Victorian Ouroboros Snake Bracelet

A superb early Victorian flexible snake bracelet, c.1840, finely crafted in 15K gold and set with Persian turquoise, rubies, and rose-cut diamonds. The heavy gold bracelet takes the form of a coiled serpent consuming its own tail; a potent ancient symbol of eternity known as the ouroboros.

Serpent jewellery experienced a dramatic revival in the 1830s–40s following Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne. She famously received a snake engagement ring from Prince Albert, and wore snake bangles to her first Privy Council meeting in 1837. The motif, drawn from classical antiquity, was now reimagined as a token of eternal love and protection.

This bracelet is among the finest of its type that we have come across. The serpent’s head is pavé-set with vibrant, graduated Persian turquoise cabochons in a luminous robin’s egg blue, its ruby eyes gleaming beneath arched gold eyebrows. The tail encircles a second large turquoise cabochon, bordered by a fine line of rose-cut diamonds, forming the ‘egg’ it consumes. Together, the head and tail form the clasp: a highly inventive mechanism in which the forked tongue is pressed to release the catch.

The flexible body consists of hand-engraved scale links, each individually articulated and chased to resemble reptilian texture. The back of the tongue bears a French control mark (ET), indicating it was made outside France for the French market — most likely in England, consistent with other 15K gold jewels of this period.

Measurements:

In excellent condition despite its significant age with original safety chain intact. A rare and symbolic jewel at the height of early Victorian serpent mania.