Royal Rubies – The British Crown Jewels

Last week we took a look at a few of the stunning sapphires that grace the British Crown Jewel collection as well as the Queen’s Jewels.  This week, we turn our attention to the dazzling ruby and diamond rings that have found their way into the royal jewels over the years.

Queen Victoria’s Coronation Ring

The tradition of the coronation ring is used to symbolize the marriage of the new monarch to the country.  Typically, this ring would become the property of the reigning monarch, however, Queen Victoria decided to gift her infamous coronation ring to the crown, making it a permanent part of the British Crown Jewels.

This beautiful ring, part of Victoria’s coronation in 1838, features a beautiful step-cut sapphire, on top of which has been laid four beautiful red elongated Baguette Cut rubies, set in a cross pattern, with another beautiful Princess Cut ruby set in the middle where they meet.  Some say that Victoria gifted the ruby and sapphire coronation ring to the crown because its inclusion in the coronation ceremony didn’t go as smoothly as planned. The jeweller who created the ring had unknowingly sized it for the wrong finger and it was placed, rather forcibly, by the Archbishop presiding over the ceremony onto the Queen’s finger, causing a great bit of discomfort both during and after the fact.

The Imperial State Crown

Last week we took a closer look at the beautiful sapphires that are set within the famous Imperial State Crown, but it is a stunning red gemstone that takes centre stage in this picture of the glorious piece.  Known as the Black Prince’s Ruby, this magnificent red gem is an impressive 170 carats and dates back to the early 14th century, making it one of the oldest jewels in the royal collection.  Despite its name, however, the stone itself was actually reclassified from a ruby to a spinel, a less common gemstone that is also red in colour.  The Black Prince’s Ruby is, however, the largest uncut spinel in the world, making it just as noteworthy despite its reclassification.