08/30/2021
π Another famous spinel, August's most recent birthstone addition, was mistaken as a ruby for most of its history!
"The Black Prince's Ruby," which should really be called, "The Black Prince's Spinel," weighs an estimated 170 carats and is currently set in England's Imperial State Crown just above the 317.40-carat Cullinan II diamond. Accompanying its incredible beauty is an amazing history filled with treachery, danger, and deceit!
Its torrid history is recorded back to 1366, when it was stolen from the lifeless body of Moorish prince Abu Said by Don Pedro of Castile. A year later, Don Pedro used the stone as payment to the Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock, for help against a revolt by Don Pedro's own brother.
A gap in its history leads to 1415, when the stone was nearly destroyed during the Battle of Agincourt while being worn in Henry V's gem-encrusted battle helmet. Legend credits the spinel with saving Henry V's life by deflecting a blow while it adorned his battle helmet, and the notorious gem was passed down through several British kings over the next two hundred years until it was set in England's state crown by James I. In the mid 1600s, the Crown Jewels were disassembled and sold, and the Black Prince's Ruby is said to have been bought by a British jeweler for the modern-day equivalent of about $8. Fortunately he later returned it to the monarchy and it was set into Charles II's state crown.
The poor spinel has faced danger at least three times since then: once when nearly stolen by a rascal named Colonel Blood; once in a Tower fire in 1841 though saved by a brave police inspector; and once again during WWII in an attack by German bombers!