centred with a cushion cut red spinel weighing 2.56cts, surrounded by a border of old European cut diamonds mounted in silver and gold.
Size: N
Accompanied by a certificate from the Gemmological Certification Services stating that the spinel is a natural stone from Myanmar with no indications of heat treatment.
For centuries, spinels have been mined in Central and Southeast Asia and were highly prized for their rich red colour. They were known as Balas rubies, a term derived from the ancient word for Badakhshan, a region where the finest stones were mined. For generations, spinels were believed to be rubies and were amongst the most prized possessions in royal treasuries. They were collected by the Mughal emperors, who engraved the most significant stones with their names. The Côte de Bretagne Ruby, an extraordinary spinel carved into a dragon, was once part of the French Crown Jewels and the most famous spinel in the world, the so-called Black Prince’s Ruby, is a part of the regalia of the United Kingdom and resides in the Imperial State Crown. It was won in battle by Edward, Prince of Wales in 1367 and is thought to have been worn by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt.