• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT

Jewel of the Month: Queen of Scots Snake Ring

June 7, 2017 by WendyB

June’s Jewel of the Month is my Queen of Scots snake ring …

Click to see on my website.

… and if you don’t know why I associate Mary Queen of Scots with a snake, watch my new YouTube video to find out.

I figured it was time to do a jewelry video after four weeks of talking about vintage clothes. My poor Queen of Scots ring! I didn’t realize I’d forgotten to give her a Jewel of the Month post until I did the photo shoot for last week’s video about designer Ossie Clark, which mentioned Ossie’s use of snakeskin.

New snake ring with vintage snakeskin jacket. Click to enlarge.

My neglect doesn’t indicate a lack of love for this ring. It’s the opposite! I’ve spent so much time looking at this ring and talking about it and taking it everywhere I go that I couldn’t believe I didn’t already blog about it. I sure had a fun time showing it off at the Metal & Smith jewelry show in January, where several attendees photographed it.

A snake ring fit for a warrior queen! By @wendybrandesjewelry. . . . . . . . . . . . . #diamondsinthelibrary #snakering #WendyBrandes #rings #snakesofinstagram

A post shared by Becky Stone ? (@diamondsinthelibrary) on Jan 31, 2017 at 3:02pm PST

This is one of my pieces that you have to feel to believe, because I used nearly a full ounce of 18K yellow gold to make it, before sprinkling it with diamonds.

One look in his marquise diamond eyes and I was smitten! Brand new by the incomparable @wendybrandesjewelry

A post shared by Cheryl Kremkow (@kremkow) on Jan 17, 2017 at 11:31am PST

The funny thing is that I moved this long-planned design (I mean, I wanted to make it for 10 years!) to the top of my to-do list because so many jewelry peeps I know wear (relatively) petite, vintage snake rings. My gorgeous friend Alyssa Brownell has an impressive collection of those, including ones that are for sale.

A new snake-babe has join this #snakesquad (bottom middle finger) and I couldn't be happier. Per the 'uge, I want him all for my own, but he must find a forever home. 14K pinkish gold pendant conversion ring with handmade 14K yellow gold band. Size 6.75. Garnet cabochon eyes and a wicked tail curl, to boot! All of these rings are up for grabs except the middle pointer. Lemme know if you like one (or two), we can strike up a deal?. #hintingseason #snakejewelrygoals #youknowyouneedprotectionfromthatdrunkuncleagainrealsoon

A post shared by Alyssa Brownell (@thejewelryaltar) on Dec 2, 2015 at 10:01am PST

I thought, “I’ll do my own little snake ring. Streamlined. Easy.” I shared a photo of my first wax model last year. There was room on its head for a triangular diamond.

Click for original post.

As you can see, the wax was fairly large, because I do like a statement ring, but the design was — as planned — streamlined and easy.

I looked at that and was like, “Nah, that’s not me. I’ve got to do it my way. The Queen of Scots way.” I believe I did two more waxes before I was satisfied. And here’s the final result on Alyssa Brownell’s hand. Look at this and then scroll up and look at her vintage snakes.

The newest jewel from my friend @wendybrandesjewelry is of my most favorite subject matter, A Snake! This hand carved magnificent beast has the most buttery gold satin finish diamond speckled scales and marvelous marquise diamond eyes. But the details that really get me are his arched nostrils and four sharpened fangs. #jewelrywithaface has never looked or felt better! Brava babes! Seen @metalandsmith

A post shared by Alyssa Brownell (@thejewelryaltar) on Jan 17, 2017 at 12:28pm PST

“Big and complicated” is my style and I’m sticking to it.

I’m not going to let another decade pass before I debut the next Queen of Scots snake design. The person who inspired me to work on that right away was — guess who? — Alyssa Brownell. She’s wearing it for a very special event next month. When Alyssa reads this post, she’s going to be like …

via GIPHY

Sorry not sorry, Alyssa!

I first blogged about Mary Queen of Scots and her cousin/killer Elizabeth I in 2007. That post includes some fun anecdotes about the two queens that didn’t make it into today’s video, so after you’ve watched the vlog, you can supplement your queenly knowledge by reading the old post.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss next Wednesday’s video!

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE.

You might also like
"I Gave It All to Your Cousin Josephine!"
Kanye West, Azealia Banks & a New Year's Resolution
Miley Cyrus Needs an Engagement Ring Redesign

Filed Under: gold, History, jewel of the month, Jewelry, my designs, queens, rings, video Tagged With: jewelry vlog, snake jewelry, snake rings

Previous Post: « Music and Beauty
Next Post: Throwback Thursday: Supermodels on the Runway »

Primary Sidebar

MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ARCHIVES

CATEGORIES

Facebook Pagelike Widget

POPULAR TOPICS

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe for Email updates.
* indicates required

Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

© 2016 · FOODIE PRO THEME COPYRIGHT BY · SHAY BOCKS GENESIS FRAMEWORK · BUILT ON THE WORDPRESS