jewelry tends to be feminine and ornate. Flowers, hearts, birds, and bows were just some of the common decorative motifs. These pieces were embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise. It was common to express your devotion with jewelry — REGARD and DEAREST rings were particularly popular. These rings were set with stones that corresponded to each letter: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond.
Most often, the design of the ring was simple, with the stones going across the shank of the ring in a line, but it was not uncommon to see a REGARD ring in a flower formation, with each stone set in the petal of the flower.
Another common early Victorian ring style was two hands clasping a flower or stone. They came in many styles and were made of coral and ivory but also of gold with precious and semiprecious gemstones. These rings, while not exclusively Victorian, are often associated with the time period and symbolized friendship. Lockets enclosed with hair, cameos depicting cupid or a loved one’s face and enamel pieces were also popular.
The early Victorian period corresponded with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Jewelry, no longer made only by hand, became more affordable during the 19th century. The growing middle class also helped increase the demand for it. This was reflected in how women styled their jewelry; they were not afraid to adorn themselves from head to toe with stacking and layering in between. Considering the time period (this was before the California Gold Rush), a lot of pieces in the Romantic period were made using low-karat gold or were gold-plated. Fine gold wire was also employed frequently to add to the design. This is a nice trick to know when determining the date of Victorian jewelry.
Find a range of antique Romantic period brooches, necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
1840s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
18k Gold
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 10k Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
1850s American Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Silver
2010s Japanese Early Victorian Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Early Victorian Jewelry
Brass
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Agate, 18k Gold
1960s German Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Sapphire, Enamel
1850s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Topaz, Pearl, Imperial Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Jewelry
Brass
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Asian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sterling Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Tourmaline, 10k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Silver
19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Moonstone, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Silver
2010s Indian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
2010s Dutch Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Mid-19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Topaz, 15k Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Mid-19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
Mid-19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
1840s Swiss Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
18k Gold
2010s Dutch Early Victorian Jewelry
Sapphire, Diamond, Silver, 14k Gold, Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Coral, Yellow Gold, Gold-filled
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1850s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 9k Gold
2010s North American Early Victorian Jewelry
Emerald, Bronze
Early 18th Century Indian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Brass
1850s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s American Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Brass
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s European Early Victorian Jewelry
1840s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Enamel
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1950s European Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
1970s German Vintage Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate