Victorian 18ct Gold Double Snake Ring set with a Pear Shaped Ruby & Rose Diamond

A well modelled 18ct gold double snake ring that was made circa 1880-1900. It is set with a pear shaped ruby and a rose cut diamond in each snake’s head. The snakes also have rose diamond set eyes. Many examples of Victorian snake rings feature two snakes intertwined, suggesting that these pieces were intended as tokens of love and affection. This style would be worn by both men and women. Snakes featured heavily in the myths of ancient Greece and Rome. They were reviled for their ability to shed their skin, meaning that they were seen as a symbol of regeneration and rebirth. This association with regeneration and fertility suggests links to the Victorian connotations between snakes and eternal love. Furthermore, the common representation of the snake being the ouroboros (meaning a circular depiction of a snake swallowing its own tail) acts as a symbol of eternity.