St Edward's Sapphire
| Gemstone: | Corundum (Var: Sapphire) |
|---|---|
| Source: | |
| Colour: | Blue |
| Cut: | Cushion |
| Current Owner: | British Crown |
| Current Location: | British Crown |
| References: | Dictionary of Gems and Gemology, 3rd Edition (Mantutchehr-Danai), 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Edward's_Sapphire |
| Information Source: | Dictionary of Gems and Gemology, 3rd Edition (Mantutchehr-Danai), 2009 |
| History: | It gets its name from Edward the Confessor who wore the stone in his ring. According to legend the sapphire made its first appearance in the year 1042, where it was set into Edward's coronation ring. The gem survived through Oliver Cromwell's reign and disassembly of the crown jewels and was recut into its present form for Charles II after the restoration. Queen Victoria had the stone set into the finial cross of the Imperial State Crown. |