Victorian Jewelry
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.
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Onyx, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s American Antique Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Platinum
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Gold
1870s Italian Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Rock Crystal, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, Coral, 18k Gold
1870s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Agate, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
19th Century French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1880s British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Silver
Early 1900s English Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold
Mid-19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold
1990s Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Platinum
Late 19th Century German Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 15k Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Victorian Jewelry
Citrine, Pearl, Silver, Sterling Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
1870s French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
1870s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Ruby, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, Silver
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, Pearl, 22k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Coral, 9k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Onyx, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1830s English Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 9k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel
1890s English Antique Victorian Jewelry
Ruby, Sapphire, Pearl, Emerald, Diamond, Platinum, Yellow Gold, 15k Gold...
19th Century British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Hungarian Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Silver, Gilt Metal
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Ruby, Enamel, Gold
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Onyx, Pearl, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, Rose Gold, Enamel
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Opal, Pearl, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Diamond, 18k Gold, Enamel, Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Gold
J.E. Caldwell & Co. jewelry & watches for sale on 1stDibs
1stDibs offers a range of J.E. Caldwell's jewelry and watches. Each of these unique items has been designed with extraordinary care, often using yellow gold. This collection includes 1 pieces as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler. While this collection reflects work that originated over various time periods, most of these items were designed during the 19th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider jewelry & watches by and . Prices for J.E. Caldwell & Co. jewelry & watches can differ depending upon gemstone, time period and other attributes. The price for these items starts at $600 and tops out at $600, while pieces like these can sell for $600 on average.