Antique Edwardian Rattlesnake Ring in Platinum

An unusual platinum, diamond, ruby and emerald rattlesnake ring from the Edwardian period. A powerful rattlesnake coils tightly around the finger, with a characterful head grain set with a 0.80ct trilliant cut diamond. Expertly calibre cut emeralds have been used to define the individual markings of this serpent, whilst two glowing cabochon rubies mark the watchful eyes. Superb craftsmanship can be seen in the individually pierced diamond set scales that have been defined with millegrain edging. A delicate gallery showcases prominent scrollwork patterns, whilst the underside has a richly pierced pattern. The serpent has been seen in jewellery for thousands of years and has represented many things, including good, evil, rebirth, poison, fertility and death. Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819-1861) presented Queen Victoria with a serpent shaped engagement ring in 1839, which brought serpent formed jewellery back into fashion and saw pieces viewed as symbols of eternal love. This sentiment was carried through into the Edwardian era with the beautiful and stylish Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), who dictated styles and tastes during her short reign. She was often seen wearing an iconic snake bangle, which has been captured in many of the portraits painted of her. This characterful snake brings to mind the character of Kaa, who featured in the Jungle Book that was written by Rudyard Kipling and first published in 1894. Check Specifications for ring size details. If you require information about the resizing options available on this ring, please enquire for details.