{"id":869,"date":"2023-05-02T15:55:42","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T15:55:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/?p=869"},"modified":"2023-05-09T06:01:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T06:01:06","slug":"five-legendary-spinels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/five-legendary-spinels\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Legendary Spinels"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"869\" class=\"elementor elementor-869\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb5449f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"fb5449f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2d88f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e2d88f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b92cad7 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"b92cad7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f8f75c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9f8f75c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Five Legendary Spinels<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-029ec2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"029ec2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legend.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-877\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legend.jpg 870w, https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legend-600x138.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legend-300x69.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/legend-768x177.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d95dda9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d95dda9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>A popular clich\u00e9 declares, \u2018it is what it is\u2019. This simple assertion, once named the \u2018clich\u00e9 of the year\u2019, seems merely to state\u00a0the\u00a0obvious. In the case of the spinel, however, there\u2019s something seriously wrong with this small bit of conventional wisdom.<\/p><p>Five legendary Rubies. These are not what they are. They are, in fact, spinels. Many of these \u201cTitled Spinels\u201d as they are known, have fascinating histories that go back thousands of years. From the <b>Samarian Spinel <\/b>that supposedly adorned the Golden Calf of the Israelites in the Sinai Desert, to an engraved Moghul Dynasties chronicle in the case of the <b>Timur Ruby.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c85c574 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"c85c574\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29a5e53 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"29a5e53\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d784aea e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"d784aea\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-902b852 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"902b852\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"195\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/black_princess_2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-882\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b71df9 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"4b71df9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57001fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57001fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most famous stone of all is the legendary <b>Black Prince\u2019s Ruby<\/b>. Possibly one of the most illustrious gemstones in the entire world, this brilliant red spinel \u2013 which is the size of a chicken\u2019s egg \u2013 is set in the middle of the British Imperial State Crown, illuminating the piece with a splendid fiery glow.<\/p><p>This epic 170-carat spinel made its first appearance on the world stage in the mid-14th-century as the possession of one Abu Said, a Moorish prince in Granada. Unfortunately for Abu Said, Prince Peter of Castile &#8211; called Don Pedro the Cruel &#8211; had heard about the jewel and wanted it for himself. Don Pedro invited Abu Said to Castile, allegedly to discuss a peace treaty. Instead, Pedro killed Abu Said, and removed the stone from the dead man\u2019s clothing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d14d4ce e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"d14d4ce\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16f7bcb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"16f7bcb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea0787d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea0787d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Regrettably for Don Pedro, in 1366 he found himself in the middle of a civil war and needed help. He turned to England and Edward of Woodstock, son of Edward the III and known as \u201cThe Black Prince\u201d. Edward struck a hard bargain: he demanded the ruby in exchange for military aid. He took the stone back to England, and added it to the Crown Jewel collection. In 1415, King Henry V had the stone mounted on his war helmet, and wore it to the Battle of Agincourt \u2013 whether it was vanity or common sense, the jewel saved Henry\u2019s life. He was struck by an axe and, though wounded (and his helmet destroyed), the stone deflected the blow. Both Henry and the stone survived. There are tales of other English royalty wearing the Ruby into battle as well, however, they did not fare as well as Henry and died in combat.\u00a0In 1649, the Ruby disappeared. Some speculate that it had been sold \u2013 for a mere four pounds! &#8211; but in any case, it resurfaced about a decade later, as the Restoration was getting underway. The Ruby was mounted on the top of the Crown; when the Crown was re-designed for Queen Victoria\u2019s coronation in 1838, the Ruby \u2013 by now known to be a Spinel \u2013 was mounted at the front.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d35b8ca e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"d35b8ca\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8533a02 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"8533a02\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79e9f09 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"79e9f09\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e1113e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e1113e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"259\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/timur-259x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-883\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/timur-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/timur-600x694.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/timur.jpg 605w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 259px) 100vw, 259px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b025a1a e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"b025a1a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67340fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67340fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>The highly historic \u2013 and colossal &#8211; Timur Ruby<\/b> is a 352.50-carat spinel that is now the centerpiece of an opulent necklace in Queen Elizabeth\u2019s personal jewel collection. Also known as Khiraj-i-alam, or &#8216;Tribute to the World&#8217;, we first hear about this stone in the 14th century. Named for Tamerlane the Conqueror, who allegedly discovered the stone while capturing and looting Delhi, the Timur Ruby is engraved with names and dates of six Moghul emperors &#8211; not all of whom actually owned the stone. Emperor Jahangir said of his own inscription, \u201cThis jewel will more certainly hand down my name to posterity than any written history. The House of Timur may fall, but as long as there is a King, this jewel will be his.