E
very year, the new moon between January 21 and February 20 marks the first day of Chinese New Year. Also known as the Lunar New Year, the time is a 15-day celebration of new beginnings, fresh starts and making way for luck in the coming year. According to the Chinese zodiac, each year is represented by one of 12 symbols, all of which embody a variety of attributes. This year is the Year of the Snake and according to Chinese mythology, snakes are associated with characteristics such as intuition and charm, and for those who embrace the holiday, which starts on January 29 this year, a Year of the Snake means a year of adaptability and renewal.
Header image features Selim Mouzannar
Whatever the reasons snakes slither into our psyche, they are a popular theme in exquisite jewelry creations.
LALAoUNIS
Image courtesy of Helena Rose
The symbolism of snakes extends well beyond Chinese culture; snakes have figured prominently throughout history, mythology and a variety of religious ethos. Often associated with rebirth and transformation, like a snake shedding its skin, summoning the aid of a snake talisman we can all be transformed in our own ways. There are also nuances in the ways in which snakes are depicted, with one eating its tail symbolizing eternity and the cycle of life, a coiled snake representing the potential for enlightenment, or the widely held belief across multiple cultures of the snake as a symbol of fertility.
Image courtesy of MISANI
Whatever the reasons snakes slither into our psyche, they are a popular theme in exquisite jewelry creations. In honor of The Year of the Snake, we wanted to highlight some iterations of snake jewelry as interpreted by COUTURE’s talented designers and brands. Whether a playful evocation of the childhood game of snakes and ladders that serves as a reminder to be resilient, as seen in the pendant from Retrouvaí, or the seemingly natural placement of marquis-shaped diamonds as dual heads of a snake showcased by Etho Maria, the pieces highlighted here can be powerful symbols to any individual lucky enough to wear them. And for anyone celebrating the New Year, may we say 万事如意 (wàn shì rú yì)!
Image courtesy of Moritz Glik
Image courtesy of John Apel
Image courtesy of Jacquie Aiche
Image courtesy of Lydia Clourteille
Image courtesy of LORD Jewelry
Image courtesy of Harwell Godfrey
Image courtesy of CICADA
Image courtesy of Castro Smith
Image courtesy of Victor Velyan
Image courtesy of Oscar Heyman
Image courtesy of LALAoUNIS
Image courtesy of Etho Maria
Image courtesy of Fred Leighton
Image courtesy of For Future Reference Vintage
Image courtesy of Tanya Farah
Image courtesy of Sophia D
Image courtesy of Yvonne Léon
Image courtesy of Bea Bongiasca
Image courtesy of Retrouvaí
Image courtesy of AZLEE
Image courtesy of Anita Ko
Image courtesy of Rainbow K
Image courtesy of Temple St. Clair
Image courtesy of ArunAshi
Image courtesy of Giovanni Ferraris
Image courtesy of YEPREM
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