Most people don’t want a live snake within 10 yards of them 😅. Yet the game changes when it comes to wearing and collecting Snake Shaped Jewelry! Indeed this animal is one of the most popular designs in jewelry.
Far from being only simple decorations, snake jewelry is among the oldest mythological, historical and cultural symbols. This jewelry, especially Snake Rings, are very much present in jewelry 💍. These intriguing creatures have inspired a multitude of jewelers throughout the ages. Snake jewelry is therefore rich in a multitude of meanings, and this in many countries and civilizations.
In this article, we propose you to go around the meanings attributed to snake jewelry through civilizations and ages! You will find in the 3rd part of this article the Snake Rings, Bracelets and Necklaces, and the specific meaning of each of these jewels 👇!
1) History of the Snake in Jewelry
A) An Ancient Symbolism
Snakes have adorned humans since ancient times. Their peculiar shape making them a perfect inspiration for making rings, bracelets, necklaces and arm bands 🐍.
The origins of snake jewelry are exceptionally easy to trace compared to most ancient jewelry. Simply because many of the rings and necklaces that were made, included a large amount of gold.
Jewelry with snake designs is usually associated with the ancient Egyptians (like turquoise enamel combined with yellow gold jewelry). For they have marked the whole world following the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamen in Egypt ⚰️. However, the Egyptian civilization is far from being the only one to have made jewelry in the form of snake.
Although the snake motif has always existed in jewelry, the symbolism of the snake has evolved over the last 6,000 years. In ancient times, snakes represented wisdom, eternity and the form of a guardian spirit 🛡️. For much of the 19th century, they symbolized eternal love. But in the late 20th century, they came to be seen as a symbol of sinister danger.
B) The Symbolism of Snake Jewelry in Civilizations
The origin of the symbolism of the snake goes back thousands of years. Many civilizations have interpreted the creature as representing a number of things: good, evil, rebirth, poison, fertility, death ☠️. Although there are historically some negative connotations attributed to the snake, the animal has mostly positive meanings.
Throughout history, different peoples have all attributed very profound meanings to the snake:
For the Pharaohs of Egypt, snakes represented royalty and the divine. They wore them as sacred pendants around their necks.
The Romans had different interpretations of these animals 💭 from eternal love to a symbol of wisdom.
The Greeks also considered the snake to be a symbol of wisdom. Aesculapius (or Asclepius), the god of medicine, had a snake wrapped around his staff.
Hindus, Hebrews, African-Americans and Native Americans all endowed the slender creature with various meanings. These ranging from rebirth and transformations, to sexuality and desire 💞.
The Mayans and Aztecs had Snake Gods in their religions. These gods were traditionally revered and worshipped because they represented knowledge and protection.
Thanks to archaeological excavations 🔎 we know that these peoples wore a multitude of Jewelry with Snake Motifs. Whether they were amulets to protect themselves from evil forces, or bracelets that were supposed to bring ardor and fertility to the wearer.
If you want to learn more about the symbolism of the snake, we have already written a very complete article on the subject!
2) The Popularity of Snake Jewelry
The reason snake jewelry has been so popular throughout history is because it was worn by important people 👑.
A) Queen Victoria’s Ring
Queen Cleopatra is well known for adorning herself from head to toe with snake jewelry. But it was in 1839 that history and legend gave way to the snake becoming one of the most iconic designs in jewelry. It was at this time that Queen Victoria was engaged to Prince Albert 💍. The latter gave his beloved a ring in the shape of a snake, which signified eternal love.
The majestic ring was set with an emerald, the queen’s birthstone. At the time, it was customary for an engagement ring to bear the birthstone of the wearer. This Victorian Style that gives personal meaning to the jewelry, is known as “Acrostic Jewelry“.Queen Victoria was even buried in 1901 with this ring which inspired a Renewed Fashion for snakes 😮.
