Jewelry Box Treasures

Victorian women loved wearing beautiful jewels,

especially upper class ladies who lived by the motto: "You simply can't have too much finery." Thus a Victorian jewelry box was a diverse treasure trove.

It had to be because these ladies took every opportunity – sometimes five or six times a day – to change outfits and jewelry to look dazzling for the next meal, tea party or social call.

Here are some of the classic pieces that a Victorian jewelry box of the mid- to late 1800s might have contained:


The choker: During the Victorian era, the black choker-style ribbon worn around the neck was a popular accessory but only when low cut necklines were in fashion and throats could be exposed. The prettiest, most feminine chokers had a locket or cross hanging from the ribbon's center.

The bar pin: When necklines went back up, a new style of jewelry was called for. Hence the bar pin came into fashion, pinned to the lace at the throat to keep the collar closed and often shaped like a key or displaying whimsical images like animals, birds, bugs, horseshoes, and fans.

The brooch: The brooch came to be one of the most important features of a Victorian lady's jewelry box. In particular, the cameo, worn pinned to the center of the collar, enjoyed mass popularity. The wealthy lady ordered a cameo brooch with the profile of a loved one carved into the stone; the rest made do with mass-produced cameos displaying feminine motifs.

The watch and chain: Called "Victorias", they looked similar to men's watch chains but were suspended by a gold, silver, or woven human hair chain from a front button or hung around the neck. The watch itself would be tucked discreetly into the belt or a small pocket inside the bodice.

The bracelet: Victorian ladies' arms were usually encased in fabric, so bangles and bracelets had to be bold to be noticed. Wide gold bangles worn in pairs, thick black bands of woven hair, and jet beads could be seen beneath white sleeves. The whistle bracelet was a popular accessory for solitary lady bicyclists to signal for help... just in case.

The earrings: Discretion and simplicity are words that best describe the Victorian treatment of ear lobes. They were left unadorned when covered by swoops of hair. But when exposed, they were usually graced by slender drop earrings in round, teardrop, or bar shapes made for pierced ears (screw back earrings and clip-ons came much later.)

The chatelaine: For the Victorian era matron who still had room in her jewelry box for something more, the chatelaine was indispensable. The chatelaine had a large central base that was pinned at the waist. From it dangled chains with attachments for useful items like scissors, coin purse, vinaigrette, perfume bottle, watch, keys and more. The lady was never far from the implements she needed to manage her household.

While this isn't a comprehensive list of Victorian era jewelry, it does give you a taste of the most popular items found in a well-to-do Victorian lady's jewelry box. Feminine. Fashionable. And, in many cases, functional too!

Written by: Joanmarie Moccia
Joanmarie is a designer of Victorian vintage jewelry and hat pins. Her collection of artisan Victorian era reproductions includes Pin Brooches, Necklaces, Earrings , Hatpins , and Hair Jewelry.