Among the plentiful dazzling gemstones affixed to Britain’s Crown Jewels, one of the most prominent is an intense blue gemstone with a distinguished history: the Stuart Sapphire.
What is Stuart Sapphire?
This particular blue sapphire has a weight of 104 carats and measures 20.8 grams. Its place of origin is said to have been in Asia, maybe in what is now the country of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, or Kashmir. This gemstone is one of the many glistening jewels that are set into the Imperial State Crown of Britain. It has a fascinatingly complicated past and is one of the regal gemstones of the crown. The subtle stone is described by Youngblood and Davenport in their formative work on the British royal jewels showcasing the following characteristics: "oval in shape, approximately one and a half inches in length by one inch in breadth, and is set in a gold brooch." This gleaming Stuart obviously places a high value on it despite having minimal flaws since its color is vibrant and it was considered to be of significant worth. It can be meticulously planned when drilled into one end of the stone, most likely in order to add some connection that would allow the stone to be used as a pendant.
History of Stuart Sapphire
Although its early history is not well documented, it is likely to have been owned by Charles 2nd, and when James 7th and 2nd fled to France during the Great Revolution in England in December 1688, was most likely one of his jewels.
He passed it on to his son, James Stuart, also known as the "Old Pretender," who then gave it to his youngest son, Henry Benedict, later recognized as Cardinal York. George 3rd purchased the sapphire from the cardinal, who was the last remaining descendant of James 7th and 2nd. In the year 1807, George 3rd brought it back to England from Italy.
Queen Victoria wore the Imperial State Crown with the diamond positioned at the forefront of the crown, immediately beneath the Black Prince's Ruby.
In 1909, during the reign of Edward 7th, the crown was relocated to accommodate a 317-carat (63.4 g) diamond called Cullinan 2nd. In 1937, a replica of Victoria's crown still lodges that spot in the Imperial State Crown, which Elizabeth 2nd wears today.
Among the Crown Jewels, the Stuart Sapphire is on display in the Tower of London's Jewel House.
Let’s Read More About Different Royal British Sapphire
- Imperial State Crown It is a spectacular state crown of Her Majesty the Queen, worn during every state opening of parliament, curated with two massive, gleaming sapphires.
- The St. Edward's Sapphire It has been cut in the shape of an octagonal rose. The stone is considered the coronation ring of Edward the Confessor, who ascended the throne of England. Queen Victoria added this stone to the Imperial State Crown. It was placed at the center of the crown, where it was privileged to be the elite crown worn by Queen Elizabeth 2nd.
Keep seeking additional insights:- World Of Famous Faceted Blue Sapphires
- The Stuart Sapphire is a prominent 104 carat cabochon with a vibrant blue hue, encompassing a few inclusions, and probably drilled to be worn as a pendant for routine usage. It was believed to belong to Charles 2nd and was curated in the Imperial State Crown of Queen Victoria, placed at the front of the circlet (band), just underneath the black ruby.
- The Prince Albert Brooch presents a massive faceted sapphire of about 20–30 carats enclosed by twelve tiny diamonds. It was gifted to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert just a day before their wedding in 1840. It was inherited by Queen Elizabeth in 1952.
- The Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia’s Brooch consists of a huge sapphire cabochon with two consistent rows of diamonds along a pearl drop. It was the first wedding gift to Princess Dagmar of Denmark from the Prince and Princess of Wales (brother and sister-in-law) in the year 1866, at the time she was getting married to Emperor Tsar Alexander.
Stuart Sapphire and blue sapphire
Stuart Sapphire, also known as simple blue sapphire, has meaning and importance that a normal person can relate to. Sapphires are the most highly recognized blue gemstones, which is perhaps why people often associate them with heavenly concepts. The moniker "the divine stone" was given to it in various civilizations as a result of this trait. In the Christian religion, the sapphire is regarded as the precious stone that most symbolizes chastity, purity, and wisdom. On the other hand, people in certain parts of Southeast Asia and India consider it to be one of the nine precious stones that specifically symbolize the heavens. In this context, the yellow sapphire is meant to stand in for Jupiter, while the blue sapphire is meant to stand in for Saturn. Because of this, some people believed that the name "sapphire" meant "dear to the planet Saturn," but it might simply mean "blue stone."
End Note
The Imperial State Crown of Britain and the sapphires are the most historically impressive sapphire jewels currently known. These stones, like all sapphire jewelry, are representative of the gemstone's widespread popularity since they epitomize the significance that people have placed on sapphires.
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