Victorian Clip-on Earrings
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.
1880s Dutch Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
1940s American Vintage Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Diamond, Rhodium, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1950s American Vintage Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold
1990s Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s French Vintage Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Silver Plate, Enamel
1890s Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Citrine, Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1960s American Vintage Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, 14k Gold
20th Century American Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Gold Plate
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 20th Century Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Early 19th Century Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Clip-on Earrings
18k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 9k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Emerald, 14k Gold, Silver
19th Century Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
14k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Natural Pearl, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s European Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Coral, 18k Gold, Enamel
2010s European Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Coral, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Emerald, 18k Gold, Platinum, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, White Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Crystal, Marcasite, Sterling Silver
20th Century American Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Carnelian, Sterling Silver
19th Century American Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Garnet, Rose Gold
1980s European Vintage Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Amethyst, Sterling Silver
20th Century Unknown Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Victorian Clip-on Earrings
Emerald, Diamond, Sterling Silver, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Clip-on Earrings
14k Gold
