What kind of jewelry was worn in the Victorian era?

Themes: Insects such as flies, butterflies, dragonflies and beetles. Materials: Gold was used to create a ‘soft’ look, colourless stones, silver, jet, ivory and pearls. Common jewellery worn: Earrings, brooches, bracelets, necklaces for outings during the night and lockets as casual daywear.

What did Victorian jewelry look like?

Today, Victorian jewelry is very coveted and highly collectible. Jewelry from this time tends to be feminine and ornate. Flowers, hearts, birds, and bows were just some of the common decorative motifs. These pieces were embellished with seed pearls, coral and turquoise.

What metals were used in Victorian jewelry?

early victorian jewelry trends (1830 – 1860) Silver, 18-22K gold and colored gold were among the most commonly used metals for jewelry. Colored gold, particularly red and green, was used generously in creating floral and leaf pattern motifs, used most commonly in brooches, rings and buckles.

Why are Victorian rings so small?

The heavy jewelry of the Grand Period didn’t fit well with women’s new active lifestyles. Therefore, women’s jewelry became lighter and smaller. Delicate rings, bracelets, and pins replaced the heavy opulence of previous years.

Is Victorian jewelry marked?

For a long time, particularly during the Georgian and Victorian eras, jewelry was often sold without proper hallmarking. In fact, hallmarking only became compulsory on all precious metals around the 1920s. As a result, the Assay Office carries a pre-1950s exemption from hallmarking.

How do you know what era your jewelry is?

4 Ways of Identification

1. Figure Out the Jewelry Style. One of the most telling ways to identify your jewelry is by its style, which can correspond to a specific time period or area.
2. Take Note of Manufacturing Methods.
3. Spot Popular Materials.
4. Look for Jewelry Stamps.

Is Victorian jewelry valuable?

Although this makes Victorian jewellery less rare today the variety in styles produced some works whose artistic value was extremely high. The Victorian era was arguably the most prosperous and influential time in the history of Great Britain, and modern buyers have a great deal of interest in Victorian pieces.

Did Victorians wear earrings?

Believe it or not, Victorian women didn’t wear many earrings or finger rings. Earrings were mostly uncomfortable clip-ons, so women only wore them on special occasions.

What does Victorian ring mean?

Birds – Elegant and graceful, birds in Victorian engagement rings are symbols of faith, loyalty, peace, and hope, all ideal characteristics to symbolize an everlasting union.

Are old diamond rings worth anything?

An antique or ‘old’ diamond isn’t necessarily worth more than a new one, but that fact depends entirely on the nature of the diamond. If an antique diamond features an outdated or rare cut style or has a particularly storied history, then it may be more valuable, but it’s uncommon.

What does 14K l mean on a ring?

14k indicates the gold purity. The national standard is 18k, and is always indicated in parts per thousand (thus <750> in brakes, i.e. 75\% purity i.e 18k). Your rings says 14K: this clearly indicates it was made for export.

Did Victorians wear pearls?

Stud earrings and diamond hairpins became very popular, as did choker necklaces and pearls. Which were made fashionable by Princess Alexandra, Queen Victoria`s daughter-in-law. Some of the most popular gems of this period were sapphires, diamonds, spinels and peridots.

What is the Victorian era in jewelry?

Colored gemstones also gained popularity during this century. Named after Queen Victoria, the Victorian era of jewelry (1837-1880) can be broken into three epochs: the Romantic Period (1837-1860), the Grand Period (1861-1880) and the Aesthetic Period (1880-1901).

What are the different periods of antique jewelry?

Because this spans more than six decades, antique jewelry collectors break the Victorian era down into three distinct time periods. The early portion is known as the Romantic period and dates from 1837 until 1860.

Why is it so hard to find old Victorian period items?

The frustrating part stems from several factors, beginning with missing hallmarks on most American-made items, which is typical of the Victorian era. Hallmarks provide collectors with a myriad of information, such as what type of metal was used to make the item, plus when and where it was made.

What does botany mean in Victorian jewellery?

They were known to guard all manner of riches as the “king of all beasts”. It graced emblems in Victorian jewellery as a symbol of bravery and vigilance. The obsession with botany even in popular culture during the Victorian period translated into jewellery by way of floral motifs.