Slither into a world of mystical elegance with this Sterling Silver Snake Necklace. Adorned with striking black onyx and vibrant green malachite inlay, this eye-catching piece is more than just a necklace—it's a statement. The clever design allows the snake's head and face to hinge, resting gracefully on the collarbone for an unparalleled dramatic effect.
- Features black onyx and green malachite inlay skillfully integrated into the design
- Size: Designed to sit perfectly on the collarbone. The Necklace band is about 0.2" wide
- Material: High-quality Sterling Silver
- Uniquely hinged snake head and face on the front
- Made in the USA
Beauty isn't perfect, it's authentic. This piece is artistically created by hand where beauty and imperfections go together wonderfully. Please accept and appreciate minor imperfections and variations which are true characteristics of this craft.
design: A sculptural sterling silver snake wraps the collar, its hinged head and face resting forward at the collarbone while black onyx and green malachite inlay band the length of the body.
size: Necklace band is about 0.2" wide; designed to sit at the collarbone. Full chain length not specified.
material: Sterling silver with black onyx and malachite stone inlay.
features: Hinged, articulated snake head and face, black onyx and green malachite inlay bands, collarbone-hugging silhouette, high-polish sterling silver finish
care: Wipe with a soft silver polishing cloth after wear and store in a dry, airtight pouch to keep the silver from tarnishing and the stone inlay from dulling.
disclaimer: As a handmade piece with natural stone inlay, slight variations in the onyx and malachite pattern and in the silver's finish are normal and part of its character.
The Story
The snake is one of the oldest and most widely used forms in adornment, appearing across centuries of jewelry design because its long, sinuous body lends itself naturally to pieces that wrap the body rather than simply hang from it. Here the form is engineered rather than cast in one static shape: the head is hinged so it swings and settles at the collarbone the way a real snake's head would drop when coiled, giving the piece movement instead of a fixed pose.
The black onyx and green malachite inlay bands break up the silver's length the way scale patterning breaks up a snake's body, and the contrast of deep black against vibrant green gives the coil a graphic read rather than a literal one. Made in the USA, this piece draws on that long tradition of serpent-form jewelry as a design language of shape and structure, not tied to any single region's iconography.
A piece like this starts with the silver body worked and shaped into its curved, tapering form, then cut to house the onyx and malachite so each stone sits flush and level with the metal around it rather than raised or loose. The hinge at the neck is the trickiest part to get right: built tight enough to hold the head's position without flopping, yet free enough to pivot smoothly onto the collarbone every time it's worn. The finished piece is polished by hand to bring up the shine on the silver while leaving the stone inlay with its own natural matte finish for contrast.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: United States
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a bold, architectural statement necklace with real mechanical engineering behind it, not just a pendant on a chain.
- Wear It With: Let it sit over an open collar or crew neckline so the hinged head and inlay bands stay visible rather than tucked under fabric.
- Purpose: Statement necklace, evening wear, gifting
- Gemstone: Black Onyx, Malachite
- Metal: Sterling Silver
Black onyx has long been favored in jewelry for its deep, uniform black polish, historically used in signet rings, mourning jewelry, and carved intaglios because it takes such a smooth, glass-like finish. Malachite is prized for the opposite reason: no two pieces cut from it look alike, since its banded, swirling green pattern is a product of the mineral's natural growth rings. Together they give this piece a graphic push-and-pull between solid black and patterned green along the snake's length.
Questions & Answers
How does the hinge on the snake's head work?
The head and face are built on a hinge, so instead of sitting rigidly in one spot, the piece pivots and settles naturally at your collarbone each time you put it on.
Will this necklace fit any neckline?
It's designed to rest at the collarbone, so it reads best with an open collar, crew neck, or a button-down left slightly undone, rather than a high or turtleneck style.
Is the stone inlay real onyx and malachite?
Yes, the black and green bands are genuine black onyx and malachite set into the sterling silver body, so expect natural variation in the malachite's pattern from piece to piece.
How do I keep the silver from tarnishing?
Store it in a dry pouch away from air and moisture, and give it a wipe with a soft silver polishing cloth after wear to keep both the metal and the stone inlay looking sharp.
Where is this necklace made?
It's made in the USA.
