Identifying Victorian Era Jewelry

Article written by Cynthia Findlay Antiques.

Jewelry items from the Victorian Era are some of the most eye-catching pieces that a woman can own. The Victorian Era extended from the 1830s through the end of the 19th century and coincided with the reign of England’s Queen Victoria. While there were several distinct periods within the Victorian Era, jewelry from the Victorian age is typically extremely ornate, often with themes from nature.

Because pieces from the Victorian Era such as vintage rings are so popular, there are many reproductions available for sale that look like they are from the 19th century but actually are modern. So how do you know if the antique rings you’ve got your eye on are truly from the Victorian Era? Here are a few things you can look for:

• It might seem obvious, but any use of modern materials such as plastic would mark it as being modern.
• Certain types of jewels weren’t commonly used during the Victorian Era. For example, aurora borealis rhinestones weren’t used until the 1950s. Make sure that you reference the type of gem found in the item to make sure that it belongs in the Victorian era.
• Silver and yellow gold were the materials that were most commonly used in Victorian Era jewelry. Deeply personal items might even be made out of human hair. Pearls were another common material used in Victorian Era designs. Commons types of pearls used included baroque, seed or freshwater. Stones that were commonly used in jewelry of the period included diamonds, opals, rubies, peridots, emeralds and coral.

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This article written by Cynthia Findlay Antiques. You can find a wide assortment of Victorian, retro and Art Deco rings at Cynthia Findlay Antiques.