• Shinar Jewels Arsinoe Necklace in 18ct gold plated stainless steel, featuring an elegant pendant inspired by classical Hellenistic jewellery and royal portraiture.
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Arsinoe Necklace

Arsinoe Necklace

£48.00 GBP
£48.00 GBP
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A queen remembered in gold.

Created exclusively for the British Museum, the Arsinoe Necklace reimagines the ancient gold coin portrait of Ptolemaic queen Arsinoe II as a contemporary golden jewel.

DETAILS

HISTORICAL INSPIRATION

The Arsinoe Necklace takes inspiration from the magnificent gold coinage bearing the portrait of Arsinoe II, queen of Ptolemaic Egypt and one of the most recognisable royal women of the Hellenistic world. Her veiled profile appeared upon spectacular gold coins issued by the Ptolemaic dynasty, transforming the queen's image into an enduring symbol of royal identity. Created exclusively for the British Museum's Luxury and power: Persia to Greece exhibition, Shinar's necklace reimagines this ancient coin portrait as a contemporary golden jewel.

MATERIAL

18ct gold plated stainless steel

CHAIN LENGTH

Adjustable to 16", 18" or 20" (40.6 cm, 45.7 cm or 50.8 cm)

CARE

To keep your jewellery looking its best, gently wipe with a soft cloth after wear and store separately when not in use.

Avoid abrasive cleaners, polishing compounds and anything that may scratch or unnecessarily wear the plated surface.

DELIVERY & RETURNS

Your Shinar jewellery will arrive carefully packaged and ready to give — or to keep.

UK and international delivery options, costs and estimated delivery times are shown at checkout.

Eligible unworn jewellery may be returned in accordance with our Returns Policy.

OUR GUARANTEE

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THE STORY

The Golden Portrait of Arsinoe

More than two thousand years ago, the profile of a queen was struck into gold.

Arsinoe II lived during an extraordinary period following the conquests of Alexander the Great, when new kingdoms emerged across the eastern Mediterranean and the ancient Near East.

A member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, Arsinoe became one of the most prominent royal women of the Hellenistic world. Her image endured particularly powerfully through coinage.

Magnificent gold coins depicted Arsinoe in profile, veiled and idealised according to the visual language of Hellenistic royalty. Her portrait continued to appear on precious coinage after her lifetime, ensuring that her image circulated far beyond the royal court.

One such extraordinary survivor is a gold oktadrachm dating to approximately 261–246 BCE, now preserved at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. On one side appears the veiled head of Arsinoe II; on the other, a double cornucopia.

It is this remarkable tradition of royal portraiture that inspired the Arsinoe Necklace.

Created exclusively for the British Museum's Luxury and power: Persia to Greece exhibition, the necklace takes the ancient profile portrait and transforms it into a jewel for the present.

Suspended beneath a sweeping golden arc, Arsinoe's profile becomes the centre of a contemporary composition — an image once struck into the precious coinage of the Hellenistic world, now worn once again in gold.

A queen remembered in gold for more than two thousand years.

WEAR THE PAST.
The Golden Portrait of Arsinoe
ARCHIVE NOTE
GOLD OKTADRACHM OF PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHOS
Portrait of Arsinoe II · Greek, Ptolemaic · c. 261–246 BCE · Gold
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · 30.115.23 · Public Domain
DESIGNED FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

MADE FOR THE AGES

THE SHINAR STANDARD

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DURABLE STAINLESS STEEL

Made from hard-wearing stainless steel, chosen for strength and durability.

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18CT GOLD PLATED

Finished in our rich 18ct gold for the warmth and character of fine gold jewellery.

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WATERPROOF

Designed to go wherever you do — waterproof for everyday wear, from the shower to the pool and sea.

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SHINAR GUARANTEE

Designed for lasting wear and supported by the Shinar Jewels guarantee.

ANCIENT INSPIRATION · MODERN MATERIALS · MADE FOR THE AGES