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.
Early 19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s Italian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
2010s French Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver
19th Century American Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Carnelian, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold
1870s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
2010s French Early Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Early Victorian Jewelry
Chalcedony, 18k Gold
Late 20th Century Portuguese Early Victorian Jewelry
Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Enamel, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
1880s Swiss Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Mid-20th Century Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Sterling Silver
Mid-19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Turquoise, Silver
Early 18th Century French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
19th Century American Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1840s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Early Victorian Jewelry
Emerald, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Beryl, Garnet, Ruby, Gold
2010s Indian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold
1840s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Oriental Pearl, 15k Gold
2010s French Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Sterling Silver, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond
Mid-19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Silver
Early 1900s American Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Rose Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century American Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
1850s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s North American Early Victorian Jewelry
Emerald, Bronze
Mid-19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Topaz, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Brass
Early 18th Century Indian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Brass
1840s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Italian Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1880s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1820s German Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Early Victorian Jewelry
White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century French Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Imperial Topaz, Topaz, Silver, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Early Victorian Jewelry
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1990s Spanish Early Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Enamel