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Browse these categories under "Victorian Jewellery (1837- 1900)"
 

At AC Silver we are pleased to be able to offer our customers a large collection of antique Victorian jewellery.


Our selection of Victorian jewellery includes rings, brooches, pendants and bracelets, as well as more unusual and unique items. All Victorian jewellery purchases include fully insured and free global shipping.


Victorian jewellery is especially beautiful, often being highly ornamented and decorated. Victorians frequently used jewellery as an expression of love or devotion, or in memoriam to a lost loved one. This jewellery is incredibly sentimental and is highly evocative of a bygone era.


Andrew Campbell, using his 40 years’ experience within the antique industry, handpicks all Victorian jewellery for sale.


antique Victorian jewellery

Victorian jewellery is essentially jewellery pieces crafted during the Victorian era; this era spanned from 1837 to 1902.


The popular styles of jewellery in the Victorian period were intimately connected with different stages of Queen Victoria's life. The Queen's famed devotion to her husband, Prince Albert, directly correlated with the most prominent trends in jewellery and fashion at the time.


Although it may seem as though Victorian jewellery is highly formal, and should only be reserved for highly formal occasions, it is much more versatile than that. Among our selection of Victorian items, you can find many pieces that can be worn most days, with Antique Victorian brooches being one such example of this. Not only are they a beautiful accent to a coat, but they can also be incorporated into a shirt or a blouse, being worn at the collar rather than the classic breast placement. There are plenty of other ways to moderate your modern styles to incorporate Victorian pieces as well.


We are also fortunate enough to offer a variety of Victorian necklaces and pendants, many of which are small and subtle enough for regular usage. If you are more interested in finding formal jewellery for events, rather than the everyday, then you couldn't be in better hands. We have some of the finest Victorian jewellery befitting the most formal and grand events. Any one of our multi-drop pendants, for example, would be delightful for a black-tie event or Christmas party. For wedding guests, perhaps some of our more grandiose brooches would be the perfect finishing touch to your outfit.


Victorian jewellery is no different to other pieces of antique jewellery. It requires care and attention when wearing and when storing. For your Victorian necklaces and pendants, for example, be sure to store them each in soft pouches, either made of silk or cotton. To avoid tangled chains, place only the pendant section of the piece within the pouch, allowing the chain to hang on the outside.


When you plan to wear your Victorian jewellery, make sure nothing could catch on your outfit. If you notice anything has come loose with your jewellery, whether it's a claw holding a gemstone in place or a catch intended to close a bracelet, take off the piece immediately and store it safely until you can take it to where it was originally purchased or a suitable jeweller who is experienced with such items.


Another important part of your jewellery's health involves cleaning. Every six months, take a moment to examine your antique jewellery, check for damages or breaks, and wipe it over with a soft cotton cloth.


Early Victorian

The early Victorian era is seen as the ‘Romantic’ period. During this time, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were courting, marrying in 1840. The jewellery of this period reflected very romantic motifs such as hands, hearts, crosses, and knots. All of these themes were common in engagement rings and other romantic jewellery of the time, as they symbolised the eternal bond between two people.


Lots of themes popular in Victorian jewellery were romanticised reactions against the Age of Reason, with the movement truly beginning well before 1800. The romantic revolution and the industrial revolution were both enormous influences on what styles rose to prominence during the Victorian era.


Industrial revolution meant that jewellery was cheaper to make, and so pieces were mass produced by the thousands, and the jobs created by the industrial revolution gave growth to a new social class: the lower middle class. Out of this growth, consumerism began to take root, as the people of the Victorian public were able to spend money on trinkets like jewellery.


The romantic revolution was a return to nature for inspiration, with floral motifs being especially popular. Perfection was prominent in romantic jewellery, with every leaf and petal being symmetrical, rigid, and as idealistic as possible. Settings of mounts were widely varied during this period; engraving, chasing, and carving all increased in popularity, with coloured gold being a popular choice of inlay metal.


Other common romantic, nature-related themes during this period were birds, flowers, and snakes. During the Victorian period, snakes were viewed very differently to the duplicitous and deceptive creatures they are seen as in modern-day society. Instead, they were considered a symbol of eternity, and jewellery prominently featuring snakes represented a promise to be in love forever.


Romantic revolution jewellery shared a lot of aesthetic similarities with popular themes and styles of the past, such as Medieval, Ancient Greek, and Ancient Egyptian jewellery. Elements of these cultures were being studied for the first time during this period, and the Victorian jewellery of the time displayed a desire to romanticise the past as well as taking influence from ‘exotic’ cultures’ styles and motifs.


