I was admiring some of SJ’s gorgeous new high end fashion necklaces, and thought they reminded me of elegant, ornate Victorian jewelry. Out of curiosity, I began searching for authentic late 19th century pieces – and stumbled across some things I never expected to find!
- Victorian Widow
The process of mourning in the Victorian era was taken very seriously with complex rules and various taboos when it came to honoring deceased loved ones. The heavy, dark layers of clothing and long crepe veils donned by Victorian women in mourning were referred to as “widow’s weeds.” Widows were expected to remain in mourning for at least four years, though in some cases women who never remarried chose to don widow’s weeds for the rest of her life. Different colors were worn in various stages of mourning, for instance during “full mourning” the widow would be expected to wear all black, but could begin introducing darker colors like grey or dark blue during “half mourning.”
Before paintings and photos were commonplace, a mourning friend or relative would commemorate the loss of a loved one with jewelry that was worn during mourning. In fact, mourning jewelry has been worn since the 17th century, but it was during the 19th century that new processes of mass production made it affordable and available to the masses. Most jewelry of this type came in a variety of styles for men and women, and was made of jet or black enamel. Other materials were sometime used to indicate something specific about the deceased. For instance, white enamel might indicate the person who had died was an unmarried woman – pearl indicated the loss of a child.
- Gallery of Victorian Mourning Jewelry
The majority of mourning jewelry contained the hair of the deceased, but in some cases would contain teeth, like the ring pictured above. Others would have symbolic images representing the person’s journey into the afterlife – like the example of the “lover’s eye” and cameo above. During “deep mourning” (lasting two years or more) individuals were expected to avoid social events, and the only permissible jewelry was mourning jewelry.
Though a bit morbid by 2014 standards, it’s an interesting look back at the history of jewelry, illustrating just how important and symbolic jewelry can be to the wearer.
While SJ doesn’t have anything quite as chilling as that tooth ring in our collection, you can certainly add a touch of Victorian glamour to your wardrobe with these new pieces! Check out these statement necklaces in smoky grey, crimson, and green/blue! Leave a comment below letting me know which is your favorite, and be entered to win.
63 comments
i love these 3 gorgeous statement necklace! having hard time picking a favorite, but maybe the blue/green cause emerald green is my may birthstone. would love to have all three colors cause they are stunning. keep up the great work superjeweler
Beautiful would love the red it was mine and my late jusbands birthstone
I love the blue green
The smoky grey one is so rich looking and beautiful. Can’t even imagine wearing that tooth ring, but some of the other old pieces are lovely.
THE BLACK ONE IS MY FAVORITE I JUST LOVE THE LOOK BACK ON JEWELRY AND HOW FAR IS HAS COME important and symbolic jewelry can be to the wearer IS STILL ALMOST THE SAME TODAY BUT NOT QUITE AS IT WAS THEN NOW A DAYS A WEDDING BANDS IS THE ONLY SYMBOLIC THING I CAN THINK OF ANT MORE EVERY THING ELSE IS JUST FASHION
BLESSED BE & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AT SUPER JEWELERS
KATHARINE (Tim’s Wife)
I really like the green/blue very pretty!I would definitely wear this if I was in Mourning as I am, or even if I wasn’t their beautiful. Would love to have. Thanks for the opportunity!
I really like the Statement necklaces, they are lovely !
The smokey gray one is really nice, I think it could be worn with just about anything!
The red is my favorite! Thank YOU for some very interesting information. I am going to do a little more reading on this subject.
I love the smoky grey necklace is my favorite.
All three are spectacular, my favorites are the blue/green and the red. My choice would be the red.
the crimson are beautiful
All 3 are beautiful, and the gray one calls me.
They are all beautiful, but the smoky gray one is my favorite.
I think my wife would like the statement necklace.
I LOVE THE LOOK OF THE Victorian Mourning Jewelry!
These necklaces are stunning- especially the blue one.
The smoky grey is unusual and my favorite.
Sad, but enlightening, article. The black necklace is very unique!
