Black Diamond & Emerald Snake Earrings – 18k White Gold

18k white gold · black diamonds, 1.56 ct total weight · 4 emeralds, 0.02 ct total

The snake is one of the oldest motifs in jewelry, a symbol of renewal and protection from ancient Rome to Victorian England, where Prince Albert proposed to Queen Victoria with a serpent ring set with an emerald. These earrings keep that pairing.

The body is fully set with black diamonds, 1.56 carats in total. Black diamonds absorb light rather than returning it, so a pavé of them reads as a smooth, glossy surface instead of sparkle, which looks especially sharp against white gold. Four tiny emeralds, 0.02 carats together, add the flash of green. They are made for pierced ears and close with a secure latch back.