Victorian diamond snake ring in 18k gold. Approximately 0.35 carat antique yellow pear shaped old mine cut diamond in the head and ruby eyes. English in origin. Circa 1880.
Size 12 can be resized.
Snake jewelry did not begin with Adam and Eve but appeared in pre-Christian religions and cultures. Very few creatures have been embraced by both religion and art. Most of the others have fascinated mankind because of their impressive size or strength. Snakes, on the other hand, tend to be insignificant in appearance. Yet in the hierarchy of animals, they have ranked so high that they have attained almost divine status. All sorts of human character traits have been imputed to them, ranging from wisdom and prudence to guile and deceitfulness. Snakes arouse powerful emotional responses from one person to another.
Ladies of the European nobility wore snakes as brooches, bracelets, necklaces, and finger rings. By the beginning of the 19th century long snake collars were being worn. Queen Victoria was given a snake ring by her fiance Albert to mark their engagement.
The serpent wound its way through the 19th century jewelry as an amulet, a talisman, as a good luck charm and symbol of enduring love.
