The Princess of Wales, later Queen Alexandra, owned an extraordinary articulated serpent bracelet set with diamonds and a black pearl. One of her signature jewels, it was frequently worn throughout her lifetime.
Serpent jewellery held a special significance in the Victorian era. Far from being regarded simply as a symbol of danger or temptation, the snake represented eternal love, devotion, protection and renewal. Its symbolism drew upon ancient mythology, in which the serpent was associated with wisdom, healing, rebirth and immortality. The shedding of its skin suggested regeneration, while a serpent forming a circle and biting its own tail, known as the ouroboros, symbolised eternity and the endless cycle of life.
In nineteenth-century jewellery, serpents became particularly fashionable as tokens of love and fidelity. Their sinuous bodies were ideally suited to bracelets, rings and necklaces, often embellished with precious gemstones. Queen Victoria helped popularise the fashion when Prince Albert presented her with a serpent-shaped engagement ring in 1839, traditionally described as having an emerald-set head.
For Victorian women, a serpent jewel could therefore convey a deeply personal message of enduring affection, attachment and protection. Queen Alexandra’s diamond and black pearl bracelet belongs to this fascinating tradition of symbolic jewellery, although its precise personal significance to the Queen remains undocumented.
The bracelet will be displayed in the exhibition Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes, at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, from 25 June 2027 to 19 March 2028
Sources:Archive Ursula Butschal © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited
2026 | Royal Collection Trust.
Queen Alexandras Wedding gifts:
more jewels :
Jewels of Queen Victorias daughters, granddaughters
and daughters-in-law
Queen Mary Jewels
