Victorian Jewelry

The Victorians had serious style in everything from jewelry and furniture to clothing and music. This was a well-to-do era that lasted for decades, and the prosperity showed. Victorian jewelry used the full panoply of gemstones and semi-precious stones, as well as ivory, leather and other materials.Victorian mourning jewelry was a popular way to commemorate the passing of a loved one. There were lockets that had locks of hair enclosed, and there were more elaborately carved settings in which were kept photos of the departed. Black enameled jewelry was also part of this mourning style, and you can find black bracelets and necklaces with such decorations as seed pearls and gems. This style came into vogue after the death of Queen Victoria's beloved Prince Albert.Victorian Jewelry Tends to Catch AttentionAntique Victorian jewelry does not fade into the background, and if you are looking for subtle jewelry, this is probably not the era that will satisfy you. Instead, examples of Victorian jewelry are often conversation pieces into which a great deal of craft and care has been placed. Cameos, drop earrings, and multi-strand necklaces are just a few popular Victorian designs.These Are Often Bold PiecesVictorian fine jewelry and Victorian costume jewelry can often be indistinguishable. The costume pieces tend to be larger and flashier, but many fine pieces of the time were also designed on a grand scale. Fortunately, many of these pieces still exist in excellent condition, to the delight of jewelry aficionados everywhere.