Victorian Chain Necklaces
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 English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1880s Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Citrine, 14k Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 15k Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, Gold-filled, Silver, Bronze
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Ruby, 9k Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Silver
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Turquoise, Silver
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel, 14k Gold, St...
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
Black Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
Early 20th Century French Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century French Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
1980s British Vintage Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold
1870s French Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, Silver
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, 15k Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Pearl, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Coral, Gold, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Opal, Silver, Sterling Silver, Bronze
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
1820s Italian Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Emerald, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Vermeil
1840s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Garnet, 14k Gold, 15k Gold
Early 1900s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century English Victorian Chain Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Chain Necklaces
White Diamond, Freshwater Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
19th Century British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Amethyst, Jade, Rock Crystal, Amber, 14k Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s British Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Chain Necklaces
15k Gold, Rose Gold
Late 20th Century Victorian Chain Necklaces
Crystal, Gold Plate