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.
Victorian Natural Red Coral Gold Filled Twist Back Earrings
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Sweet Victorian natural red coral drop earrings with Gold Filled twist backs. The coral is natural red coral, and the earrings dates back to the Victorian Era, 1880's. These...
Coral, Yellow Gold, Gold-filled
$678 / set
Antique 9ct Gold Pearl Earrings
Located in London, GB
Antique 9ct Gold Earrings Faux Pearl drops & imitation turquoise & faux pearl cabochons set in 9ct gold Stamped "9CT" on each earrin...
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 19th-century Italian 21kt Gold Cameo "harvest" Earrings.
Located in Malmö, Skåne län
A pair of 19th-century Italian cameo earrings, finely carved from shell and mounted in warm 21-karat gold, depict a classical harvest couple. The man crowned with a sickle and the wo...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Drop Down Diamond Cluster Earrings
Located in Denver, CO
This antique earring set features thirty-six rose cut diamonds totaling approximately 0.50 carats set in darkened silver over 18kt yellow gold in classic late Georgian/early Victoria...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Victorian 14k Gold Enamel Repousse Earrings
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Fabulous pair of Antique Victorian 14K Gold Enamel Repousse Earrings from circa 1850-1860. These are truly stunning in person, with the glam...
14k Gold, Enamel
Exceptional Long Victorian Cut Steel Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Rare Victorian Cut Steel Earrings in graduated hoop motifs with fringed edges. Exceptional quality, scale and design in original condition with scr...
Cut Steel
A Micro Mosaic Pendant and Earring Suite
Located in London, GB
An early nineteenth century Italian micro mosaic pendant and earring suite, to the centre a swimming duck surrounded by red, blue and white micro ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
An Early Victorian Gold Turquoise Floral Suite
Located in London, GB
An early Victorian gold turquoise floral suite, consisting of a necklace, brooch and a pair of earrings, the necklace with three graduated sections of...
Turquoise, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Carved Bone Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
These antique carved bone drop earrings are a rare find— I've never seen a pair quite like these. What makes them special is the intricacy of the h...
Gold-filled
Black Diamond Shaped Vintage German Glass Bead on Gold filled Chain Earrings
Located in Monrovia, CA
Black diamond shaped vintage German glass beads edged with 24K gold on 14K gold-filled chains and ear studs. The vintage German glass beads are considered rare and collectible, circ...
14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Plate
Citrine Amethyst Fly Insect Earrings Victorian Antique Gold Pearl
Located in New York, NY
This is a wonderful pair of rare antique Fly Insect Earrings in Gold with gorgeous Citrine and Amethyst gems with Pearl accents. The Victorian - Edwardian jewels are beautifully made with an oval faceted Amethyst and oval faceted Citrine making up the bodies of the flies. The flies are further adorned with lovely seed pearls. The earrings are 9 Karat Gold. This whimsical pair dance delightfully from the ears. The Victorians adored their insect jewels...
Amethyst, Citrine, Pearl, Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Antique 18 Karat Yellow Gold Pearl Drop Earrings
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
Simple antique elegance, made of 18K yellow gold. Floral inspired with hand painted black enamel accents and natural freshwater pearl centers, this ha...
Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,705
H 0.28 in W 1.04 in L 2.74 in
Victorian 14k Yellow Gold Sapphire and Ruby Drop Earrings, Circa 1880
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A stunning, fine and impressive pair of antique 0.35 carat sapphire and 0.27 carat ruby, 14 karat yellow gold drop earrings; part of our antique jewelry and estate jewelry collections. These stunning antique Victorian sapphire and ruby earrings are crafted in 14k yellow gold. These tapering shaped earrings display a hand motif holding a wreath*. The impressive wreath design is embellished with eight individually set round faceted cut sapphires, totalling 0.35Ct. Each hand design is ornamented with a ring and bracelet, incorporating four mine cut diamonds. The earrings are further embellished with an individually six-claw set ruby to the interior of the wreath and apex of the design, totalling 0.27Ct. The overall design is completed with five articulated yellow gold drop, suspended from the lower border of the main setting. These impressive antique sapphire earrings...
Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Modern Citrine 18K Yellow Gold Dangle Deco Style Classy Drop Earrings
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini Design Collection 18 Karats Yellow Gold Modern Citrine Dangle Earrings. This classy pair of dangle earrings is handcrafted in 18 karats yellow gold and enriched wit...
Citrine, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,440Sale Price|20% Off
Drop Square Cluster Earrings 18 Karat
Located in Great Neck, NY
Square cluster earrings on a wire set in 18K white gold. The square earrings are set with a halo of small stones weighing approximately 0.01 carats each. The total carat weight of th...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Victorian Gold Filled Dangle Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Charming Victorian Gold Filled Dangle Earrings from the late 19th Century. A pair of chased ovals with wreath motifs each have an urn shaped drop hanging fro...