\u201d Another emperor, Farrukhsiyar, engraved the stone, not with his name but with this rather lengthy description: \u201cThis is the ruby from among the 25,000 authentic jewels of the King of Kings, the Sultan Sahib Qiran [Tamerlane], which in the year 1153 [1740 AD] from the jewels of Hindustan reached this place [Isfahan].\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f712586 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"f712586\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea12c7f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"ea12c7f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4735414 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4735414\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 1739, the Shah of Iran, Nader Shah, occupied Delhi. He agreed to withdraw from the city if given the keys to the Royal Treasury, which held not only the Timur Ruby but also the huge Koh-i-Noor and Darya-ye-Noor diamonds and the gem-encrusted Peacock Throne. \u00a0Nader Shah was assassinated in 1747 and both the Timur Ruby and the Koh-i-Noor Diamond ended up with Ahmad Shah Durrani (considered the founder of modern Afghanistan). Ahmad Shah was the last person to engrave his name on the stone, but apparently even the huge Timur Ruby was getting a bit crowded, as Ahmad Shah erased the inscription allegedly engraved by Tamerlane himself.<\/p><p>The Timur Ruby continued to move with emperors as their kingdoms waxed and waned. Ahmad Shah\u2019s grandson was forced into exile in Punjab, India where he was required to give up the jewels to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (founder of the Sikh Empire). But, the British East India Company was on the rise; annexing the Punjab in 1849, it also took possession of all the State jewels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36e6eb8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"36e6eb8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e2667a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"8e2667a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-905cf05 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"905cf05\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-007dea8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"007dea8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"342\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/catherine-crown.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-884\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/catherine-crown.jpg 342w, https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/catherine-crown-257x300.jpg 257w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 342px) 100vw, 342px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b525d6f e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"b525d6f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38d5348 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38d5348\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 1851, the Company presented a collection of jewels, including the Timur Ruby, to Queen Victoria; in 1853, the stone was mounted into a stunning necklace, with the giant spinel as the central pendant amongst fine diamonds. Interestingly, the necklace has never been worn.<\/p><p><b>At 398.72 carats \u2013 nearly 80 grams &#8211;\u00a0 Catherine the Great\u2019s Ruby<\/b> is believed to be the second-largest spinel in the world. Brought to Russia by Nicholas Spafary, who was the Russian envoy to China in the late 1700s, the Spinel is mounted amidst 4,963 diamonds in the Great Imperial Crown which, incidentally, weighs nine pounds. This spinel is considered one of the seven historic stones of the Russian Great Stone Collection within the Russian Crown Jewels.<\/p><p>The Crown\u2019s last appearance at a coronation was that of Nicholas II in 1896, though it was also present at the State Opening of the Duma in 1906. This fabulous Crown \u2013 with its massive red spinel &#8211; is now on display in the Moscow Kremlin Armory State Diamond Fund<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79048c3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"79048c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e213076 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"e213076\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-584b5b9 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"584b5b9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cdc30f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4cdc30f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"191\" height=\"147\" src=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/samarian_2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-885\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2961404 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"2961404\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d010c21 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d010c21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>The dazzling and dizzying array of precious stones in the Iranian Crown Jewels collection includes the world\u2019s largest known spinel: the gargantuan, blood-red Samarian Spinel<\/b> <b>weighs in at 500 carats<\/b>. The stone was taken from India, along with a slightly less extravagant 270-carat spinel, by Nadir Shah of Persia. The smaller spinel, like so many other gemstones that came into his possession, is engraved with the name of Emperor Jahangir.<\/p><p>However, the Samarian Spinel, while inscription-free, has a more curious story: there is a hole in it. This aperture is allegedly described by Nassereddin Shah Qajar, the 19th-century Persian king, as made in order to hang the stone around the neck of the biblical Golden Calf, produced by the impatient Israelites while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, there is no way to confirm this tale. A diamond was mounted to cover the hole, but it is no longer on the Samarian Spinel.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81a8fde e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"81a8fde\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93c3df5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"93c3df5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93168f4 e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"93168f4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d9f498 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4d9f498\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"140\" height=\"213\" src=\"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/C_te-de-Bretagne.