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Friday, July 13, 2012

Victorian Jewels

Early/Romantic Victorian:

Early Victorian jewels still followed in the tradition of Georgian jewelry with nature-themed etched in the jewels. Like the Georgian period, coral was still popular, only this time Victorians preferred the color pink. The popularity of diamonds carried over into the Victorian period from the Georgian period and like the Georgians they also loved colored stones such as turquoise, topaz, garnet, rubies and cameos. Tear-shaped pearls were also popular. Precious Victorian jewels included tricolor gold, silver, gold, electroplate and rolled gold. Clasps and brooches were made from an imitation ivory called Parian. Large brooches were also very important.

18k Gold Buckle Brooch:

http://www.langantiques.com/university/index.php/Romantic_Period_1837-1860

Turquoise earrings and necklaces:

http://www.beaded-jewellery.com/victorian-jewelry.htm

Mid-Victorian:

Mid-Victorian jewels were inspired by the deaths of the Queen's mother, Duchess Marie Luise Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. On the other side of the pond, the civil war was starting in America. Lockets became a common piece in every jewelry collection to remember the departed. Mourning jewelry such as onyx and jet were used. Other popular stones included garnet,emeralds, diamonds black glass, pearls and rubies. The mid-Victorian period was also an age of discovery of Phoenician, Egyptian and Etruscan sites. The Phoenician inspired moon-crescent hairpiece became fashionable.

Locket:

www.theantiqueguild.net

Crescent shaped pin:

www.theantiqueguild.net

Late Victorian:

Late Victorian jewels once again included nature inspired insects like beetles and butterflies were common themes in jewelry, largely thanks to Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species. Mass produce of jewelry became more widely accessible to middle-class women. Silver grew more popular in the late Victorian period along with gold. Chokers once again came into fashion. Egyptian inspired jewelry became more popular as well. Chains were attached to purses and watches for ladies who were on the move, engaging in such activities as horse-back riding, golfing automobile riding. Gemstones including sapphires, turquoise, rubies and opals were popular as well.

Choker and matching earrings:

www.beaded-jewellery.com

Enamel and diamond:

www.adin.be

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