Victorian Era
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Named for Queen Victoria’s long and illustrious reign, the Victorian era ushered in sweeping societal and technological changes - with jewelry design following in its wake. At the heart of it all was the original “It” girl, Queen Victoria, whose style choices had a ripple effect throughout her kingdom. From her serpent engagement ring to her fondness for opals and cameos, whatever Queen Victoria loved took root and blossomed into a cultural trend. Marked by the young Queen’s coronation and courtship with her beloved Prince Albert, the jewelry of the Romantic Period (1837-1860) drew cheerful inspiration from the natural world. Motifs rife with symbolic meaning - like serpents, flowers, and birds - were often rendered in rich yellow gold and embellished with colorful gemstones. The jewelry of this time was all handmade, but by 1852, advances in manufacturing, such as machine cut settings and early electroplating, made jewelry more widely available and affordable for all levels of society. But increased technology did not necessarily translate to a loss of signature Victorian Era sentimentality. The invention of the daguerrotype & ambrotype, early ancestors to the modern photograph, meant that treasured lockets could now hold realistic images of loved ones.
As the Victorian era progressed, changing personal and societal circumstances once again reshaped jewelry trends during The Grand Period (1861-1885). The death of Prince Albert in 1861 marked the beginning of a prolonged period of mourning for Queen Victoria and her country, where somber designs in jet, black onyx, and enamel dominated the jewelry landscape. Further afield, the discovery of plentiful diamond mines in South Africa flooded the market and made them more popular than ever, while the fascination with archeological excavations led to Greek, Egyptian, and Etruscan revivals. Quintessential Victorian designs like the gypsy ring and celestial themes took off during the Grand Period and remain some of the most enduringly popular pieces from the era.
The Victorian period drew to a close with the Aesthetic Movement (1885-1901) - a decided departure from the ornate designs of the earlier periods. Women were entering the workforce, politics, and taking up athletic leisure activities in greater numbers than ever before and needed more streamlined styles to keep up with their new lifestyle. Haircombs, demure brooches that doubled as pendants, and jewelry one could wear “on the move” were the hallmarks of the modern Gibson Girl. In other areas of Europe, Art Nouveau was taking root during this time, championing simple, organic designs infused with inspiration from Japanese art. Throughout these major stylistic changes, Victorian jewelry offers us a window into their world - whether through “hidden message” acrostic jewelry showing their sentimental side or striking scarab beetle motifs that shed light on their fascination with antiquity. The storytelling of Victorian jewelry simply can’t be beat.
This Edwardian Era (cira 1912) buttercup set Old Mine Diamond solitaire is one of the more unique versions we've seen! The buttercup setting has its roots in the previous era, the Victorian period. The style is a variation of the prong setting, its prongs emerge from the mounting in scalloped shapes, created a floral, petal motif. Crafted in warm, 18 karat gold, this setting features a much thicker prong on either side, inverting the petal shape so it tapers into the shoulders of the ring. It beautifully elevates the .40 carat Old Mine Cut Diamond, allowing light to pour through the buttercup petals and set it alight. We love the added detail of the carved shoulder of the band, making this ring interesting to look at from any angle.
Domestic Shipping: Insured shipping within the United States is FREE for purchases made from Ashley Zhang Jewelry. We ship all domestic packages via UPS with an adult signature confirmation.
International Shipping: On international orders, the customer is responsible for all additional duties, taxes and/or tariffs that might incur.
All packages shipped by Ashley Zhang Jewelry are fully insured for their purchased price. When your item is ready to ship, an email will be provided containing your tracking information from Parcel Pro. All shipments must be made to a physical address with an adult present to sign for the package. Ashley Zhang Jewelry is not responsible for items damaged or lost during transportation.
Most of our rings can be sized or resized to suit any finger unless specifically stated in the item’s specs. The first ring sizing is complimentary on most vintage or AZ collection items. See our full resizing policy for more information. Due to the delicate nature of vintage and antique rings, rarely, damages can occur during the resizing process. Should a damage occur Ashley Zhang Jewelry will complimentary repair or replace stones if needed during this process while maintaining the integrity of the original piece. Because we are altering the ring to your requested size the item is still subject to our return policy.
We accept returns or exchanges only on vintage and antique items 7 days after delivery. Items excluded from this policy are rings that have been resized, or any requested modifications. Upon receipt of return, we will issue you a refund minus shipping costs to the original method of payment within 2-5 business days. If your order is above $5,000, we charge a transaction fee (3%), this is the amount our card processor charges us. If your order was international (outside of the USA) we cannot refund duties or customs fees.
We do not offer free return shipping. No exceptions to our return policy. Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale items cannot be refunded.
Email us first to determine that your piece is, in fact, returnable.
Email hello@ashleyzhangjewelry.com please write the subject as Order #---- RETURN.