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ANCIENT VICTORIAN JEWELRY-Royal Fashion Jewelry of Great England

The Victorian times, when the Georges and Edwards ruled, all social moods as well as fashion and style were controlled or highly influenced by the royal blood and monarchs.

Jewelry of Victorian Era


The Georgian rule from 1715 to 1831(George I to George IV), saw both the French and the American revolutions. Royalties set the fashion trend so the ancient jewelry designs were heavy and intricate. These designs included earrings in chandelier fashion, heavy chokers and necklaces with diamonds flowing and other neck fashions consisting of many rings all studded with diamonds. Many varieties of gemstones were used but diamond was the most popular one of that era.
Fashion was so opulent at that time that even the dresses were embroidered with jewels. The collars and seams of women’s attire were completely laden with either jewelry or various kinds of lacy gold thread in many decorative designs.
The Victorian age (1838 to 1902), saw the end of the Georgian rule and great social transitions took place. This Victorian period is also known as the “Romantic Era”. During that era the symbols of significance were flowers, birds, grapes, snakes and other romantic signs. Importance was given to dreams, gardens and other sentimental imaginations.
Victorian times saw the significance of hair jewelry. The hair of a loved one was woven into an intricate design, along with a brooch or bracelet and presented to the other loved one. The queen herself gifted a lot of such hair jewelry. Various gemstones were used in this art of hair jewelry.
With the sudden death of Prince Albert the Victorian Romantic times ended after a period of about twenty years. The country or social mood went into mourning, black stones like the onyx started coming into fashion. Other fashions included shells, agate, and carnelian in various designs. Queen Victoria lived in Scotland so the Celtic cross was introduced as a symbol as well as a brooch, locket or pin. A lot of Grecian and Etruscan designs were popular in this period.

When Queen Victoria became the Empress of India, oriental ancient ethnic designs were introduced into European art. In short by the time Queen Victoria passed away in 1900 intricate jewelry and gem designing were at their peak, hence the importance of this era.

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