Queen Camilla Dazzles in Red Velvet and a $400K Snake Necklace

According to diamond expert Maxwell Stone from U.K. jeweler Steven Stone, the piece comes from Van Cleef & Arpels and carries a hefty price tag (plus, a hefty helping of sentimental value).

Stone told us, "Queen Camilla wore her exquisite serpent necklace, a cherished family heirloom crafted by the renowned jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. Once belonging to her grandmother, the piece features a stunning coiled serpent design, encrusted with diamonds and boasting ruby-set eyes."

He continued, "One of Her Majesty’s most treasured pieces, its value is hard to pinpoint, but estimates suggest it could be worth around $400,000."

As for the symbolism of the snake itself, Stone says, "The serpent is a timeless symbol of transformation and immortality, constantly shedding its old skin to make way for renewal. Throughout history, members of the royal family have embraced the serpent motif in their jewelery. Queen Victoria, for example, famously wore a snake-shaped engagement ring, while Queen Alexandra was often seen adorned with a gold serpent bracelet."

Camilla is no stranger to a priceless (or pricey) piece of jewelry. She wore a $10,000 crown brooch back in mid-October, a $13,000 skull and crossbones brooch in early November and a $13 million tiara (yes, you read that correctly) just a week-and-a-half ago.

Seems like the queen subscribes to the motto "Go big or go home."

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