Victorian Rings
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 Rings
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Enamel
Early 20th Century Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s American Victorian Rings
Emerald, Bronze
Mid-19th Century French Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Garnet, 18k Gold, Silver
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Opal, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Victorian Rings
Moonstone, Ruby, Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Gold, 15k Gold
2010s American Victorian Rings
White Diamond, Emerald, Bronze
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond
1860s American Antique Victorian Rings
Moonstone, 14k Gold
1840s European Antique Victorian Rings
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum, 18k Gold
2010s Indian Victorian Rings
Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel, 14k Gold
2010s British Victorian Rings
Opal, 14k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Victorian Rings
Silver, Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 18k Gold
1850s European Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 14k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Rings
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
1860s Antique Victorian Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
15k Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Pearl, Onyx, Diamond, 15k Gold, Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Garnet, Gold, 15k Gold
Late 19th Century Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
18th Century Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
19th Century Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Opal, Gold, 10k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Rings
Agate, 18k Gold, Enamel
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Victorian Rings
Pearl, Peridot, 9k Gold, White Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Mid-20th Century Unknown Victorian Rings
Sapphire, Topaz, 10k Gold
Late 19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold
2010s British Victorian Rings
Emerald, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Rings
Pearl, Diamond, Enamel, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
19th Century Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1880s Unknown Antique Victorian Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 15k Gold
Mid-19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Agate, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Carnelian, Gold, 15k Gold
1880s English Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, Silver
Early 1900s Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18th Century Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Platinum
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Late 19th Century European Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold
2010s American Victorian Rings
Emerald, Bronze
1840s Unknown Antique Victorian Rings
Pearl, Ruby, Gold, 15k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1870s English Antique Victorian Rings
Agate, 15k Gold
Early 20th Century Unknown Victorian Rings
Pearl, 14k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
19th Century English Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Diamond, Gold
1890s Antique Victorian Rings
Moonstone, Gold, 14k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary English Victorian Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
19th Century British Antique Victorian Rings
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Read More
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