Story of The Timur Ruby
Posted by: angarainc on: July 14, 2009
One of the highlights of the collection Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the so-called Timur Ruby which was thought to be the largest known ruby till 1851, but was actually a magnificent spinel weighing 352.50 carats. It is inscribed with the names of several of the previous owners, who were Mughal emperors.It is not faceted, but retains its original baroque shape.
The longest inscription reads as follows :- “This is the ruby from among the 25,000 genuine jewels of the King of Kings, the Sultan Sahib Qiran (Timur), which in the year 1153 A.H. (1740 A.D.) from the collection of jewels of Hindustan, reached this place (Isfahan).
The names of the five emperors who owned the gemstone and got their names inscribed on it are as follows:-
1) Akbar Shah Jahangir Shah, 1612
2) Sahib Qiran Sani -Shah Jahaan, 1629
3) Alamgir Shah – Aurangzeb, 1660
4) Badshah Gazi Muhammad Farukh Siyar, 1713
5) Ahmad Shah, 1754.
Earlier there were not enough techniques to identify whether the Timur ruby was a ruby or not but with technology we were able to make out that it was actually a spinel. For instance ruby is a variety of corundum with hexagonal prisms while on the other hand spinel is not corundum and has cubic crystal system. The hardness of ruby is 9 while of spinel is 8.
Leave a Reply
SpecialOffer
Angara Special Offer
Emerald Jewelry
- Kate Hudson’s Gemstone Earrings Creating Hoopla!Kate Hudson’s creating ripples with her extravagant and colorful gemstone jewelry. Be it her earrings in simple hoops or those sensational, chic chandelier earrings. Those plush, rich-looking, boho- style turquoise cuffs or pearly studs. It’s all gleaming and sparkling masterpieces that she has treasured into her treasure chest. Lately, this ‘Bride Wars’ act […]
- Historic Emerald and Annenberg Diamond Displayed by ChristieThis particular massive lush green gemstone is named as The Taj Mahal Emerald. Obtained from Indian history, it was kept on display at a press preview of the occasion of Christie’s fall jewel sale on October 16, 2009 in New York City. This intricately carved gem belongs to the Mughal period, somewhere between 1630-1650. Definitely, [...]
- A Perfect Gift to a Daughter from a MotherRuby may be termed as king of gems; however, green colored emerald is sincerely different and fascinating than any other gem stone. It’s not me who gives this remarkable stone a reputation just like that! Moreover, it’s factual over the long haul that counts on this stone to such a deal. “For dear is the [...]
- Seven Reasons Why Emerald Are Still A Girl’s Best FriendEmeralds are not only beautiful but also significant. Their meaning along with their charm makes emeralds one of the most favored gemstones amongst women the world over. Read along to know what is it in emeralds that make them so coveted. 1. It is the lush green color of emerald that draws everybody to this [...]
Find Me Here
