Victorian Slide Bracelets

During the Victorian Era, 1837-1901, jewelry styles were drawn from classical styles. Jewelry became more commonplace due to a growth of wealth in the middle class. Successful businessmen displayed their wealth by having their wives wear expensive jewelry.

Women would often wear hunting case watches around their necks on long chains with a decorative slide on it. The slide allowed them to adjust the watch to a specific length. Wristwatches eventually replaced wearing such a necklace timepiece.

Antique enthusiasts began collecting these watch slides around the 1930's and making them into bracelets. They would cut the slide off the watch chain and string it on a double strand gold chain bracelet. Eventually they would collect enough to complete a full bracelet. The Victorian style slide bracelet was born.

Over the next several decades' slides became lighter and designs become more modern. The same styles were used in other jewelry as well, such as rings, pendants, brooches, necklaces, and earrings. In the 1990s reproductions and variations of previous revivals and original Victorian Era slides became popular again.

The slide bracelet concept allows you to begin with a starter slide bracelet and add slides to it at your own leisure.

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