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.
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Jewelry
15k Gold, Enamel
Mid-19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Fire Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond
1870s French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, 14k Gold
1970s German Vintage Victorian Jewelry
Gold Plate
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Malachite, 14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Crystal, Rock Crystal, Gold-filled
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Amethyst, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Jewelry
Emerald, Pearl, Yellow Gold
1860s American Antique Victorian Jewelry
Moonstone, 14k Gold
1870s European Antique Victorian Jewelry
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, Rose Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Turquoise, 14k Gold, Gold
1850s British Antique Victorian Jewelry
2010s European Victorian Jewelry
Early 1900s European Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Jewelry
Garnet, Silver
1890s French Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow ...
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Moonstone, Sapphire, Cat’s Eye, Hessonite, Gol...
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Jewelry
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow 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.