When looking at old pictures of royalty there is one thing that catches everyone’s eye… the jewels that glisten under the candlelight and certify their position of importance and wealth. However, when we dig a little deeper we can discover the smaller, less dazzling pieces perhaps hold some of the greatest significance.
One piece that I am particularly interested in is Queen Victoria’s engagement ring, which – like many pieces of jewellery owned by Victoria – was designed by her beloved husband, Prince Albert.
Having ascended the throne in June 1837 at the age of eighteen, it was expected that Queen Victoria should be the one to propose to her future husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Following the Queen’s proposal on 15th October 1839, Prince Albert resumed tradition and presented Victoria with an elaborate engagement ring in the form of a serpent and decorated with several precious stones.
Like all pieces designed by Albert, Queen Victoria’s engagement ring was packed with symbolism. Made out of 18-carat-gold, the serpent design was particularly poignant, with ancient meanings of eternal love, transformation, and protection. Unfortunately there is no official record and no clear photograph showing the full design of the ring, however, it is strongly believed that the head of the serpent was decorated with two rubies as eyes, four diamonds as a mouth and a fifth, larger one on the back of the head. At the centre of all the jewels was an emerald, the Queen’s own birthstone, which featured in many pieces in her collection. Each of there precious gems were common symbols of love, protection, wealth and wisdom.
When Victoria passed away in 1901, her body was decorated with with her most special pieces of jewellery before being buried beside Albert in the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, Windsor. As there is no record of the engagement ring after this time, it is strongly believed that it is part of the lost collection that remains with the Queen.
Like many royal jewels, Queen Victoria’s engagement ring has been reimagined and replicated many times throughout the years. Recently I was contacted by the team at Ether Jewellery offering to send me some pieces from their Queen Victoria inspired collection, which is available in both gold and silver. As I already have a gold replica of Victoria’s engagement ring in my collection (a gift on my 21st birthday), I opted for silver so I can wear the pieces daily. Along with the replica of Victoria’s serpent ring, the Ether team also kindly sent me one of their Edwardian Three Stone Rings, which perfectly compliments the replica.
As expected, the rings were beautifully packaged and the quality of the jewellery is impeccable. From the moment I got them out of their packaging, I instantly fell in love with the timelessness of each design.
An independent, female founded company, Ether Jewellery has succeeded in their mission to make historic jewellery affordable and sustainable as each piece is ‘crafted using recycled sterling silver and thoughtfully selected materials’. On top of this, a portion of every Ether order is donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organisation that protects historic sites and artefacts. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend having a look through their shop to discover their wonderful range of historically inspired jewellery. Discover more on the Ether Jewellery website!
© Queen.Victoria.Roses 2026
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I never saw Queen Victoria’s engagement ring. It is lovely! Thank you for the link to the Ether Jewellery website.