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Garrick Jewelers Highlights the Misidentified Spinel in British Crown Jewels August 26, 2024 (0 comments)
Hanover, PA--Garrick Jewelers recently shed light on the history of spinel, a gemstone often misidentified as ruby.
[Image via Garrick Jewelers/Facebook]
The jeweler stated on Facebook that a notable example is the Timur Ruby, a 352.5-carat gemstone in the British Crown Jewels. Initially thought to be a ruby, it was reclassified as spinel in 1851 during the Great Exhibition in London.
The gemstone is believed to have been acquired by Timur during his 1398 invasion of Delhi, though this account is debated. The spinel became part of the Mughal Empire and was passed down through emperors Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb, who inscribed their names on the stone.
After being taken by Persian ruler Nader Shah, the spinel returned to India and became part of the Sikh Empire's treasury under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In 1849, following the British annexation of Punjab, it was seized and later presented to Queen Victoria.
In 1853, the crown jeweler Garrard set the Timur Ruby into a necklace. This spinel remains a significant piece of the British Crown Jewels, notable for its complex history and frequent misidentification.
See the Facebook post here.