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Serpentine Jewelry for the Year of the Snake

Sssss...the year of the snake is almost here. The Lunar New Year, which is celebrated by billions of people around the world, begins Jan. 29, with the slitheriest reptile taking center stage for the remainder of 2025. 

Unlike the rat or the ox, the snake is a time-honored motif in jewelry, making it easy to toast the Lunar New Year while investing in a gorgeous accessory that has zero chance of going out of style—like, ever. Yes, the snake has been a motif in fine jewelry for thousands of years. The Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks used snakes in their jewelry to symbolize everything from healing to personal protection; the Egyptians even created the ouroboros symbol that shows a snake eating its own tail, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life. In Victorian England and Ancient Rome, snakes were a symbol of eternal love, and for Egypt's pharaohs, serpents represented royalty and various deities. 

Bulgari's Iconic Serpenti pieces are perhaps most synonymous with snakes in jewelry. But a slew of modern brands use serpents to add edge (and antiquity feels) to their collections. Here are a handful of auspicious-feeling styles to consider this year.

 

Snake Shakti Ellenwood pendant

Shakti Ellenwood 18k Fairmined gold, diamond, and ruby Rainbow Serpent Mini Amulet, £3,427 (around $4,172)

 

Snake ring Holly Dyment

Holly Dyment 18k yellow gold, enamel, diamond, and ruby Skull & Snake Enamel ring at Tiny Gods, $7,830

 

Snake earring Oak and Luna

Oak and Luna 18k gold Snake earring, $450

 

Bulgavi Serpenti ring

Bulgari Serpenti 18k white gold and diamond Viper Ring, $4,100

Snake ring Ray Griffiths

Ray Griffiths 18k yellow gold and tsavorite Double-Headed Snake Ring, $3,950

Snake Meija earrings

Mejia 14 gold Slithering Snake earrings, $1,695

 

Snake Retrouvai pendant

Retrouvai 14k gold and diamond Mini Vitality Pendant on 18" Drop Loop Chain, $1,920

Snake pendant Temple St Clair

Temple St. Clair 18k gold and rock crystal small Serpent Amulet pendant, $4,500

 
Snake stud The Fete

The Fete gold vermeil and ruby Snake stud earring, $110

 

Snake Elsa Peretti ring

Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti 18k gold Snake ring, $2,550 (not new but a true snake-jewelry classic!)

 

All images courtesy of brands listed

 

 

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