A pair of snakes hold aloft a small emerald cut Medusa in a profile reminiscent of a traditional 'engagement' ring. This smaller size makes this offering ideal for everyday wear.

Made popular again by Queen Victoria by way of her own serpentine engagement ring gifted to her by Prince Albert in 1839- snake jewelry saw a rise in popularity. Considered to be a Romantic Period due to the famed romance between to two royals, snakes took on the symbol of everlasting / eternal love ( & life ) when in the form of the Ouroboros ( see the Medusa Ouroboros band here ) as well as considered to be guardian spirits - akin to the proximity of Medusa here. 

Medusa:

Ancient Medusa lived a solitary, lonely life in a subterranean cave. Her ‘otherness’ was the nest of snakes atop her head: in earlier iterations, she was monstrously grotesque, but as time passed her features gave way to a stunning beauty beneath the hands of the artists who reimagined her.

This re-visioning marked her as one of the first ‘Femme Fatales’ of the cultural consciousness – a creature possessing the beauty of a woman and all the power that physical beauty bestows (seduction, sexual prowess) but also terrifying in her deeper powers of death. She embodies the tension between beauty and terror: one look from Medusa turned anything living into stone, though no women were recorded in Myth to have befallen this fate.

Separated from the body, the head of Medusa took on apotropaic qualities, appearing at the entryway of structures and homes to ward off evil and trespassers. In this way, the head of Medusa took on a protectionary quality, frightening away energies and people intent on harm, contradicting the murderous qualities she possessed when fully embodied. Beheaded by Perseus as a trophy, even her blood held potent magical qualities: Pegasus was born from her severed neck and coral is said to be the hardened blood of the Medusa. Set in fine metal, coral also became apotropaic, often worn on the necks of children that extended past ancient times.

Akin to the lightning bolt of destruction in The Tower, Medusa embodies this energy with her death gaze. Wearing these talismans brings this duality of nature to their wearer: her head as a symbol, became a protectionary talisman, while in life, she was a force of destruction; horror and death. The energy of both beauty and terror exists within us, much as the snake has the power of its deadly venom as well as the power to heal.  Beauty and Terror. Life and Death.

*Details*: 

- Sits almost 7mm off of the finger

- Solid sterling silver, oxidized to our favorite shade of gloomy grey, and hand finished to reveal the highlights beneath

- Set with a 5 x 7mm emerald cut moonstone

Moonstone: 

Moonstone is closely tied to the moon, with some cultures believing the stone is solidified moon rays, while others think of them as embodiments of the moon's tears. Acting as a kind of Psychic armor, it is thought to protect its wearer from not only dark nights, but dark times; it helps sooth grief, loss, and other emotional turbulence.

Moonstone is known for its powerful psychic abilities. Used to protect empaths & sensitives from absorbing other people's emotions, it is also is known to be used during meditation for connecting to ones inner selves. As a romantic stone, it is known to strengthen the bonds between lovers when given as gifts, especially during the full moon.

As they are entirely natural, earth made stones, color and clarity will vary from stone to stone. Moonstone often has a milky appearance and natural inclusions that appear as lines or inner 'cracks.’ The flash will contain shades of blue, violet or teal, and occasionally hints of gold.

These jewels are hand cut and therefore may have very slight differences in size and may have small signs of the carver's hands along the edges. These are not fabricated by a machine, they are made by hand and therefore aren't uniformly perfect. The photographs accurately portray the quality of the stones and the cuts. 

 ***IMPORTANT***

This jewel is handmade to order, just for you, with care and focus. Please allow approximately 6 - 8 weeks for creation before shipping.                   

Visit the Policy Page to make an educated and informed purchase HERE.

If you have further questions, we are always here to serve you in a kind and timely manner: via bloodmilkjewels@gmail.com