Coral was immensely popular for cameo jewellery during this period; harvested in the Mediterranean, carved and mass produced in Maples, and then shipped to England to be set by English jewellers. Although this generated prosperous trade relations between Italy and England, the mass production of cameos meant that overall they were of a fairly low quality. Surviving examples of good quality are difficult to procure.


Middle Victorian

Victorian jewellery during this era– often referred to as the ‘Grand’ period – is sometimes considered an extension of the romantic period. Many of the themes found emerging in the romantic period bloomed during the grand period. Jewellery featuring lockets rose to prominence, with places to store pictures of loved ones. Rope designs also became more popular, possibly due to their intertwined patterns, suggesting a strong bond between two individuals.


The discovery of opals in Australia in the earlier half of the 19th century generated intense interest in opal jewellery, particularly in black opals. The most common cut style for opals was the cabochon cut. This cut gained increased popularity through the Victorian period, and cabochon cuts of every size were found across a variety of stones and in a variety of items.


The invention of the diamond saw transformed the entire cutting industry, making it more mechanised, and revolutionising the way in which diamonds in particular were cut. The marquise cut was first introduced during this period also. As well as new discoveries and inventions, Middle-Aged enamelling and painting techniques were revived, such as cloisonné, champlevé and encrusted enamelling. Another form of enamelling that became popular is basse-taille, wherein translucent enamel is placed over a relief design; plique-à-jour was another common method of enamelling at this time, where the backing from behind the enamel was removed, allowing the light to shine through it, creating a stained glass effect.


It was during this period also that Queen Victoria discovered a love for the Scottish Highlands. Her enthusiasm for it increased the general popularity of Celtic designs, silver jewellery, and unique touches such as mounted grouse claws. Another element of the wilderness that Queen Victoria brought to massive popularity was pearls, found in the rivers of the North of England, Scotland, and Wales.


The royal couple were – as they always are – hugely influential. Even Prince Albert left his mark in the jewellery world, famously wearing a heavy gold watch chain, which led to the chain being called an ‘Albert’ watch chain – a name that persists even today.


Change occurred in 1861 when Prince Albert died. Having been so devoted to her husband, Queen Victoria entered a deep phase of mourning. Donning black, her jewellery tastes took a dramatic turn. The Victorian public was deeply invested in their monarch, and so the trend of mourning jewellery soared. Popular gemstones during this time were agate, onyx, jet, and other black gemstones; enamel also increased in popularity as a cheaper alternative to black gemstones.


The demand for jet specifically during the mourning period was so great that deposits around the Whitby area that had originally been worked in Neolithic times were nearly entirely depleted by the end of the 19th Century.


Late Victorian

The late Victorian era, referred to as the ‘Aesthetic’ period, reflects the beginnings of Queen Victoria’s shift away from the mourning period. The aesthetic period is considered to be an era of ‘art for art’s sake’, meaning that a variety of art forms featured intricate details and finery that held no great significance, and was purely for aesthetic purposes. Jewellery from this period became daintier, smaller, and lighter.


Turquoise became an incredibly popular gemstone in this time, often as an alternative to pearls, used mostly to create circular frames to border other, larger gemstones, enamel, and a variety of cameos. Gold jewellery was often substituted for rolled gold, as the demand generated through the success of the industrial revolution meant that cheaper alternatives needed to be found in order to make as much jewellery as possible in as cost-effective a way as possible. Following this effort, paste jewellery was also incredibly common, providing a far more affordable substitute to a variety of otherwise costly gemstones.


With larger, heavier items becoming less popular, smaller items covered in beautiful stones such as diamonds, opals, and amethysts found new life. Due to the aesthetic movement, the gems used in jewellery were chosen more for their beauty than their monetary value, which resulted in many unique items that are now considerably valuable and highly collectable. Multi-strand pearl chokers also found popularity during this period; largely due to the fact that Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law was known to wear one in order to conceal a scar.


The Victorian period saw several shifts and changes in jewellery trends and styles. The combination of the Industrial Revolution, the growth of the British Empire, and the evolution of the middle class meant that more people in Britain could afford to spend money on luxuries like jewellery, as well as leisure activities that made them more active and less restrained. Jewellery changed to accommodate these lifestyle changes, becoming smaller and more practical. Women in particular were becoming more socially, politically, and physically active, as they were no longer confided to their homes through social etiquette. They had new levels of independence as the nation grew in strength and wealth, and the rise of both the suffragist and suffragette movements was beginning; their accessories reflected this through the finer, intricate fashions of the Edwardian era. New discoveries in ancient civilisations generated increased interest in imitation jewellery, influenced in no small part by Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the Etruscans. The drama of Early Victorian pieces remains a celebrated feature of antique jewellery today, as well as the intricacy of later items from Queen Victoria’s reign. Today, Victorian jewellery is treasured for its vibrancy, romanticism, and fine detail, and many people seek to amass collections of well-kept items.


