The Victorian era was abundant with symbolic designs. Victorian jewelers crafted pieces with meaningful motifs, such as snakes representing eternal love and ivy leaves symbolizing fidelity, turning ornaments into wearable messages. Many of these symbols also inspired our own Constance charms.

Acorns: Acorns symbolized growth and potential. An acorn on a piece of jewelry might have been a wish for the wearer's potential to be realized. Example: Vintage 1960s Gold Acorn Charm Necklace.

Anchor: An anchor was a Christian symbol of hope or steadfastness. Example: Victorian c.1870s Agate Anchor Brooch and Pendant.

Birds: Birds had different meanings. Swallows, for instance, symbolized home and a safe return, and were often given to loved ones before a journey. Example: our Constance Swallow Diamond Pendant.

Bows: Bows often symbolized love and remembrance, much like a knot tied to remember someone or something. Example: our Constance Bow Diamond Pendant.

Cherubs: Cherubs or angels were symbols of innocence and spirituality. They were sometimes used as a memorial symbol, referencing the journey of the soul in the afterlife. See an early example at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Diamonds: As today, diamonds symbolized eternal love and strength because of their durability and clarity.

Emeralds: Emeralds symbolized rebirth and fertility, and were often used to represent spring and renewal.

Flowers: Specific flowers had different meanings. Forget-me-nots symbolized remembrance, lilies purity and roses love. Ivy represented fidelity and eternal love. Examples: Vintage 1960s Forget-Me-Not Silver Locket and 1960 Scottish Silver and Rose Gold Ivy Bangle.

Fly: The fly symbolized humility due to its lowly nature. It was also a symbol of persistence and hard work. Example: Edwardian Gold, Garnet and Pearl Fly Brooch.

Garnets: Garnets were thought to symbolize deep and enduring affection, and were associated with friendship and trust.

Hands: Hands were a symbol of affection, friendship and an unbreakable bond. Fede rings feature two clasped hands, symbolizing trust and faith. Example: our Constance Hand Pendant. See a fede ring at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Hearts: As today, hearts in Victorian jewelry symbolized love and affection. Example: Antique Victorian Heart Locket.

Hair: While it may seem strange to us now, lockets, rings and brooches holding a loved one's hair were very common in the Victorian era. This was a way of keeping part of that person close, particularly after their death. Example: Antique 1897 Enamel and Hair Mourning Ring.

Horseshoe: Horseshoes are a universal symbol of good luck, and that meaning carried into Victorian times. Worn pointing upward, a horseshoe acts as a container for good luck, keeping it with the wearer. Pointing downward, it was thought to let luck flow outward, bestowing good fortune on others. Example: our Constance Horseshoe Diamond and Pearl Pendant.

Insects: Insects, particularly bees and butterflies, were common in Victorian jewelry. Butterflies symbolized the soul and transformation, while bees could represent industriousness and loyalty. See a Victorian butterfly brooch at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Moon: In Victorian symbolism, a crescent moon often represented femininity and motherhood through its connections with various goddesses. It could also represent change, thanks to the moon's phases. Example: our Constance Crescent Moon Diamond Pendant.

Opals: Opals were thought to symbolize hope, innocence and purity. After the publication of Sir Walter Scott's novel Anne of Geierstein, which described a cursed opal, the gemstone was associated with bad luck for some time. Read more in our guide to opals.

Padlocks: Padlocks were symbols of security and permanence. Given as love tokens, they signified that the giver had locked their heart to the recipient. Example: Vintage 1970s Silver Heart Padlock Bracelet.

Pearls: Pearls were associated with innocence, purity and femininity. They were also used to symbolize tears and often appear in mourning jewelry.

Pig: While not common, pigs symbolized abundance, fertility and good luck. Example: Vintage Gold Good Luck Pig Charm Necklace.

Rubies: Rubies were symbols of passion, love and power, associated with the heart and courage.

Snakes: Snakes were symbols of eternal love in the Victorian era, and a snake swallowing its tail stood for eternity. Queen Victoria herself had a snake engagement ring, and the serpent motif was at its most fashionable in the 1840s. See a Victorian turquoise example at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Stars: Stars symbolized guidance, aspiration and enlightenment. Seen as constant and unchanging, they could also stand for steadfastness or eternity. A shooting star could represent a moment of significance or change. Read more about the star motif in Victorian jewelry.

Sun: The sun was associated with the divine, symbolizing power, glory, illumination and vitality, as well as constancy and reliable cycles. Example: Vintage 1920s Sun Ray Gold Locket.

Thistle: In Scottish jewelry especially, the thistle symbolized strength, protection and healing. As the national emblem of Scotland, it was also a sign of Scottish pride. Example: Antique Victorian Silver Thistle Brooch and Earring Set.

Turquoise: Turquoise was associated with protection. Its color linked it to forget-me-nots, making it a symbol of enduring love and remembrance. Example: Antique Victorian Turquoise Flower Ring.

Wings: Wings were a symbol of aspiration, spiritual elevation and protection, and were sometimes associated with speed and freedom. Example: our Constance Wing Diamond Pendant.

Wishbone: The wishbone was a popular good luck charm in late Victorian and Edwardian jewelry, drawn from the old custom of two people pulling a bird's wishbone, with the one left holding the larger piece granted a wish. Example: Vintage 1970s Gold Wishbone Charm Necklace.

To learn about the materials these pieces were made from, from jet and vulcanite to piqué and pinchbeck, see our A to Z of antique jewelry materials, and for the names of antique pieces and techniques, our A to Z of antique jewelry terms.