Victorians decorated their jewelry with an ultra-personal detail: human hair. Wearing a piece of a loved one was incredibly intimate. Hair, symbolizing remembrance and romance, was a revered material that survives well over time. The ouroboros motif—a snake eating its own tail—represented eternal love and rebirth. It was often adorned with turquoise and garnets, framing the real gem: the brown braided locks. Hair is both durable and flexible, though slightly coarse to the touch.
MATERIALS: 10k gold (tests), turquoise cabochons, garnet cabochons, hair
AGE: c. 1850
CONDITION: Very good
SIZE: 6 1/2" inner circumference, 1 7/8" safety chain, 1/4" width