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| Imperial State Crown of India with 6000 diamonds, dailymail.co.uk |
Above image: Jaipur sword and scabbard: A maharajah¿s coronation present for Edward VII......
Among the valuable gemstone, Diamonds, for several centuries, have been a powerful symbol of royalty and sovereignty among the affluent rulers across the globe. For rich and famous people, valuable diamonds with good lustre seem be the best gift to their loved ones to express their eternal love and commitment to their relationship. Unlike other colorful, attractive gem stones, diamonds are the hardest natural mineral ever known, with an hardness of 10 on Mohs scale of hardness, followed by corundum and garnet. Their resistance to wear and tear, endurance and long life has beefed up by their dazzling beauty, varied light reflections and purity keeping them apart from other expensive gem stones. The craze for diamonds is on the increase and will be for ever.
Hence, in the case of royal families, more often than not, highly valuable diamonds have become part of jewelry, objects of veneration and regalia. Numerous diamonds such as Kohinoor, Black Orlov, Dresden green, Moon of Baroda diamond, Arcot diamonds, etc are considered well-known popular gems world over.. The most surprising fact is, invariably, many of them have changed hands and crossed lands and oceans down centuries after wars between countries, but they have still retained their value and aura about them . No doubt, world over, rich people are curious about diamonds because of their allied associations with long history dating back to several centuries, remarkable size and quality of shine and most importantly notoriety gained as a result of purported curses they carry on them. Many of the cursed diamonds were once stolen or looted from the Hindu temples of India centuries ago, where they adorned the presiding deities. Vast collections of jewelry, gemstones and diamonds were made in the past centuries during the reign of British colonial rule across the globe.
Among the Royal families of the world, the longest surviving British Royal family members have the largest collection of precious gems, jewelry and diamonds, one can ever imagine, how could they acquire so many over a period. Historians agree that majority of the jewelry items,valuable gemstones etc were either looted or forcibly taken by them from the rulers during their heyday. The British Royal collection includes wonderful and most spectacular treasures that may blind one's eyes.
Ever since Edward the Confessor kept the royal jewels in the safest vaults in Westminster Abbey, London has been home to the renowned Tower of London.
Among the Royal families of the world, the longest surviving British Royal family members have the largest collection of precious gems, jewelry and diamonds, one can ever imagine, how could they acquire so many over a period. Historians agree that majority of the jewelry items,valuable gemstones etc were either looted or forcibly taken by them from the rulers during their heyday. The British Royal collection includes wonderful and most spectacular treasures that may blind one's eyes.
Ever since Edward the Confessor kept the royal jewels in the safest vaults in Westminster Abbey, London has been home to the renowned Tower of London.
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| tracyanddale.50megs.com |
Crown Jewels were shifted from Westminster Abbey (now the status of a Church of England "Royal Peculiar"—a church directly under the jurisdiction of the monarch) to the Tower of London at some point of time in the 14th century due to a series of successful and attempted thefts. It is stated that around 2.5 million visitors from all over the world enjoy the exhibition every year. The amazing jewels on display in The tower of London are silent spectators of long British history that saw the seesaw battles among the European powers and royal family squabbles taken place within the four walls of the palace.
Neither the British public nor the people from other countries, in particular, from former British colonies never get a chance to see the vast jewelry collections at the same time in one place, for such expensive collections carefully procured and saved for a pretty long period rarely go on display for public view except museums. it was during the extravaganza to mark Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, a new exhibition that was part of the Summer Opening of the Buckingham Palace was held on June 24, 2012 - exploring how the gems had been used and worn by monarchs - both European and Indian over the last two centuries and their crass display of immense wealth in a world where more than two thirds of people suffer from pangs of hunger, poverty and malnutrition. It was a great opportunity for the people to see sparkling jewels in close quarters and appreciate how delicately and ingeniously they were mounted and the skill and craftsmanship used in the olden days
Neither the British public nor the people from other countries, in particular, from former British colonies never get a chance to see the vast jewelry collections at the same time in one place, for such expensive collections carefully procured and saved for a pretty long period rarely go on display for public view except museums. it was during the extravaganza to mark Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, a new exhibition that was part of the Summer Opening of the Buckingham Palace was held on June 24, 2012 - exploring how the gems had been used and worn by monarchs - both European and Indian over the last two centuries and their crass display of immense wealth in a world where more than two thirds of people suffer from pangs of hunger, poverty and malnutrition. It was a great opportunity for the people to see sparkling jewels in close quarters and appreciate how delicately and ingeniously they were mounted and the skill and craftsmanship used in the olden days
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The British Royal Collection, housed at the Tower of London, contains several high-value Indian gems and jewelry pieces
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| Queens Coronation 2nd June 1953. dressmadameguillotine.org.uk |
The most attractive item at the exhibition that hogged the limelight was the dazzling, resplendent Jaipur Sword hilt and Scabbard studded with magnificent diamonds that weighed a whooping 2,000 carat, the largest being one among the pale yellow diamonds in the end of the cross guard, which is estimated at 36 carats. The Maharajah of Jaipur, now in the state of Rajasthan, Sawai Sir Madho Singh Bahadur (1861–1922), to mark the king's coronation in 1902 presented this artistic jeweled sword to King Edward VII.
Made from steel and gold, enameled in blue, green and red, the beautiful diamonds are set in a design of lotus flowers and leaves. The sword contained more than 719 white and yellow diamonds. The flat cut of many of the stones, set in combination with their silver backed settings, is characteristic of Indian jewelry. The rose and brilliant-cut stones used in this wonderful piece of jewelry seem to have been processed in Europe and this suggests possible European trade connection with the Indian subcontinent.
The following were the outstanding exhibits that are worthy of mention:
Made from steel and gold, enameled in blue, green and red, the beautiful diamonds are set in a design of lotus flowers and leaves. The sword contained more than 719 white and yellow diamonds. The flat cut of many of the stones, set in combination with their silver backed settings, is characteristic of Indian jewelry. The rose and brilliant-cut stones used in this wonderful piece of jewelry seem to have been processed in Europe and this suggests possible European trade connection with the Indian subcontinent.
The following were the outstanding exhibits that are worthy of mention:
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| Coronation Fan in.pinterest.com |
01. Queen Alexandra's Coronation Fan, a diamond-studded ostrich feather fan, made for Edward VII's consort for the coronation. will also be on display.
02. A Jewelled snuff box, dated circa 1770, that was once owned by Frederick the Great of Prussia. It is mounted with nearly dazzling 3,000 diamonds in elaborate flower motifs and the box is thought to have been inherited by Frederick during his 18th-century reign (1740-1786).
03. The Imperial State Crown of India, which contains over 6000 stunning diamonds of beauty, is prepared for the new exhibition of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
02. A Jewelled snuff box, dated circa 1770, that was once owned by Frederick the Great of Prussia. It is mounted with nearly dazzling 3,000 diamonds in elaborate flower motifs and the box is thought to have been inherited by Frederick during his 18th-century reign (1740-1786).
03. The Imperial State Crown of India, which contains over 6000 stunning diamonds of beauty, is prepared for the new exhibition of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
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| Delhi Durbar Tiara worn by Camilla vocal.media |
04. The Delhi Durbar Tiara, an astonishing diamond and platinum headpiece made for Queen Mary in 1911, was later adapted by her to accommodate either the Cullinan III or IV diamond or both. Believed to be the largest tiara in the Windsor collection in terms of overall size, the Delhi Durbar was created by Garrard for Queen Mary to wear it at the Delhi Durbar, celebrating the coronation of King George V as Emperor of India.
Another stunning piece on show is the Delhi Durbar necklace, which includes an 8.8-karat diamond pendant cut from the Cullinan diamond — the largest diamond ever found. The accompanying emerald and diamond earrings are on display with the necklace for the first time.
Very expensive jewelry, it features swirling diamond motifs set with an array of exceptional stones, including the Cullinan VII diamond, which hangs prominently from the centre. While royal jewels are rarely given official price tags, specialists have suggested it could be worth in the region of £8.5 million, largely due to its rarity, diamonds and remarkable provenance.
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| www.gettyimages.com |
05. Queen's personal jewels, including the Cullinan III and IV Brooch, cut from the largest diamond ever found, and the Coronation Necklace and Earrings, created for Queen Victoria and worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and the Queen at their coronations.
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| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee. rememberingletters.wordpress.com |
06. Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was originally given to Queen Victoria as part of the British Empire spoils from Punjab in 1850. Governor General of India lord Dalhousie (1812 – 1860; GGI: 1848 to 1856.), was instrumental in the transfer of the ownership of this most beautiful diamond in the world (believed to be around 3000 years old!!) as a gift to Queen Victoria by the the East India Company. He saw to it that the diamond was presented to the queen by it's owner pretty young Maharajah Duleep Singh of Punjab. The handing over of the Koh-I-Noor to Queen Victoria on 3 July, 1850 as per the terms of the conclusion of the Sikh War also coincided with the 250th anniversary of the British East India company.
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| Imperial Crown hrp.org.uk |
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| Kohinoor diamond eastcoastdaily.in |
Widely believed to be worth between £3 billion and £5 billion, although no official figure exists because the Crown Jewels are considered too valuable to insure.
08. The Timur Ruby:
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| Timur ruby, looted from Punjab maharajah. pinrest.com |
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| The Timur Ruby of Indian origin lotusgemology.com |
Above images: The Timur Ruby: This large gemstone has chequered history, is part of the British Crown Jewels. It is an un-faceted, 352.5 carat polished red Spinel gemstone set in a necklace of Oriental inspiration in 1853 by the Royal jeweler Garrard. The necklace was then lengthened in 1911. However, the most valuable necklace had never been worn by any British Royal member. Until 1851 it was regarded as the largest known ruby in the world and only later it was found out it was not ruby, but was only a Spinel gemstone.
Using the 'Doctrine of lapse' as a ruse, British forces declared war on Punjab and finally captured it, including Raja's personal jewelry collections. After his father's death, Dulip Singh, a minor then ad the last of Ranjit Singh’s sons, was installed as king; his mother Jindan Kaur being the a regent to take care of the administration for the minor legal heir.
The Timur Ruby and other precious stones left the shores of India for good from Bombay on the 6th of April, 1850 and formally handed over to Queen Victoria in a ceremony held on July 3,1850, at Buckingham Palace by Sir J. W. Logg, Deputy Chairman of the East India Company, in the presence of Sir John Hobhouse. The Timur Ruby is now in the private collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Timur Ruby was officially cataloged as a “short necklace of four very large Spinel rubies.”
08 Among the Jewelry items include in the Royal exhibition was the Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace, a Cartier wedding gift chosen by the Queen herself.It was worn by Kate Middleton in 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery and the Diplomatic Corps reception in 2019.
Set with approximately 300 diamonds, the Queen wore it for her second sitting with Wilding in 1952 and it was those images that went on to form the basis of the monarch's image on postage stamps from 1953-1971. It was worth a whopping £66million
Another stunning piece on show is the Delhi Durbar necklace, which includes an 8.8-karat diamond pendant cut from the Cullinan diamond — the largest diamond ever found. The accompanying emerald and diamond earrings are on display with the necklace for the first time.
Ref:
K. N. Jayaraman (Author: navrangindia.blogspot.com)