During the Victorian era highly skilled craftsman produced, not only bespoke items in so many interesting and individual designs but ones of the highest quality. Exceptional gauges of precious metal were used due to the abundant accessibility and relatively affordable cost of precious metals.



Victorian BraceletsVictorian Bracelets
Victorian BroochesVictorian Brooches
Victorian EarringsVictorian Earrings
Victorian LocketsVictorian Lockets
Victorian NecklacesVictorian Necklaces
Victorian RingsVictorian Rings
3.25ct Emerald and 1.92ct Diamond, 18ct Yellow Gold Dress Ring - Antique Circa 1880
Price: GBP £21,945.00
24.66ct Opal and 9.81ct Diamond, Platinum Bracelet - Antique Circa 1915
Price: GBP £15,950.00
4.39 ct Diamond, Blue Enamel and 12 ct Rose Gold Cocktail Ring - Antique Circa 1830
Price: GBP £15,345.00
2.00ct Colombian Emerald and 2.20ct Diamond, 18ct Yellow Gold Dress Ring - Antique Circa 1890
Price: GBP £15,345.00
20.25 ct Coral and Diamond, 22 ct Yellow Gold Jewellery Set - Antique Victorian Circa 1890
Price: GBP £14,950.00
Natural Saltwater Pearl and 3.99ct Diamond, 18ct Yellow Gold Pendant - Antique Circa 1900
Price: GBP £13,950.00
Multi-Gemstone and 9ct Yellow Gold Bangle - Antique Circa 1900
Price: GBP £13,950.00
45.27 ct Amethyst and 0.95ct Diamond, 18 ct Yellow Gold Heart Pendant - Antique Circa 1890
Price: GBP £11,950.00
6.24 ct Diamond and 10 ct Yellow Gold Brooch / Pendant - Antique Victorian
Price: GBP £11,950.00
20.34ct Opal and 4.63ct Diamond, Silver Gilt Cross Pendant / Brooch - Antique Circa 1860
Price: GBP £11,950.00
6.22ct Diamond, 12ct Yellow Gold Pendant - Antique Circa 1880
Price: GBP £11,950.00
2.56ct Diamond and 18 ct Yellow Gold Trilogy Ring - Antique Circa 1890
Price: GBP £10,950.00
396.09 ct Amethyst and 14ct Yellow Gold Riviere / Collarette Necklace - Antique Circa 1880
Price: GBP £10,950.00
6.30ct Diamond and 9ct Yellow Gold Crescent Brooch - Antique Victorian (Circa 1890)
Price: GBP £10,950.00
Banded Agate and 18ct Yellow Gold, 15ct Yellow Gold Jewellery Suite - Antique Victorian
Price: GBP £10,945.00
3.90 ct Diamond and 9 ct Yellow Gold Snake Brooch - Antique Victorian
Price: GBP £10,945.00
2.10ct Basaltic Sapphire and 3.30ct Diamond, 9ct Yellow Gold Cluster Earrings - Antique Circa 1890
Price: GBP £9,950.00
Antique 0.30ct Ruby and 0.13ct Diamond, 18ct Yellow Gold Snake Locket Pendant
Price: GBP £9,950.00
1.82ct Diamond and Turquoise, 18ct Yellow Gold Jewellery Set - Antique Early Victorian
Price: GBP £9,845.00
2.30 ct Diamond and Platinum Dress Ring - Antique Circa 1900
Price: GBP £9,845.00
3.18ct Emerald and 3.23ct Diamond, 12ct Yellow Gold Drop Earrings - Antique Victorian
Price: GBP £9,845.00
3.48 ct Diamond and 0.53 ct Ruby, Platinum Pendant / Brooch - Antique Circa 1900
Price: GBP £9,295.00
274.91ct Amethyst and 18ct Yellow Gold Rivière Necklace - Antique Victorian
Price: GBP £8,950.00
4.08ct Diamond and Pearl, 12ct Yellow Gold Earring and Ring Set - Antique Circa 1870
Price: GBP £8,950.00

Proud Members of

International Federation of Art and Antique Dealer Associations CINOA
LAPADA THE ASSOCIATION OF ART & ANTIQUES DEALERS
National Association of Jewellery UK's trade association NAJ