Victorian Silver Locket
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Chain Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century British Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Sterling Silver
Antique 1860s French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1850s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver Plate
Antique Late 19th Century American Victorian Cuff Bracelets
Diamond, 18k Gold
Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Victorian Choker Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 1890s British Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Choker Necklaces
Rock Crystal, Rhodium, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
20th Century Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Chain Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s Vanity Items
Antique Early 1900s Unknown Late Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Unknown Victorian Brooches
Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, 15k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Necklace Enhancers
9k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1860s Unknown Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Niello, Sterling Silver
2010s American Victorian Drop Necklaces
Garnet, Sterling Silver, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Chalcedony, Cultured Pearl, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
Antique 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Pendant Necklaces
9k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Drop Necklaces
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Topaz, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, Gilt Metal
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian More Jewelry
Sterling Silver, 9k Gold
Antique 1880s French Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver, Niello
Antique Late 19th Century British Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Turquoise, Gold, Silver
Antique 1890s Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary American Victorian Beaded Necklaces
Garnet, Onyx, Sterling Silver, Vermeil
Antique 1880s Victorian Necklace Enhancers
Diamond, Onyx, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Antique 1880s British Victorian More Jewelry
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Silver
Antique 19th Century Victorian Link Necklaces
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Late Victorian Pendant Necklaces
Shakudo, 18k Gold, Silver, Gold
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Victorian Silver Locket For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Victorian Silver Locket?
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 Necklaces for You
We are fortunate to know much of the world’s long and dazzling history of necklaces, as this type of jewelry was so treasured that it was frequently buried with its owners. Today, Van Cleef necklaces, Tiffany necklaces and Cartier necklaces are some of the most popularly searched designer necklaces on 1stDibs.
Lapis lazuli beads adorned necklaces unearthed from the royal graves at the ancient Iraqi civilization of Sumer, while the excavation of King Tut’s burial chamber revealed a sense of style that led to a frenzy of Art Deco designs, with artisans of the 1920s seeking to emulate the elegant work crafted by Ancient Egypt’s goldsmiths and jewelry makers.
In ancient times, pendant necklaces worn by royalty and nobles conferred wealth and prestige. Today, wearing jewelry is about personal expression: Luxury diamond necklaces exude confidence and can symbolize the celebratory nature of a deep romantic relationship, while paper-clip chain-link necklaces designed by the likes of goldsmith Faye Kim are firmly planted in the past as well as the present. Kim works exclusively with eco-friendly gold, and these fashionable, fun accessories owe to the design of 19th-century watch fobs.
For some, necklaces are thought of as being a solely feminine piece, but this widely loved accessory has been gender-neutral for eons. In fact, just as women rarely took to wearing a single necklace during the Renaissance, men of the era layered chains and valuable pendants atop their bejeweled clothing. In modern times, the free-spirited hippie and counterculture movements of the 1960s saw costume-jewelry designers celebrating self-expression through colorful multistrand necklaces and no shortage of beads, which were worn by anyone and everyone.
Even after all of these years, the necklace remains an irrefutable staple of any complete outfit. Although new trends in jewelry are constantly emerging, the glamour and beauty of the past continue to inform modern styles and designs. In a way, the cyclical history of the necklace differs little from its familiar looped form: The celebrated French jewelry house Van Cleef Arpels found much inspiration in King Tut, and, now, their Alhambra collection is a go-to for modern royals. Vintage David Webb necklaces — whose work landed him on the cover of Vogue in 1950, two years after opening his Manhattan shop — were likely inspired by the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia and Egypt.
On 1stDibs, browse top designers like Dior, Chanel and Bulgari, or shop by your favorite style, from eye-catching choker necklaces to understated links to pearl necklaces and more.