Metal: 18K Gold

Stone: Pearl, Chrysoprase, Garnet, Amethyst, Rock Crystal, Coral

Size: 15” in length.

What You Should Know: A spectacular antique multi gem set chocker!

We are obsessed with this Victorian Era choker. She’s like a fancy version of a charm bracelet with her creative range of stones and playful patterning.

Most 19th century fashion trends can be traced back to the ultimate tastemaker, Queen Victoria, who popularized wearing different kinds of charms. She sparked a love among European aristocrats for collecting all types of ornamentation to wear on the same chain. This practice was part of the grieving process for her beloved Prince Albert: she collected meaningful adornment to remind her of Albert, stitching it together to tell the story of their love.

Though she was a trend setter, she was nowhere near the first to collect small talismans or amulets and string them together. Over 75,000 years ago, people in Africa used multiple types of shells, while Germans carved mammoth tusks as charms. Bablyonians and Persians were in on the fun as well as Ancient Romans and Egyptians; Cleopatra and her kind used charms to make sure the gods could identify people once they arrived in the afterlife.

This extravagant necklace, with a delicate woven 18K chain, features pearl, chrysoprase, garnet, amethyst, rock crystal, and coral—a veritable greatest hits of the Victorian Era. Each piece represents something meaningful and positive: pearls are associated with purity, chrysoprase with happiness, garnet represents love and friendship, amethyst is calm, and coral is a sign of good health. We see nothing but positivity radiating from this remarkable work of Victorian art!