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Secret Language of Victorian Jewelry: The History and Lore of Gems, Charms, and Talismans
Not yet published
Expected 18 Aug 26Discover the forgotten Victorian meanings behind the gems, jewels, and symbols in our everyday jewelry with this entrancing guide to more than sixty classic motifs.
Hearts, butterflies, and buckles are the stock and trade of today's trendiest jewelers. But did you know that these jewelry motifs, from the heart earrings you bought as a teenager at Claire’s, to the pearl necklace you remember you grandmother wearing, to the hair brooches popular at the Met Gala, take their cues from the Victorian era?
Hearts became trendy when Queen Victoria first began to wear them as part of her mourning wardrobe. Butterflies, an emblem for immortality, were all the rage in brooches. And buckles, symbolizing protection and fidelity, were popularized as the symbol for the underground Victorian society, the Order of the Garter.
Taking readers into the secret history of more than sixty jewelry symbols, motifs, and jewels, The Secret Language of Jewelry is the first of its kind—a guide that marries the past and present, helping us better understand our wardrobe choices and allowing us to choose the most meaningful and intentional gifts.
Written in a wry, engaging tone that brings the past to life, this book features stunning art with vivid historic examples of each topic. Armed with this manual, jewelry enthusiasts will be able to decode the hidden significance behind family heirlooms and celebrity wardrobe choices alike. All jewelry makes a statement—The Secret Language of Jewelry will empower readers to choose theirs.
Hearts, butterflies, and buckles are the stock and trade of today's trendiest jewelers. But did you know that these jewelry motifs, from the heart earrings you bought as a teenager at Claire’s, to the pearl necklace you remember you grandmother wearing, to the hair brooches popular at the Met Gala, take their cues from the Victorian era?
Hearts became trendy when Queen Victoria first began to wear them as part of her mourning wardrobe. Butterflies, an emblem for immortality, were all the rage in brooches. And buckles, symbolizing protection and fidelity, were popularized as the symbol for the underground Victorian society, the Order of the Garter.
Taking readers into the secret history of more than sixty jewelry symbols, motifs, and jewels, The Secret Language of Jewelry is the first of its kind—a guide that marries the past and present, helping us better understand our wardrobe choices and allowing us to choose the most meaningful and intentional gifts.
Written in a wry, engaging tone that brings the past to life, this book features stunning art with vivid historic examples of each topic. Armed with this manual, jewelry enthusiasts will be able to decode the hidden significance behind family heirlooms and celebrity wardrobe choices alike. All jewelry makes a statement—The Secret Language of Jewelry will empower readers to choose theirs.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 18, 2026
1 person want to read
About the author
Amy Azzarito
6 books1 followerFor the past eleven years, Amy Azzarito has been on the forefront of predicting trends in design while also discovering designers and makers and highlighting their crafts. With a degree in the History of Decorative Arts & Design from Parsons and experience lecturing at universities and historical societies across the country, Amy is a sought-after expert on the topic of design history both past and present.
She has contributed to Food52, Refinery29, Brit & Co, Food52, Design Milk and Architectural Digest. She is the former Managing Editor of the trend-setting blog Design*Sponge.
Amy lives in Marin County, California with her husband Mark and their almost four-year-old daughter Stella.
She has contributed to Food52, Refinery29, Brit & Co, Food52, Design Milk and Architectural Digest. She is the former Managing Editor of the trend-setting blog Design*Sponge.
Amy lives in Marin County, California with her husband Mark and their almost four-year-old daughter Stella.
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