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-886\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98f223e e-con-full e-flex e-con\" data-id=\"98f223e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ac1c25a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ac1c25a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Moving from mammoth to merely spectacular, the French Crown Jewels boast one of the most charming spinels known: The C\u00f4te-de-Bretagne<\/b>. Thought to date back to at least 1530, and mistaken for a ruby for centuries, the jewel is a 105-carat orange-red stone carved into the shape of a fat \u201cOriental\u201d dragon. It was originally mounted in the magnificent rococo-style Insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece, along with what is now the famous Hope Diamond (formerly the French Blue). Now on display at the Louvre in Paris, the C\u00f4te-de-Bretagne is believed to be one of very few spinels in the collection, as well as one of the oldest pieces and definitely among the most recognized.<\/p><p>During the French Revolution, most of the French Crown Jewels were stolen from the Royal Storehouse (the Garde-Meuble) over a five-night period. One of the thieves absconded with the Golden Fleece Insignia, unmounting both the C\u00f4te-de-Bretagne and the French Blue from their setting. He fled to London, where most of the stolen loot was sold. Although many of the gems were never recovered, miraculously, in 1797, the C\u00f4te de Bretagne spinel surfaced in London, and was restored to the French Crown Jewels collection.<\/p><p>The spinel, rarer than the ruby and with more colors than the rainbow, has possibly adorned more of history\u2019s powerful, charismatic men and women than any other gemstone. It is only fitting. After all, the spinel is itself powerful and strong, casting a bedazzling spell on any human being fortunate enough to even glimpse one of these natural wonders.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cac26c4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"cac26c4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f221bfa e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"f221bfa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b841dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b841dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timur_ruby\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Timur_ruby<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Samarian_spinel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Samarian_spinel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/famousdiamonds.tripod.com\/samarianspinel.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/famousdiamonds.tripod.com\/samarianspinel.html<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spinel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Spinel<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.co.th\/books?id=hKYPZGm37hMC&amp;pg=PA153&amp;lpg=PA153&amp;dq=tamerlane+spinel&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=xQRlHnbs0g&amp;sig=TKdenKaTbEpTnSQw4wfHbXkPaCg&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi7--Pn3d3MAhUKuo8KHUQFDFwQ6AEIMjAE#v=onepage&amp;q=tamerlane%20spinel&amp;f=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/books.google.co.th\/books?id=hKYPZGm37hMC&amp;pg=PA153&amp;lpg=PA153&amp;dq=tamerlane+spinel&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=xQRlHnbs0g&amp;sig=TKdenKaTbEpTnSQw4wfHbXkPaCg&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi7&#8211;Pn3d3MAhUKuo8KHUQFDFwQ6AEIMjAE#v=onepage&amp;q=tamerlane%20spinel&amp;f=false<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ganoksin.com\/borisat\/nenam\/afghanistan-rubies-spinels.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.ganoksin.com\/borisat\/nenam\/afghanistan-rubies-spinels.htm<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lotusgemology.com\/index.php\/library\/articles\/155-spinel-resurrection-of-a-classic-gem\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.lotusgemology.com\/index.php\/library\/articles\/155-spinel-resurrection-of-a-classic-gem<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/observer.com\/2015\/09\/a-historic-arcane-red-gem-makes-auction-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/observer.com\/2015\/09\/a-historic-arcane-red-gem-makes-auction-history\/<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nrl.navy.mil\/media\/news-releases\/2015\/transparent-armor-from-nrl-spinel-could-also-ruggedize-your-smart-phone\">http:\/\/www.nrl.navy.mil\/media\/news-releases\/2015\/transparent-armor-from-nrl-spinel-could-also-ruggedize-your-smart-phone<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.mindat.org\/min-3729.html\">http:\/\/www.mindat.org\/min-3729.html<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.minerals.net\/gemstone\/spinel_gemstone.aspx\">http:\/\/www.minerals.net\/gemstone\/spinel_gemstone.aspx<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/geology.com\/minerals\/spinel.shtml\">http:\/\/geology.com\/minerals\/spinel.shtml<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gemrockauctions.com\/learn\/additional-gemstone-information\/mahenge-spinel-the-stone-that-changed-everything\">https:\/\/www.gemrockauctions.com\/learn\/additional-gemstone-information\/mahenge-spinel-the-stone-that-changed-everything<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.christies.com\/lotfinder\/jewelry\/an-imperial-mughal-spinel-necklace-5436541-details.aspx\">http:\/\/www.christies.com\/lotfinder\/jewelry\/an-imperial-mughal-spinel-necklace-5436541-details.aspx<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/noospheregeologic.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/12\/the-rare-gem-series-spinel-the-balas-ruby\/\">http:\/\/noospheregeologic.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/12\/the-rare-gem-series-spinel-the-balas-ruby\/<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/05\/13\/arts\/13iht-acaj-spinel-jewelry13.html?_r=0\">http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2011\/05\/13\/arts\/13iht-acaj-spinel-jewelry13.html?_r=0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/collections.vam.ac.uk\/item\/O16068\/the-carew-spinel-spinel-unknown\/\">http:\/\/collections.vam.ac.uk\/item\/O16068\/the-carew-spinel-spinel-unknown\/<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.palagems.com\/spinel-ball\/\">http:\/\/www.palagems.com\/spinel-ball\/<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ruby-sapphire.com\/r-s-bk-quality5.htm#Table_10.4\">http:\/\/www.ruby-sapphire.com\/r-s-bk-quality5.htm#Table_10.4<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Imperial_Crown_of_Russia\">https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Imperial_Crown_of_Russia<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c9229b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con\" data-id=\"3c9229b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five Legendary Spinels A popular clich\u00e9 declares, \u2018it is what it is\u2019. This simple assertion, once named the \u2018clich\u00e9 of the year\u2019, seems merely to state\u00a0the\u00a0obvious. In the case of the spinel, however, there\u2019s something seriously wrong with this small bit of conventional wisdom. Five legendary Rubies. These are not what they are. They are, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":877,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=869"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1209,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/869\/revisions\/1209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gemcal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}