What was Jewelry like in Victorian Times?

Answer 1

The Victorian era was long and jewellery changed during that period from larger pieces in the earlier Victorian years to becoming lighter and more delicate as the times moved towards the Edwardian era. Typical Victorian jewellery featured large brooches such as cameos, or diamond and ruby set crecent and stars, long gold chains which were used to hold mufflers (to keep hands warm) and are now in demand, bangles of silver or gold; the gold often set with rubies and pearls. Matching gold bracelets or bangles were worn on both wrists. On the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria went into deep and long lasting mourning, wearing black jewellery made from jet, from Whitby, North Yorkshire UK, or onyx. Again, many of the onyx brooches were set with pearls. Hair jewellery was also popular, using hair of a deceased loved one plaited into a bracelet or styled in Price of Wales Feathers and kept behind crystal and brooches and rings. In fact, such was the fashion for jewellery made of hair that it could be bought from shops ready made with an unknown person's hair! The subject of Victorian jewellery really is immense.