Collection: Victorian

Costume jewellery in the Victorian era (1837–1901) was deeply influenced by Queen Victoria’s reign, reflecting the period’s evolving social, artistic, and technological changes.

Victorian jewellery was ornate and symbolic, often featuring intricate designs inspired by nature, romance, and sentimentality. The era is typically divided into three periods:

• Early Victorian (Romantic Period) – Delicate floral motifs, serpents (symbolising eternal love), and lockets containing portraits or hair of loved ones.
• Mid-Victorian (Grand Period) – More sombre designs, influenced by mourning jewellery after Prince Albert’s death, with dark gemstones like jet and onyx.
• Late Victorian (Aesthetic Period) – Lighter, whimsical designs with crescent moons, stars, and Japanese-inspired motifs.

Jewellers used gold, silver, and platinum, often incorporating diamonds, pearls, amethysts, garnets, and turquoise. The rise of electroplating allowed for affordable gold-plated jewellery, making intricate designs accessible to the middle class. Mourning jewellery featured black materials like jet, onyx, and vulcanite.

Prominent jewellery houses such as Garrard & Co. and Cartier crafted exquisite Victorian pieces. John Brogden was known for his archaeological revival designs, while Castellani and Giuliano created intricate Renaissance-inspired jewellery.

Queen Victoria’s personal style had a profound impact on jewellery trends. The Industrial Revolution enabled mass production, making jewellery more widely available. The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb