Victorian Jewellery

Victorian era was a period of romance that started from 1837 and is known for its romantic and beautiful jewellery. Queen Victoria had a passion for jewellery and she loved wearing it. She started a new fashion of wearing jewels and designed jewellery for her personal wear and also to give it away as precious gifts to her extended family. Victorian period is divided into early, mid and late Victorian period.

In the early Victorian era, hand-carved semi precious gem and shell Intaglio or Cameo were extremely popular and were quite rare items. Cameos were a token of Victorian jewellery and tradition. Earrings, rings and necklaces usually consisted of carved shell cameos. The jewels of this romantic era were decorative and ostentatious and were inspired by nature and had motifs of serpent, grapes, flowers, and birds.

The jewellery of the early 18th century was handmade and quite costly. Only wealthy merchants could afford it. But as time passed new techniques of making jewellery were introduced and machines were used to make chains and other items.

It was Queen Victoria’s era when the fashion of charm jewellery including charm bracelets and necklaces became popular. This fashion is still followed and charms are considered to have mystical powers attached to them to bring good fortune. Victorian jewellery consisting of diamond rings was very popular that symbolized eternal love, passion and romance. Chokers and necklaces with gorgeous stones and tear drop earrings and pendants were the typical Victorian pieces of jewellery.

After the tragic death of Queen Victoria’s husband Albert, the fashion of jewellery took a new trend and was known as mourning jewellery. This jewellery had black color theme and for this purpose black metals and black stones were used. The material used for making jewellery was fossilized driftwood and black gems were studded in the articles. Queen Victoria spent the rest of her life wearing black dress and black jewels. Carved Jet chains, Jet Crosses, Jet pins and earrings were common. Many companies re-invent jewellery of the Victorian era according to the modern fashion.