Antique Teardrop Jewellery
Antique teardrop jewellery brings together shaped drops of silver, gold, diamond and amethyst across Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods.
Antique Teardrop Jewellery
Antique teardrop jewellery encompasses earrings, pendants and necklaces featuring tapered pear and drop forms. These pieces span multiple eras, with Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco designs appearing most frequently across the collection.
The category ranges from day-to-night Victorian earrings and garnet drops to platinum and diamond Art Deco pendants. Buyers encounter numerous variations in drop lengths, mountings and suspension styles.
Earrings and pendant necklaces dominate the selections available, utilising both solid precious metals and intricate gemstone arrangements to shape the signature teardrop profile.
Materials and construction methods
Goldsmiths and silversmiths shaped these pieces using yellow gold, rose gold, silver and platinum alongside natural gems. Stones including aquamarine, amethyst, garnet, pearl and diamond are set into bezels, claws or flush mounts.
Artisans employed wirework, stamping, granulation and stone-cutting techniques to achieve the balanced weight required for dangling earrings and hanging pendants. Metalwork ranges from delicate 9ct gold chains to substantial platinum cluster settings.
Antique Teardrop Jewellery Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for teardrop jewellery among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature yellow gold, silver, platinum, amethyst, garnet, aquamarine, pearl, diamond and turquoise across Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods.
Distinctions in craftsmanship
Quality separates pieces by the precision of stone matching, the weight of the precious metal used, and the intricacy of the underlying structural metalwork. Superior examples display secure prong settings, matched natural gems with clean facets, and robust fixings like lever backs or original clasps.
Lesser items rely on simple stamped mounts, glued stones or lightweight alloys that compromise the balance and longevity of the drop form.
Hamilton & Co·Amy Sandheim
The Antique Teardrop Jewellery Glossary
- Teardrop
- A pear-shaped gemstone or metal drop configuration that tapers to a rounded point at one end. This profile defines the central motif of pendants and dangling earrings.
- Day-to-night earrings
- Convertible jewellery pieces designed with detachable lower sections. These allow the wearer to transform simpler daytime studs into elaborate evening drops.
- Marcasite
- Small, faceted polished pyrite stones set tightly into silver mounts. They provide a dark metallic sparkle typical of Art Deco and revival jewellery.
- Lavalier
- A pendant necklace featuring a central gemstone drop suspended from a delicate chain. The design became popular during the Edwardian and Art Nouveau periods.
- Paste
- Hand-cut and polished lead glass used to imitate gemstones. High-quality antique paste is foiled and securely set in silver or gold.
Antique Teardrop Jewellery: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I date antique teardrop earrings?
Dating relies on examining the metal alloys, fastening mechanisms and gemstone cuts together. Victorian pieces often use rose or yellow gold with closed-back settings or wire hooks.
Later Edwardian and Art Deco items introduce platinum, calibrated stones and screwbacks or hinged lever backs.
What is the difference between pear cut and teardrop?
Pear cut refers specifically to a faceted gemstone shape with a rounded end and a single pointed apex. Teardrop is a broader term encompassing both faceted stones and smooth cabochons, pearls or metal drops.
Many antique necklaces use the terms interchangeably for dangling elements.
Are antique drop necklaces fragile?
Durability depends on the materials used and how the drop is suspended from the chain. Solid gold and platinum settings with secure jump rings withstand regular wear.
Pieces incorporating organic materials like coral, tortoiseshell or delicate pearls require careful handling to avoid impact damage.
Can converted earrings be worn safely?
Many older earrings undergo conversion from screwbacks to modern posts or clips for contemporary wear. Examining the conversion work reveals whether the original hinge or loop remains intact.
Professional jewellers can secure modern findings without compromising the antique drop components.