What is Victorian jewellery?
By Jared James · Last updated 21 May 2026
Definition
Victorian jewellery refers to pieces made during the reign of Queen Victoria, which ran from 1837 to 1901, and it spans a remarkable range of styles across those six decades. The early period favoured sentimental, romantic pieces with flowers and hearts; the middle period brought darker mourning jewellery and archaeological revival styles after the death of Prince Albert in 1861; and the late period saw lighter, more elaborate designs using diamonds and coloured gems. Gold, silver, pearls, garnets and jet are all closely associated with the era.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key styles of Victorian jewellery?
- The Victorian era is usually divided into three sub-periods: the Romantic period with floral, sentimental motifs; the Grand period with mourning jewellery, jet and heavy gold work; and the Aesthetic period, which brought lighter designs, Japanese-influenced motifs and naturalistic themes.
- What is Victorian mourning jewellery?
- After Prince Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria wore mourning dress for the rest of her life and black jewellery became fashionable across society. Mourning pieces were typically made in jet, black glass, vulcanite or dark materials and included lockets, brooches and rings that sometimes contained the hair of the deceased.
- Is Victorian jewellery valuable?
- It can be, particularly pieces in fine gold with good-quality stones or those by known makers. The combination of age, craftsmanship and historical interest means well-preserved Victorian pieces, especially mourning jewellery, sentimental pieces and pieces by named makers, attract strong collector interest.
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