Queen Victoria’s ring garnered so much admiration, that it set a trend throughout England, and later throughout Europe! It gave birth to a range of snake rings, necklaces and flexible spiral bracelets with gemstone set heads 💎. But also brooches, cuffs, bracelets and earrings in the shape of a snake.
All of this jewelry was intended for the Wealthy Classes of society, and the majority was set with precious stones. It wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution 🏭, that the jewelry making process evolved. Pieces were made much faster than they had been laboriously made by hand, previously. This also meant that the cost of jewelry was dramatically reduced, making the pieces much more accessible to those of modest means.
B) The Most Famous Snake Jewelry
The most famous Serpent Necklace by the jeweler Cartier was made in 1968 for the Mexican actress María Félix. It was mounted in platinum with 2473 diamonds 😍! The underside is enameled in red, green and black, so the piece is completely reversible.
From the 1940s to the present day, Bulgari has created highly intricate snake jewelry using a special technique called Tubogas. For example, this luxury jewelry company created a unique watch bracelet for actress Elizabeth Taylor. The brand also created a belt that turned into a necklace for Diana Vreeland, then editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine 📰. The latter wrote this note in 1968: “Don’t forget the snake…The serpent should be on every fingers and all wrists and all everywhere…the snake is the gold standard pattern in jewelry…you can never see enough of it.“
This statement is as true today for modern collectors and designers of pieces, as it was in Queen Victoria’s day. Ms. Vreeland is absolutely right: the snake is a jewelry motif that will continue to be forever Loved and Inspiring 👍.
3) Meaning Of The Different Snake Jewelry
Snakes are thus one of the most ancient and widespread Mythological Symbols. This is the reason why snakes are so often depicted in jewelry. Their fine rope-like body fascinates, and fits perfectly into a spiral necklace, an elegant bracelet or a distinguished ring.
There is an overall meaning to snake jewelry, as discussed earlier in this article ⬆️. However, it is possible to attach a particular symbolism to the three main types of Snake Jewelry: ring, bracelet and necklace.
A) Snake Ring Meaning
Wearing a simple ring is often already symbolic. Depending on the finger where the jewel is worn.
Throughout the ages and civilizations, all peoples who mastered the art of forging have made Snake Rings ⚒️. For a long time these rings were made from precious materials (gold and silver). They were therefore reserved for the richest and most powerful people.
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The meaning of these particular jewels could vary according to the culture. However, here is the list of the most common meanings attributed to snake rings :
Eternal Love 💘: in the image of Queen Victoria, giving a snake ring to one’s partner is a symbol of one’s eternal love for them.
Unity of Body and Mind: wearing a snake ring in the shape of Ouroboros (the snake that bites its own tail), symbolizes the inner peace of the wearer.
Power: especially in Eastern and Egyptian cultures (pharaohs), powerful leaders often wore snake rings. These rings, usually made of solid gold, symbolized the fearsome and dangerous aspect of their wearer.
If you’re interested in discovering the meaning behind snake rings, we’ve already published a comprehensive article on the topic!
B) Snake Bracelet Meaning
Bracelets are a timeless of human civilizations. There is not a single people who have never adorned themselves with this type of jewelry.
Very early bracelets in the shape of snakes began to appear in history, inspired by the Characteristic Shape of this animal 🐍. The oldest traces of wearing a snake bracelet go back to ancient Egypt, or even to the Mesopotamian Civilization (dating back to more than 3000 years before Christ, and located in the current Middle East).
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Unlike the ring and the necklace, the snake bracelet has much more physical than spiritual meanings. Here are the meanings most often attributed to the wearing of a snake bracelet:
Resistance and Transformation: many traces left by our ancestors lead us to believe that people who had passed close to death 💀 (illness, fight, snake bite, …) wore a snake bracelet to symbolize this. People who experienced serious things in their lives and came out transformed, can also wear this bracelet with this symbolism. The snake signifies transformation through its regular shedding (skin renewal).
Wisdom and Strength: a bracelet being worn around the wrist, it is therefore connected to the arm: the universal symbol of raw strength. Wearing a snake bracelet symbolizes finesse and wisdom in the use of force 💪. In the image of the snake that chooses precisely the moment when it delivers its deadly venom.
Dexterity: The wrist is connected to the hand. Hand that is a reflection of the dexterity and skill of a person. It was not uncommon for Muslim archers to wear snake bracelets to symbolize their skill with the bow. The snake being known for its agility and speed.
For lovers of jewelry worn on the wrist, we advise you to visit this specialized partner store offering many animal bracelets of various cultural inspirations.
For those seeking to expand their knowledge on the significance of snake bracelets, we have a well-researched and in-depth article available for your reading pleasure!
C) Snake necklace Meaning
Although all peoples have made necklaces and pendants, snake motifs are less common on these jewels than on rings and bracelets. ⚠️ However they keep a strong symbolism, especially in the Nordic countries.
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The snake necklaces have a meaning turned towards the spiritual. These jewels were (and still are!) worn as amulets to protect against bad omens or to attract the favors of a deity. Some of the symbolism of the snake necklace:
Protection: the snake is a dangerous animal. One thinks before attacking it 🤔. Wearing a necklace with a snake on it means that one has the ability to defend oneself, and to protect those who are dear to us. In the Nordic culture, the snake is seen as a powerful animal like the mythical monsters Jörmungandr and Nídhögg. These two snakes have an evil connotation in Norse mythology. Worn as a necklace, they symbolize the evil that the wearer is ready to inflict if someone attacks him or his loved ones ⚔️.
Cunning: the snake has always been part of the human imagination as the representation of cunning and deceit. Wearing a snake necklace symbolizes the cunning of the wearer 🧠 which he can play to achieve his ends. But this symbolism of the cunning of the snake necklace, can also be applied to business. The caduceus of Hermes (the Greek god of commerce) is represented by a stick around which two snakes are wrapped.
Spiritual elevation: the snake is the universal symbol of the connection and balance between two opposites ☯️ (heaven and earth, good and evil, man and woman, …). Wearing a necklace in the shape of a snake means that the wearer has found his balance in the Cosmos, and that his quest for balance has succeeded. He knows the connection between the extremes and manages to understand them better. In the ancient Nordic culture, the wearer of such a jewel was often wise, experienced, and knowledgeable.
4) Snake Spirit Jewelry
Today, the sinuous curve of the snake’s body, continues to give a Fatal Femininity to the design of these jewels. But some chic signet rings representing a snake with an Aggressive Style, can as well demonstrate the dangerousness of the man who wears them ⚔️.
At Snake Spirit™, we want to offer you the possibility to wear these beautiful and atypical jewels every day. Our products are manufactured and selected with the greatest care, so that they meet strict quality criteria ⛔.
Our jewelry is imbued with Savoir-Faire. This can be seen in the beautiful enameling of some of our pieces, capable of capturing the vivid colors of a snake body ✨.
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We have the largest collection of Snake Rings on the US market! Our rings display the dangerous snake design, which is highly stylized in 925 Silver or 316L Stainless Steel (also known as Surgical Steel). We also offer snake jewelry with sparkling ruby or emerald eyes 💎.
Our slim Snake Bracelets in the shape of a snake can enhance your wrist or arm. Adding an extremely Refined and Seductive touch, even as it warns…
Snake Spirit™ jewelry thus combines Seduction and Ferocity, so that everyone can find what fits him 😃 ! They are a style of original accessory and endowed with a real symbolism, to Stand out in our contemporary society.
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Snakes have thus marked the History of Jewelry since Man covers himself with jewelry. This is because the symbolism of the snake is one of the richest of all. If snake jewelry remains a timeless style even today, it is because of the combination of the unique shape of the snake that allows it to wrap around the wearer, and this strong symbolism.
It is fascinating to note that despite the Dangerousness of this animal, in particular because of the Venom of Snake, this one remains very present in the history of the Man who developed an important Mythology of the Snake.