Gothic Snake Wrapped Cross Pendant — .925 Sterling Silver
SKU: 1189
Two different textures on one pendant. The cross face is stippled — rough, grainy, almost sandblasted — while the serpent coiled around it is polished smooth with individually carved scales darkened in the recesses. At 40 × 68mm and 17 grams of solid .925 sterling silver, this gothic snake cross pendant is large enough to read from across a table and heavy enough to swing when you lean forward.
Best Suited For
If you're drawn to symbols with layered meaning — Snake and cross together carry centuries of interpretation. Moses' bronze serpent. The Rod of Asclepius. Pagan rebirth imagery. This pendant holds all those readings at once, and the weathered texture on the cross makes it look excavated rather than new.
If you want a pendant that doesn't disappear under a shirt — 68mm tall. It sits well below the collarbone and has enough weight to hang straight rather than drift sideways. Best paired with a 2mm–4mm chain in matching sterling silver.
If you collect gothic jewelry and already own the skulls — The serpent-on-cross motif is a different lane entirely. The snake's head sits at the center where the cross arms meet, and the body wraps around each arm with visible scale texture. It adds range to a gothic collection without repeating skull motifs.
What Wearing It Actually Feels Like
The dual finish is what makes this pendant work visually. The stippled cross absorbs light — it looks dark, ancient, matte. The polished snake reflects it. That contrast means the serpent almost glows against the cross in overhead lighting. In dim settings, the snake seems to emerge from shadow.
The flared cross arms give it a gothic silhouette rather than a traditional Latin shape. Each arm is wide enough that the snake body wraps around it individually, with visible coils. The serpent head sits right at the intersection — mouth slightly open, facing upward.
They age differently. The polished snake surfaces develop patina faster because skin oils and air hit smooth surfaces harder than textured ones. The stippled cross holds its look longer — oxidation sits naturally in the rough grain. A dry silver cloth restores the contrast in about a minute.
Heads up: At 40 × 68mm, this pendant swings visibly when you lean forward or bend down. If you work a physical job, tuck it inside your shirt or it'll catch on things.
The Details That Matter
What People Want to Know
Q: Is the snake-on-cross motif Christian or pagan?
Both — and neither exclusively. The motif appears in Christian scripture (Numbers 21:8, Moses' bronze serpent), Greek medicine (Rod of Asclepius), and pagan rebirth symbolism. Most people who wear it appreciate the tension between those readings.
Q: What chain thickness works with a 17-gram pendant?
2mm to 4mm. Curb chains and rope chains distribute the weight best. Anything thinner than 2mm will sag at the bail and look off-balance. Sterling silver chain keeps the tone consistent.
Q: Will the two finishes age at different rates?
Yes. The polished snake tarnishes faster because smooth surfaces react to skin oils and air more than textured ones. The stippled cross holds its look longer. A dry polishing cloth evens things out quickly — about a minute of work.
The Numbers
You Might Also Want
Same cross motif wrapped in chains instead of a serpent — the chain wrapped gothic cross pendant is a darker, more industrial take on the same silhouette.
If you want the cross motif in a different cultural tradition, the Celtic cross biker pendant swaps the gothic texture for knotwork patterns.
Browse more sterling silver designs in the cross pendant collection.
For darker, heavier statement pieces, explore the full gothic pendant collection.