What is antique paste jewelry?

Paste jewelry is made out of a special type of flint glass that emulates several gemstones. Paste is a hand-cut glass that is polished with metal powder until it gleams like a gem. Paste jewelry was popular as a cheaper alternative to diamonds during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, as well as the Art Deco period. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage paste jewelry.

What does paste mean in antique jewelry?

In antique jewelry, the term “paste” means glass finished in a way that allows it to resemble natural gemstones. To produce paste, artisans polish it for long periods of time with metal powder. On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique paste jewelry.

How can you tell if jewelry is Victorian?

To be able to tell if jewelry is Victorian, a buyer can look for certain characteristics that have come to define these pieces, but it may be difficult given that no single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and snake jewels made during the Victorian era came in a vast array of styles. Romantic period jewelry featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise. 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. The best way to tell if jewelry is Victorian is generally to work with an antiques appraiser or otherwise qualified professional in the jewelry industry. Shop a collection of antique Victorian jewelry from some of the world's top jewelers on 1stDibs.

Victorian Paste Jewelry

19th Century Paste Jewellery

Victorian Crescent Moon

Victorian Paste Jewelry For Sale on 1stDibs

Surely you’ll find the exact piece of victorian paste jewelry you’re seeking on 1stDibs — we’ve got a vast assortment for sale. Frequently made of Silver, Gold and Sterling Silver, this item was constructed with great care. In our selection of items, you can find a vintage example as well as a contemporary version. Finding the perfect item from our selection of victorian paste jewelry may mean sifting through those created during different time periods — you can find an early version that dates to the 19th Century and a newer variation that were made as recently as the 21st Century. Creating a choice in our collection of victorian paste jewelry has been a part of the legacy of many jewelers, but those produced by Karen Sugarman Designs and Jill Garber are consistently popular. While most can agree that any object in our assortment of victorian paste jewelry from our collection can easily elevate most outfits, but the choice of a Pearl version from the 8 available is guaranteed to add a special touch to your ensemble. A round cut version of this piece has appeal, but there are also cabochon and old european cut versions for sale. Most of our victorian paste jewelry for sale are for women, but there are 20 pieces available to browse for men.

How Much is a Victorian Paste Jewelry?

Prices for a piece of victorian paste jewelry can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, these accessories begin at $259 and can go as high as $35,079, while this accessory, on average, fetches $1,239.

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.

Questions About Victorian Paste Jewelry

What is antique paste jewelry?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
Paste jewelry is made out of a special type of flint glass that emulates several gemstones. Paste is a hand-cut glass that is polished with metal powder until it gleams like a gem. Paste jewelry was popular as a cheaper alternative to diamonds during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, as well as the Art Deco period. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage paste jewelry.
What does paste mean in antique jewelry?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
In antique jewelry, the term “paste” means glass finished in a way that allows it to resemble natural gemstones. To produce paste, artisans polish it for long periods of time with metal powder. On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique paste jewelry.
How can you tell if jewelry is Victorian?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
To be able to tell if jewelry is Victorian, a buyer can look for certain characteristics that have come to define these pieces, but it may be difficult given that no single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era. Victorian jewelry is named after Queen Victoria, whose reign lasted from 1837 to 1901, making her the second longest-ruling monarch. Queen Victoria loved serpentine jewels, and snake jewels made during the Victorian era came in a vast array of styles. Romantic period jewelry featured common decorative motifs and was embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise. 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. The best way to tell if jewelry is Victorian is generally to work with an antiques appraiser or otherwise qualified professional in the jewelry industry. Shop a collection of antique Victorian jewelry from some of the world's top jewelers on 1stDibs.

This Victorian Necklace Features a Rainbow of Gems

If jewelry could talk, we know this piece would have good stories.

Inside the Mansions of HBO’s ‘Gilded Age’ with Set Decorator Regina Graves

Graves filled scores of opulent rooms with furniture and treasures to tell the story of how new money remade New York society.

Our Guide to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco Engagement Rings

Learn about these antique jewelry styles, then choose a design that speaks to you.

Why Victorian Snake Jewelry Is Anything but Scary

Representing everlasting love, serpentine often appear on fashionable gems from the era on Queen Victoria.

The Original American Silver-Making Company Is Back in the Spotlight

A new show at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, in Providence, reveals why the various and sundry creations of the Gorham Manufacturing Company still shine.