Stuart Sapphires and Various Royal British Sapphire

Posted on September 2nd, 2023 02:00 PM

Sapphires have been the longest-known and most-loved gemstones in history, which is clearly visible through their use of jewelry. From commoners to the royal people, everyone have been seen admiring the sapphires. The best example is the British crown jewels.

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.

Today, we will discuss in brief this Famous Sapphire jewelry, which shows explicitly how Sapphires are the stone of royalty and luxury. Read all about the Stuart sapphires and various royal British sapphire values.

What is Stuart Sapphire?

Stuart Sapphire is one of the most expensive blue sapphire gemstone that belongs to the British royal jewelry collection. It is engraved in the Imperial State Crown along with other gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, and pearls. This particular blue sapphire weighs 104 carats and measures 20.8 grams.



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.

Where Did The Stuart Sapphire Come From?

It is not confirmed where the stone have come from particularly. As per the history, 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.

Read more:- Princess Diana Ring

History of Stuart Sapphire

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. Although its early history is not well documented, it is likely to have been owned by Charles 2nd, but when James  VII and II fled to France during the Great Revolution in England in December 1688, he fled with it. And so it 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 VII and II. In the year 1807, George 3rd brought it back to England from Italy.

It became part of the British royal jewelry. Queen Victoria wore the Imperial State Crown with the blue Stuart sapphire positioned at the forefront of the crown, immediately beneath the Black Prince's Ruby.

In 1909, during the reign of Edward 7th, the gem was relocated to accommodate a 317-carat (63.4 g) diamond called Cullinan 2nd, at the back of the crown. In 1937, a replica of Victoria's crown still lodged that spot in the Imperial State Crown, which Queen Elizabeth II wore.

Among the Crown Jewels, the Stuart Sapphire is on display in the Tower of London's Jewel House.

Stuart Sapphire Price

The Stuart Sapphire is priceless since this stone has a rich history and is one of the crown jewels. Because of its importance and significance in history, it is hard to value the gemstone. It will be in millions of dollars if it is ever auctioned. But since it is a part of history, it is not up for sale, so it is priceless and one of the most valuable blue sapphire stones.

Consume additional information:- 5 Celebrities who Wear Blue Sapphire

Different Royal British Sapphire Stones



  • 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 among other colored gemstones.

  • 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.

  • 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 II and was curated in the Imperial State Crown of Queen Victoria.

  • 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.

  • Princess Diana Royal Engagement Ring - One of the Ceylon sapphire crown jewellry is the blue sapphire ring picked by Princess Diana. Lady Diana’s Blue Sapphire engagement ring have become very popular as people loved Lady Diana for choosing a colored gemstone. Later, this 12-carat Ceylon oval blue sapphire ring with 14 solitaire diamonds around it was passed on to her sons. Prince Willaim proposed to Kate Middletown with it.

Keep seeking additional insights:- World Of Famous Faceted Blue Sapphires

Stuart Sapphires And Various Royal British Sapphire Meaning

Stuart Sapphire is a simple blue sapphire that has meaning and importance that a normal person can relate to, just like the other ones used in crown jewelry.

Sapphires are the most highly recognized gemstones, which are found in many hues like blue, green, yellow, pink, etc. Blue gemstones Sapphires are the most desirable and in-demand because of their significance in history and belief in their metaphysical properties. These stones are powerful and mystical, 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 a precious stone that 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 and divinity. Every stone has a link to the cosmos and planets or heavenly bodies astrologically. 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."

Which Is The Most Expensive Sapphire?

Out of all the sapphire gems, blue sapphires are the rarest and most valuable. It is known as the longest to mankind and is believed to be the fastest-acting gem as well as per astrology. Know about the most expensive stone in the world here.

What Is The Highest Quality Of Sapphire?

The highest quality sapphire is the one with minimum inclusions or flaws and rich, intense color. Like, the blue sapphires with intense deep royal blue shade are considered to be of the finest quality.

What Is The Highest Grade Of Sapphire?

As per the gemological standards, the sapphire, which is given the quality rank AAA, is of the highest grade.

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.

These precious gemstones have many metaphysical and healing properties, plus their allure adds to the look of its wearer. If you also want to add such gemstone jewelry to your collection, visit Navratan.com today.

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