Victorian Garnet Bangle

Dating to circa 1890, this Victorian Bohemian garnet bangle features four graduated rows of faceted garnets set in gold over brass, a construction associated with traditional Garnet Gold jewelry. The garnets graduate in size, with the largest stones concentrated toward the center of the bracelet and smaller stones continuing toward the sides. Their tightly spaced arrangement creates a richly textured surface of deep red.

The stones are secured in individual prong settings, with very little metal visible between them. This dense arrangement of garnets was characteristic of 19th-century Bohemian garnet jewelry, where the emphasis was on creating an uninterrupted field of color rather than highlighting individual gemstones.

Bohemian garnet jewelry became especially fashionable during the Victorian period, with garnets sourced from the region of Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. The term “Garnet Gold” traditionally describes the gold-colored metal used in many of these pieces and does not necessarily indicate solid gold or a particular gold purity. The gold-over-brass construction reflects the use of gold-colored and gilt base metals in traditional Bohemian garnet jewelry, allowing the deep red gemstones to remain the focus of the design.