Dirk Dagger
Early 20th Century English Victorian Brooches
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish Late Victorian Letter Openers
Agate, Multi-gemstone, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Scottish High Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Quartz, Gold
People Also Browsed
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches
Amethyst, Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
1990s French Brooches
Vintage 1910s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum, Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Brooches
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Scottish Artisan Brooches
Citrine, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American Pocket Watches
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1940s French Neoclassical Table Lamps
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze, Metal
Antique Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Brooches
14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Quartz, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Marble, Spelter
Antique Early 1800s British Georgian Decorative Boxes
Wood, Sycamore
Vintage 1950s French Brooches
Mixed Metal
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Dutch Victorian Engagement Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
Antique 1860s Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Quartz, Rock Crystal, Gold, 14k Gold, White Gold
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
Agate, Garnet, Quartz, Jasper, Silver
Antique 1880s English Victorian Sterling Silver
Silver
Antique 1880s Victorian Brooches
Agate, Citrine, Sterling Silver
Antique Early 18th Century Scottish George II Arms, Armor and Weapons
Silver
Antique 19th Century Scottish Victorian Brooches
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Sterling Silver, Gold
Antique Early 1900s English Edwardian Brooches
Agate, Amethyst, Silver
Antique 1860s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Quartz, Silver
Antique 1870s British Victorian Brooches
Agate, Sterling Silver
A Close Look at 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.