Edwardian Jewelry
Antique Edwardian jewelry is named for King Edward VII of Great Britain, who ruled from 1901 until 1910. Classic Edwardian necklaces, engagement rings, earrings and other jewelry are often overshadowed by the more popular style of the era, Art Nouveau, which is a shame. At its best, Edwardian jewelry was all about the exquisite diamond, platinum and pearl creations made by such famous names as Cartier and Boucheron.
Edward introduced incredibly formal Buckingham Palace court presentations, balls and soirées, resulting in a huge demand for diamond jewels starting with his coronation in 1902. Dozens of tiaras and formal jewels in an updated 18th-century style were purchased from French jewelers Boucheron and Chaumet and from Russia’s Fabergé. The court jewelers Asprey, Garrard, Carrington and the newly opened London branch of Cartier were all overwhelmed with orders for sumptuous diamond jewelry to be worn at the king’s elaborate coronation.
During the Edwardian era, pearls were more valuable than diamonds. The pear-shaped pearl La Peregrina, for example, belonged to some of the most fabulous and strongest women in history and bounced among royal courts in Spain, France and Russia for several centuries. So while today the scale and clarity of a diamond ring matters, back then the size and quantity of your pearls was more important a declaration of wealth. And just as Victorian notions of propriety and femininity began to change after Queen Victoria died in 1901, jewelry design also evolved but there was some overlap with late Victorian styles.
Women of the Edwardian period sported bejeweled headpieces like tiaras and bandeaus with feathered aigrettes. Another popular piece of jewelry that is said to have been directly inspired by Queen Alexandra were colliers de chien, or dog collars — today's choker necklaces — which consisted of either a ribbon decorated with a brooch, a gemstone or several strands of pearls strung closely together.
Two major jewelry houses, Cartier and Boucheron, were founded in the mid-1850s, and by the beginning of the 20th century, the wealthy considered them household names. The Cartier brand became even more desirable once the house became the official jewelry supplier to King Edward VII. Cartier took this title seriously and designed some of the most innovative jewelry of its day, since it was willing to experiment with new materials like platinum and because it was mindful of fashion trends. Filigree settings also became popular. This saw-piercing technique was decorative and at the same time created a sense of lightness.
Perhaps even more important than Cartier’s use of platinum was the founding of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 1888. The discovery of new diamond mines made the stone more affordable and prompted the introduction of new gemstone cuts. It is not uncommon to see Edwardian jewels with baguette or briolette diamonds.
Find antique Edwardian rings, bracelets, watches and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
20th Century Edwardian Jewelry
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
19th Century French Antique Edwardian Jewelry
Star Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, Gold
2010s American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Jewelry
Blue Sapphire
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
1910s American Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Pearl, 14k Gold
1910s Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Emerald, Diamond, Gold, Platinum, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Antique Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver, Gold
Early 1900s American Antique Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold, Platinum, Silver
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, 14k Gold
2010s American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1910s Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Pearl, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, 14k Gold
1910s English Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Moonstone, Silver
2010s American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Platinum
2010s American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Brown Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
14k Gold, White Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Jewelry
Onyx, 14k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s American Antique Edwardian Jewelry
Garnet, Marcasite, Sterling Silver
Early 1900s American Antique Edwardian Jewelry
14k Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Amethyst, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Russian Edwardian Jewelry
Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Cultured Pearl, Platinum
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Jewelry
Sterling Silver
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Moonstone, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Jewelry
Sterling Silver
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Jewelry
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, Platinum
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
1920s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, 10k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
2010s American Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 14k Gold, White Gold
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
White Diamond, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
1910s Unknown Vintage Edwardian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Platinum
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Edwardian Jewelry
Gold, Platinum
