Piece of the Week: Ray Griffiths’ ‘Double Headed Snake’ Ring
Slither into spooky season with this scary snake ring that boasts two heads with tsavorite eyes.
Halloween costumes may only be worn for one day a year, but pieces like this scary “Double Headed Snake” ring can be adored year-round.
Instead of a tail, this snake dons a second head, each with its own set of glowing tsavorite eyes weighing a total of 0.14 carats.
Ray Griffiths, the designer behind the eponymous brand, created the ring in 18-karat yellow gold with a crownwork body, a trademark design of a grid-like pattern inspired by his early training in restoring vintage European jewelry.
Snake motifs have been around since ancient Egypt and remain in fashion with the motif popular in current jewelry trends, but Griffiths was inspired by a piece from the 1800s.
“I was reading about Queen Victoria and love that Prince Albert gave her a snake ring as an engagement ring,” explained Griffiths.
“So that piqued my interest and got the creative juices flowing, so I started looking at photographs of snakes, and loved the movement and shape of them when they attacked. It then dawned on me that crownwork looks like snakeskin, and I went from there.”
Despite snakes being a spooky animal perfect for Halloween, they were not always seen as something scary. When used in jewelry, they were a symbol of everlasting love, representing strength, growth, and fertility.
The Double Headed Snake ring retails for $3,575 on the Ray Griffiths website.
The ring is also available with ruby, sapphire, or black or white diamond eyes.
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