4. The Stuart Sapphire
Donn by: Charles III, the King
Since: 1807
Value Approximation: $50000*
The Stuart Sapphire, which is a blue sapphire, is a crucial component of the British Crown Jewels. The origin of the 20.8-gram Stuart Sapphire can be traced to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, or Kashmir. Although little is known about the gem’s past, James VII is thought to have taken the Stuart Sapphire with him when he fled following the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
The Stuart Sapphire, ©Public Domain/Wikimedia, Royal Collection no. 630740
Over the ages, the Sapphire passed through several hands before George III purchased it and brought it back to the throne in the early 1800s. In painted pictures of Queen Victoria’s State Crown, the jewel can be seen beneath the Black Prince’s Ruby. Charles III is the current owner of it.
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