Victorian Jewelry History Research

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One cannot discuss Victorian Jewelry without indeed mentioning it’s namesake, Britains’ Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901.  Queen Victoria had two great loves.  One was her husband and the other was her jewelry.  She greatly influenced jewelry styles during her long reign.

The Victorian period can be divided into 3 distinct periods; the Romantic, Grand, and Late or Aesthetic Period.





Romantic (1837 - 1860)victorian gold heart pin

During the early period, romantic and symbolic pieces were most favored and often included motifs of hearts, anchors, snakes and crosses.  Also semi-precious gems including garnets, amethyst, coral, turquoise and seed pearls were highly favored.





Grand (1861 - 1885)

Victorian Estuscan Revival Bracelet

Jewelry from this period was often dramatic and heavy and included re-interpretations of many ancient, renaissance and gothic patterns and styles.  Gold was most often used together with colored gemstones and enamel.








Victorian Mourning Brooch Pin

Upon the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert (1861) jewelry styles turned much more somber to reflect her mourning and included jet, onyx and black glass.  It also became popular to use the woven hair of a loved one as a keepsake in mourning jewelry. Eighteen, fifteen, twelve and nine karat gold were used.   Rolled gold, sterling and gold plate were increasingly used.





Late or Aesthetic (1880 - 1901)

The jewelry of the late Victorian period once again returned to romanticism with more delicate and whimsical motifs such as stars, crescent moons, reptiles and insects.  The discovery of the diamond mines in South Africa led to the use of mine, rose and cushion cut diamond stones.

Examples of Victorian Symbolism

  • Rubies - passion
  • diamond - faithfulness
  • emerald - hope
  • amethyst - devotion
  • pearls - tears
  • butterfly - soul
  • dogs - fidelity
  • wishbone - wish and hope
  • ivy - friendship
  • lizard - passionate love
  • fly - humility
  • arrows - love



Site last updated May, 2013. All prices in US dollars.
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