The 'Royal Ruby' that never sees the light: Why do the British royals REFUSE to wear this iconic stone?

When we talk about royal jewellery, the first thing that comes to mind is the British monarchy. The royal family of Britain has passed some priceless jewels from one generation to the next. Although some pieces did not survive intact, they were modified to suit current tastes and make them more wearable. But did you know there is a hoax ruby stone sitting quietly inside the chambers of the royal family, simply gathering dust?

If we are still unclear, let us introduce you to the bizarre story of the ‘Timur Ruby,’ one of the world’s largest and most historic stones. The massive, unfaceted 352.5-carat gem, which quietly resides among the British Crown Jewels, was revealed in 1851 to be a red spinel.

The history of the Timur Ruby

The Timur Ruby gets its name from one of the greatest conquerors of the 14th century. Hailing from the terrains of Uzbekistan, Timur’s military conquests spanned from Mongolia to the Eastern Mediterranean. He later came to India, and in the north, even Russia fell under his power. After capturing Delhi in 1398, Timur left India six months later with pockets full of jewels and gemstones. One of these iconic stones was the Timur Ruby.

How did it reach the British treasury?

This unfaceted stone has a semi-polished flat face and inscriptions bearing the names of four Mughal emperors and two Persian rulers who once possessed it. In 1849, when the British East India Company took over the northern region, they also seized this stone along with the famous 186-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond from the ruler Ranjit Singh.

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The East India Company presented the stone to Queen Victoria as a gift in 1851 and declared it the largest ruby in the world. With advancements in gemology, it was announced as the “largest ruby in the world,” until it was later confirmed to be a red spinel.

In 1852, Garrard set the Timur Ruby in an Oriental-inspired necklace, but it was later removed and used as an alternate brooch. Today, it sits among the priceless British Crown Jewels, yet it has never been worn by a single royal.

Why won’t they dare to wear it?

Though it was converted into a necklace and later a brooch, the Timur Ruby remains untouched in the treasury. It is neither cursed nor unattractive, but many speculate that the monarchy avoids wearing it for fear of backlash from critics, who view the gem as a symbol of India’s plundered heritage.

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Parting thoughts

Gemologitsts now know that a ruby cannot weigh more than 350 carats. The chromium atoms that give rubies their rich red colour also cause fissures in the crystal, limiting the size of natural rubies. A ruby larger than 3.3 carats is already rare. This makes the existence of a 352.5-carat ruby scientifically impossible. So, is the Timur Ruby truly a hoax stone?