Early Victorian rose cut diamond drop earrings, English, circa 1850.

During the Georgian and early Victorian eras, high society would spend their evening soirées lit by warm candlelight. Necklines were lower and romantic swept-up hair styles left ample space for decorative earrings. Pieces would be set with an array of coloured gemstones as well as early cuts of diamonds that would elegantly sparkle in the warm amber light of the time.

The most popular earrings of the day were typically in the girandole style, named after a type of candelabra. The heft of some of these magnificent earrings led to ingenious methods to relieve the weight on the ear, including ribbons wrapped into the hair and wires that looped over the top of the ear.