Early Victorian Brooches
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.
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold
2010s Asian Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Sterling Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
1850s English Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, White Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 10k Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Turquoise, 14k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
2010s Dutch Early Victorian Brooches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
2010s Asian Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Sterling Silver
1860s Italian Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 14k Gold, Silver
1860s French Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold
1990s Spanish Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Finnish Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold
2010s Asian Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Sterling Silver
1890s Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold
1830s French Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, Silver
1840s European Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 18k Gold
Early 20th Century American Early Victorian Brooches
Brass
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold, Enamel, Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Early Victorian Brooches
18k Gold, Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver, Enamel
Mid-19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Peridot, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond
Mid-20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1880s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Gold
1950s European Vintage Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Gold
1910s English Vintage Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl, Turquoise, 14k Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Mid-20th Century Unknown Early Victorian Brooches
Pearl
Mid-19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Brooches
Topaz, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Dutch Early Victorian Brooches
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver