The Samarian Spinel: A Gemstone of Mughal Grandeur and Persian Conquest

Navrang India May 13, 2026

The Samarian Spinel stands as a magnificent intersection of geology, imperial history, and biblical legend. Weighing a colossal 500 carats, it is recognized as the largest spinel in the world. However, its story is inextricably linked to the Indian subcontinent, specifically the Mughal Empire, and the dramatic 18th-century raid by the Persian King Nadir Shah who literally left  Delhi and adjacent areas bleeding with loss of lives and wealth.

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Above image: Bigger (500 ct) stone and the smaller one (270 Ct) The  350 year old  smaller Samarian spinel has an inscription, attributing its ownership to Mogul ruler of India  Jahangir. According to a diary entry of the court physician to the Iranian Shah Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, the King told the physician that the stone once adorned the neck of the biblical golden calf, which the Israelites are said to have made while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments. A diamond was added later to conceal the hole. The Samarian Spinel gets its name from the ancient Hebrew city of Samaria..............

The Mughal Treasury and the Indian Connection

The gemstone’s journey through India is primarily documented through its smaller "sister" stone, a 270-carat spinel that often accompanies it. This smaller gem bears a 350-year-old inscription by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Legend tells that when court officials criticized him for "defacing" such a rare gem with his name, Jahangir boldly proclaimed: "This stone shall make my name more famous than the entire dynasty of Tamerlane!"

His prophecy proved remarkably resilient. While the Timurid dynasty eventually faded, Jahangir’s name remains immortalized on several prominent gemstones within the Iranian Crown Jewels. These stones were not merely decorative; they were symbols of the vast wealth and cultural sophistication of the Mughal "Golden Age," a period when the Golconda mines (of Andhra, South India) and royal treasuries were the envy of the world.

Nadir Shah en.wikipedia.org

The Persian Raid of 1739

The Indian chapter of the Samarian Spinel’s history reached a violent conclusion in 1739. Nadir Shah, the Persian conqueror, invaded North India, defeating the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. The subsequent sack of Delhi saw the systematic looting of the Mughal treasury. Along with the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the Timur Ruby, and the Peacock Throne, both the 500-carat and 270-carat spinels were seized and transported to Persia (modern-day Iran). The 270-carat stone was famously repurposed as part of an armband for Nadir Shah, marking the official transfer of Indian spoils to Persian sovereignty.

Legend and Physicality

The Samarian Spinel is physically distinguished by a small hole. According to the diary of the court physician to Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, a 19th-century Iranian king, the stone was believed to have once adorned the neck of the Golden Calf, the biblical idol made by the Israelites while Moses was on Mount Sinai. To conceal this hole, a diamond was reportedly inserted into the stone at a later date.

Present Status

Today, the Samarian Spinel remains a centerpiece of the National Jewelry Treasury of Iran in Tehran. It serves as a glittering reminder of the immense mineral wealth of ancient India and the turbulent historical forces that saw these treasures cross borders through conquest and empire-building. In the annals of gemology, it remains the ultimate "Mughal survivor," bearing the weight of both imperial ego and ancient myth.