I love the green/blue necklace – so very pretty, you would feel like royalty wearing it!
i was aware that the Victorian’s had this custom and my mother actually has a locket that belonged to her mother with her great grandmother’s hair in it. of course we don’t wear it as it is just to morbid for us(not to mention really old and fragile). i love the blue it’s gorgeous but my mom likes the grey. would be thrilled to win either.
tammy ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
I like the blue/green necklace.
I am taken with the smoky grey.
The smokey grey is my style.
I love the blue/green one. It reminds me of the ocean.
That blue and green necklace is past awesome, love it! thanks
Oh that green/blue is soooo beautiful!!!! That is my favorite!!!
Was a hard choice, so had to ask my other half which he preferred, so the smokey grey pretty please x
My eye went directly to the red one.
love this period of time
love that smokey gray. Love dark colors for some reason
the red great for Christmas the bluish gray one wow love that one most of all. Great necklaces indeed thanks
Very unique – love them!
They’re all so beautiful! I think Smoky Grey is my favorite!
I love the green and blue!
I love the cameo ….
wow i love the red necklace and the cameos are always a hit and an interesting article
The Emerald and Blue Sapphire necklace is gorgeous. Thanks for the informative article about Victorian mourning. More for my why-I’m-thankful list.
interesting read, the necklace in red is my fav!
I actually have a mourning brooch that was made after my great, great uncle died. It is a glass enclosed miniature watercolor portrait with an inner border made from a lock of his hair that has been braided. In the mourning photos (another Victorian custom) that were taken after his death, his mother and sisters, including my great grandmother, are each wearing the brooch. It is strange, yet beautiful.
Your necklaces are much more glamorous and I am particularly taken with the smoky gray one.
All 3 necklaces are beautiful, luv the greyish blue one the most!
I love the crimson.
I like the smoky gray. Thanks.
Love the smoky grey! So classic!
The red is so pretty!
I like the smokey grey one best but all are great.
blue green is my fav
The Teal/Blue is absolutely stunning!
so elegant!
I love the article,very informative on our past,LOVE all the necklaces,but the red one really caught my eye…..thank you!!
VERY UNIQUE ERA IN JEWELRY KIND OF DARK OA ONE POINT THEN GOING TO LIGHT COLOR THAT LEAD TO MODERN JEWELRY TODAY I LOVE ALL 3 NECKLACES IF H GET LUCKY ENOUGH TO WIN YOU CAN CHOOSE SURPRISE ME SOUND GOOD TO YOU SOUNDS GOOD TO ME BLESSED BE & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL SUPERJEWELER!!!
While they are all very pretty, the one with the blue and green stones is my favorite…I love those colors! Thank you for the giveaway!!
REALLY LOVE THE BLUE STATEMENT NECKLACE
the blue/green one is my favorite by far. stunning!
The green/blue is magical. I love it.
Green i think cant really tell n Blue is beautiful n thank you very much for chance
The Smokey gray statement necklace is pretty. The mourning jewelry is nasty. Ugh!
That crimson stole my soul. I love it!
Everything is beautiful and pretty.
I love them all but my favorite is the crimson!
This jewelry looks very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Queen Victoria gave rise to the complexities of mourning behaviour after her beloved Albert died and her subjects followed her lead when in mourning.
It may seem macabre and downright weird to us 21st Century folk but I think the Victorians were less squeamish about their dead, taking photographs of the deceased person sitting up in rather formal poses after their deaths and before burial.
It was their way of showing respect and love for their dead realitives.
We must also remember that it is fairly recent that people have stopped having a dead relatives body laid out in their drawing room or lounge for other members of the family and wider community to come and pay their respects before burial.
I presume that the whole zombie genre of horror gave rise to that ritual dying out, pardon the word play.
The crimson necklace in your piece is my favourite as it reminds me of the Egyptian Pharaohs, of passion, of fire, of blood and of life, thus being an antidote to the black of deep mourning.
Once again, a truly brilliant blog.
Beautiful and sad. My brother is dying and I want to make something from his hair to keep him close. The red for fire and life.