Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
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.
Mid-19th Century English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Turquoise, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
19th Century British Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Cut Steel
1880s French Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Silver, Sterling Silver
1880s European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold-filled, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Japanese Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 14k Gold, Enamel
1890s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
19th Century English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
20th Century American Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1820s German Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
1870s European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Carnelian, Brass
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Enamel
1890s Russian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
1870s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, Silver
1850s European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Brass, Cut Steel
Early 20th Century Austrian Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Bronze
1870s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Brass, Gilt Metal
1860s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1870s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Pearl, 15k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century German Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Unknown Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Brass
19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
14k Gold, Rose Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Mid-19th Century European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold
1880s Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Jasper, Gold, 14k Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver Plate
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Onyx, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
1870s Italian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 14k Gold
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
24k Gold, Bronze
1890s Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Yellow Gold
1890s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Rock Crystal, Blue Sapphire, Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Yellow Gold
19th Century Swiss Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Yellow Gold
1830s American Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Emerald, Garnet, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold Plate, Silver
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
1880s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Turquoise, Gold, 15k Gold
1880s European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
1850s Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
10k Gold
1840s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
1870s English Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gilt Metal
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Blue Sapphire, Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver Plate
1870s Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Agate, Gilt Metal
19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver
19th Century Dutch Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
1890s Austrian Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Brass, Enamel
Late 19th Century American Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Brass
1890s American Antique Victorian Objets d'Art and Vertu
Gold, 15k Gold, Rose Gold