Gold-filled
18kt Gold Pink Coral Pendant Earrings, Italian 19th Century Design
Located in Capri, IT
18kt Gold Pink Coral pendant earrings
Coral, 18k Gold
14.55 Carat Fancy Grey Diamond 18 Karat Gold Earrings
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
These stunning drop earrings features fancy grey natural diamonds and enhanced with brilliant cut diamonds. Handmade in 18-karat gold and 14.55 carats diamo...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Turquoise Enamel Diamond 14 Karat Rose Gold Earrings
Located in Hoffman Estate, IL
This turquoise enamel earrings are crafted from 14-karat rose gold & set with .95 carats of sparkling diamonds. See matching necklace that compliments with this necklace. FOLLOW MEG...
Diamond, Turquoise, Gold, Enamel, Rose Gold, 14k Gold
11.33 Carat Old European Cut Diamond Cluster Drop Earrings
Located in New York, NY
Finely crafted in 14k gold and silver with 2 Old European cut center Diamonds, one weighing 3.16 carats, and the other weighing 2.95 carats. The earrings features jackets with 10 Old...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Silver
Vintage German Glass Beads and pearls, A Twist Earrings
Located in Monrovia, CA
These gorgeous earrings is even more stunning when the light shines through. These earrings sway with movement. They are composed of biwa pearls, amber colored glass beads, vintage twisted glass bead and complimented with 24K vintage...
Freshwater Pearl, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold, 24k Gold, Gold-filled, Gold Pla...
Antique Victorian Torpedo Floral Silver Earrings
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Fabulous Victorian silver torpedo drop earrings with fabulous 3D floral details. These earrings are magnificent, and very dramatic. These are a dramatic length of 3 1/4 inc...
Silver
Victorian 14 Karat Yellow Gold Natural Old Mine Cut Diamond Drop Earrings
Located in Baltimore, MD
Victorian Antique 14 Karat Yellow Gold Natural Old Mine Cut Diamond Drop Earrings Metal: 14k yellow gold Weight: 2.55 grams Diamonds: 2 old mine cut natural diamonds, approx. 1.00 C...
Diamond, Yellow Gold
Victorian Moonstone Silver Drop Earrings
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Lovely, ultra feminine cabochon moonstone and silver earrings from the Victorian Era. The moonstones are set in a dramatic claw style setting, with tiny seed pearl details i...
Moonstone, Silver
A pair of early Victorian diamond drop earrings
Located in London, GB
A pair of early Victorian diamond drop earrings, each earing with an inverted tulip-shape motif, encrusted with small old mine-cut diamonds, with a run of four diamonds to the centre...
Diamond, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Pendants d'oreilles anciens "night and day" en grenat
Located in PARIS, FR
Magnifiques pendants d'oreilles anciens ornés d'un grenat taille ronde retenant un grenat taillé en goutte. Ils sont réalisés en or rose 18 carats (750 millièmes) du début du 19ème s...
Garnet, 18k Gold
Demi-parure Victorian brooch-pendant with earrings, Great Britain, 1820s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Early Victorian 14K gold demi-parure in the original case Brooch-pendant with space for a photo or a lock of hair + drop earrings An example of sentimental jewelry in the early 19th ...
14k Gold
Victorian Moonstone Silver Drop Earrings
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Lovely, ultra feminine cabochon moonstone and silver earrings from the Victorian Era. The moonstones are set in a dramatic claw style setting, with tiny seed pearl details i...
Moonstone, Silver
Antique Victorian 18 Karat Gold and Garnet Earrings, Ca. 1820-1850
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Charming 18 karat gold repoussé scrolling and articulated earrings from early 19th Century. The design reminds me of the lyre harp and set with beautiful faceted garnets. Which have different cut styles - oval, round and teardrop cuts and the gold around the garnets has a mille griffe design. The earrings showcase 18 garnets bezel set in this lovely mille griffe design. These types of earrings were typical of the romantic era of the Georgians and Victorians. During the Grand Tour in 18th century, the lyre is a popular symbol in antique jewelry and refers to music and 'heavenly' love. It was seen as an attribute of Apollo, the god of music, poetry and dance of the Ancient Greeks. The earrings are for pierced ears and the ear hook goes backwards through the ear and closes on top of the earrings. For this type of repoussé earring...
Garnet, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Victorian Natural Red Coral 14K Earrings
Located in Scotts Valley, CA
Details: Lovely Victorian natural red coral earrings with 14K gold fastening ear wires. The red coral earrings are floral in theme. They are...
Coral, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Pair of Early Victorian Diamond-Set Drop Earrings
Located in London, GB
An early Victorian diamond-set drop earrings, each earring in the form of an English rose encrusted with old-mine cut diamonds, between two diamond-set links of foliate design, suspe...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Silver
15 Karat Gold Drop Earrings, circa 1880
Located in Baltimore, MD
Elegant slim Victorian gold drop earrings with its original 8 petaled floral top and a slim pendaloque bottom in the style of the Georgian "day/night" earrings. Petals are surrounded...
15k Gold
Emerald and Seed Pearl Teardrop Earrings, circa 1860
Located in Baltimore, MD
We love these snow white early Victorian tear drop shaped seed pearl earrings with their tiny seed pearls incorporating the entire tear drop portion of ...
Emerald, 15k Gold