Early Victorian Rings
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.
1830s Spanish Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Coral, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s English Antique Early Victorian Rings
18k Gold
1990s Dutch Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold
1840s French Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 10k Gold, Silver
1840s European Antique Early Victorian Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Rings
Agate, 18k Gold
1830s Antique Early Victorian Rings
Natural Pearl, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
Mid-19th Century Antique Early Victorian Rings
Garnet, Moonstone, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Rings
Natural Pearl, Topaz, Pearl, Imperial Topaz, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
1830s European Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century Portuguese Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Coral, Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
1920s Italian Vintage Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Silver
Mid-19th Century French Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Enamel
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
2010s Belgian Early Victorian Rings
Blue Sapphire, Multi-gemstone, Yellow Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond, S...
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Gold, 14k Gold
Late 19th Century French Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Early 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Rings
Natural Pearl, Pearl, Enamel, 18k Gold
Early 19th Century British Antique Early Victorian Rings
18k Gold
1840s English Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 15k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century English Antique Early Victorian Rings
Garnet, Pearl, Gold, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
19th Century American Antique Early Victorian Rings
Sapphire, White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Rings
Agate, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
1840s British Antique Early Victorian Rings
Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
Early 1900s American Antique Early Victorian Rings
Rose Gold, Enamel
2010s North American Early Victorian Rings
Emerald, Bronze
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Garnet, Natural Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Enamel
19th Century Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Spinel, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Early Victorian Rings
White Diamond, Diamond, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Unknown Antique Early Victorian Rings
Garnet, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Early Victorian Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
1890s Antique Early Victorian Rings
Yellow Gold
1890s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Rings
Yellow Gold
2010s Australian Early Victorian Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s British Antique Early Victorian Rings
Gold, Enamel
1840s British Antique Early Victorian Rings
Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1890s North American Antique Early Victorian Rings
Garnet, Diamond, Citrine, Silver, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
1890s Antique Early Victorian Rings
Imperial Topaz, Topaz, Silver, Yellow Gold, 10k Gold
1840s Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Platinum
19th Century European Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
19th Century Unknown Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Emerald, White Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Gold
1890s Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Yellow Gold
1850s Unknown Antique Early Victorian Rings
9k Gold, Enamel, Yellow Gold
1890s British Antique Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold
1880s Dutch Antique Early Victorian Rings
Turquoise, Gold, 14k Gold
1940s American Vintage Early Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold