Queen Victoria Serpent Ring

When prince albert became engaged to queen victoria he gave her a serpent ring with emerald eyes her birthstone.

Queen victoria serpent ring.

24 may 1819 22 january 1901 was queen of the united kingdom of great britain and ireland from 20 june 1837 until her death. It like the circle represents wholeness and perfection because it. Over time the snake has had many meanings but one of the most popular is that of eternity. Romantic period jewelry was a celebration of the young monarch s love.

Particularly beloved were. In 1840 prince albert designed a snake ring for queen victoria two snakes wrapped round the finger in an enchanting symbol of eternal love. The ouroboros the serpent eating its own tale is a common symbol for both time and eternity. Parliament voted her the additional title of empress of india in 1876.

In keeping with this emerging trend on the announcement of their engagement in 1839 prince albert presented queen victoria with an 18 carat gold serpent engagement ring. Prince albert s engagement ring to queen victoria featured a serpent with an emerald set in its head. After queen victoria and prince albert purchased their balmoral estate in scotland scottish designs also became prevalent in jewelry. As symbols of eternal love snakes became very popular motifs in early victorian jewelry.

The serpent in queen victoria s ring had ruby eyes a diamond mouth and an emerald. The head of the serpent was adorned with rubies for the eyes diamonds for the mouth as well as a large emerald set at the centre representing victoria s birthstone. While this may seem a bit simple for our contemporary tastes the serpent symbolizes eternity and has become a popular motif in jewelry. Queen victoria s jewelry collection included a serpent bracelet she wore to symbolize the wisdom of the serpent that she sought as the head of state reset treasures from the crown jewels a heart shaped locket with strands of prince albert s hair worn after his passing and a sapphire and diamond diadem.

Despite their unique proposal prince albert still gave queen victoria a gorgeous engagement ring. Queen victoria 24 may 1819 22 january 1901 had a rather unusual engagement ring by today s standards though the serpent was an ancient roman symbol for everlasting love and so called ouroboros rings were very popular in the victorian era. Known as the victorian era her reign of 63 years and seven months was longer than that of any of her predecessors it was a period of industrial cultural. The victorian era brought snake jewellery into the limelight after prince albert proposed to queen victoria with a ring in the image of a snake featuring an emerald set head.

Queen victoria s engagement ring by today s standards had a unique and somewhat curious design a serpent.