Victorian Mourning Necklace
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Carnelian, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, 18k Gold
Antique 1840s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Agate, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Crystal, Rock Crystal, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Drop Earrings
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, 9k Gold
Early 20th Century Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Brass
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
20th Century Chinese Art Deco Beaded Necklaces
Agate, Jade, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold
Antique 1880s Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, Natural Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Citrine, Cultured Pearl, Garnet, 9k Gold, Vermeil
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Brass
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Antique 1830s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Beaded Necklaces
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1830s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Garnet, 9k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Amazonite, Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Topaz, Turquoise, Vermeil, Sterling Si...
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Yellow Gold
Antique 1830s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 18k Gold
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 15k Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s French Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, 18k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, 9k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Dutch Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, 14k Gold
Antique 1820s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Rock Crystal, Ruby, 15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Chain Necklaces
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Link Necklaces
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
14k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Rock Crystal, 15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Drop Necklaces
Natural Pearl
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold-filled, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian More Necklaces
14k Gold, Rose Gold, Platinum
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian More Necklaces
Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, 18k Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, 15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Antique Late 18th Century Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Onyx, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1880s English Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
15k Gold
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
15k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique 1860s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Mid-19th Century German High Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Victorian More Necklaces
Natural Pearl, 14k Gold
Antique 1840s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
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Victorian Mourning Necklace For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Mourning Necklace?
A Close Look at Victorian Jewelry
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.
Finding the Right Pendant-necklaces for You
Whether you’re layering multiple jewelry pieces or opting for a single strand, vintage pendant necklaces are versatile accessories that can elevate your casual wear as easily as they can add a creative flourish to your formal attire.
The earliest jewelry was less about accessorizing than it was about wearers arming themselves with amulets. In Ancient Egypt, some amulets featured a loop so that they could be strung around one’s neck. While rubies have long been one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money, members of some ancient civilizations valued the stones from the get-go, donning ruby pendants as well as other stones with the belief that these adornments would bring protection, healing powers or strength. Today, we still wear our charm bracelets and charm pendants around our necks for good luck.
Later, pendant necklaces, like most fine jewelry, were worn strictly by royalty or the upper class and conferred wealth and prestige. This changed over time, thankfully, as wearing jewelry became more widespread, a democratized means of personal expression.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, pendant necklaces evolved from their status as spiritual amulets, but the jewels still carried deep personal significance. Victorian pendants, in particular, were part of the “mourning jewelry” tradition. Wearers would embed their pendants with locks of hair from a deceased loved one as a way of grieving in the wake of a loss. In the case of cameo jewelry, some pendants were even decorated with miniature hand-carved portraits in a detailed raised relief. Today, portraiture is still a characteristic of many of the hand-carved pendant necklaces offered by Italian jewelry house Scala Gioielli.
Luxury fine jewelry brands such as Cartier, BVLGARI and David Yurman offer their own unique interpretations of the cherished accessory, embellishing platinum or gold pendant necklaces with diamonds, sapphires and other stones.
On 1stDibs, find an extraordinary range of vintage pendant necklaces and other necklaces today.
- What is a mourning necklace?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 5, 2021A mourning necklace is a piece of jewelry worn as a remembrance of death and loved ones, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a sign of mourning, so the necklace features motifs of skulls, crossbones, or angels that are representative of death and mortality. On 1stDibs you can find antique and vintage mourning jewelry today.
- 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021As the name suggests, mourning jewelry represents connection to a deceased individual or loved one. In the Victorian era, people were expected to wear mourning clothing and accessories following the death of a loved one. As brooches were popular during the Victorian period, they became a favorite for those who wanted to memorialize the dead. Find a collection of vintage and antique brooches on 1stDibs today.