The snake: symbolism and representations in jewelry

Chinese New Year or Lunisolar New Year also known as Spring Festival Or Tet Festival in Vietnam, which celebrates the arrival of a new lunar cycle. Its origins date back more than 4,000 years, making this celebration one of the oldest Asian traditions. This year 2025, we will enter the year of the Wood Snake, succeeding the Wood Dragon. The celebrations will begin on Wednesday January 29, 2025 and will continue until February 16, 2026, ending with the traditional Lantern Festival THE February 12, 2025.

The year 2025 under the sign of the Wood Snake

Indeed, itEach year is associated with a specific animal and element in the Chinese zodiac. The Snake represents wisdom, maturity, communication and seduction on the side of its qualities, while it symbolizes distrust, selfishness and manipulation for its faults.

Associated with the element of Wood, the Snake would strengthen relational qualities and the ability to build bridges between individuals. As a result, the year 2025 promises to be rich in emotions, opportunities and developments.

Stories: Symbolism of the snake in jewelry

The snake is an animal that can be represented in different ways, whether articulated or rigid, enameled or set with precious stones. It is often associated with seduction and the biblical story of Eve who succumbs to temptation. However, it can also symbolize danger, like the asp that Cleopatra uses to commit suicide. The snake is present in many mythologies, religions and superstitions, and its image arouses ambivalent feelings.

The snake had a strong symbolism in Greco-Roman culture where its shedding is seen as a renewal and is associated with the god of medicine Asclepius. Jewelry with its image was very popular in Antiquity, worn both by women who were sometimes considered prostitutes, and by men who took it to war.

Then, in the 19th century, romanticism brought the snake back into fashion, particularly thanks to the image of the ouroboros which symbolizes eternity. This jewel has a very intense sentimental meaning. Its coiled and textured pattern makes it a symbol of life, love and renewal. 

During the 21st century, the snake ring has enjoyed great success with major jewelry houses such as Boucheron, Bulgari, Fabergé and de Grisogono, who appreciates it for its ergonomic shape to create unique pieces.

The snake, a totem animal of the great jewelry houses

Boucheron 

The collection Serpent Bohème, launched in 1968, has become an icon of the maison. It is distinguished by its teardrop-shaped motif, symbolizing the head of the snake, often adorned with diamonds or colored gemstones. The finely carved gold evokes the scales of the snake, testifying to the artisanal know-how of Boucheron.

Bulgari 

The collection Serpenti, celebrating its 75th anniversary, is one

and one of the most emblematic of the maison Italian. It offers jewelry and watches with sinuous and enveloping lines, capturing the essence of the snake through innovative designs and exceptional craftsmanship.

Fabergé 

There maison Russian is renowned for its snake-inspired designs, including the "Blue Serpent Clock Egg" by 1895, which incorporates a serpent coiled around the egg, symbolizing wisdom and eternity.

De Grisogono 

There Maison Swiss De Grisogono is inspired by the snake to create rings with angular shapes, surrounding the finger. Among them, we find enameled rings and diamond-paved ones.

These collections illustrate the timeless and paradoxical appeal of the serpent motif in jewelry, both alluring and dangerous, symbolizing transformation, wisdom and elegance that continues to fascinate today.

branded or vintage, 58 Facettes offers you a large number of choices of snake jewelry, enough to satisfy your desires. You can also find our “bestiary” on our selection which highlights all the jewelry animals.

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The iconic Serpent Bohème of Boucheron
The collection Serpenti of Bulgari