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The Greater Gems in the Jewel House: Ortensio Borgio

When in possession of Shah Jehan the Koh-i-Nur was uncut and weighed nearly eight hundred carats. By the Emperor's order, it was cut by a Venetian named Ortensio Borgio, but as the cutting was deemed unsuccessful Borgio was severely reprimanded and fined Rs.10,000 (about £1,000). When brought to Europe the diamond weighed only one hundred and eighty-six and one-sixth carats. By the Prince Consort's advice it was again cut down into the form of a brilliant by Messrs. Coster of Amsterdam. Though this cutting reduced the stone to one hundred and six and one-sixth carats in weight, its size was curiously enough increased, for the new base ran diagonally through the old stone. As a brilliant it was set as a brooch and so worn by Queen Victoria, but in later reigns it has been set in the Queen's crown, first in that of Queen Alexandra and now in that of Queen Mary.* THE BLACK PRINCE'S RUBY The stone which is to the English of the greatest historic interest in the Jewel House is the Black Prince's ruby, for it has belonged to the royal house since 1367. Its history before that date is unknown and may be of great antiquity, for it is pierced at one end, so as to be worn as a pendant, as often are gems of Oriental origin, and the Orient is exceedingly old. The known history of the ruby commences with the King of Granada, in whose possession it was when it was coveted by Don Pedro, the King of Castille. That monarch took the direct road to possession by killing the owner and annexing the stone in the year 1367. In that same year a very signal service was performed for Don Pedro by an English force under the Black Prince at the battle of Nagera, near Vittoria. In gratitude Don Pedro presented the great ruby to the Black Prince, and in an early print he may be seen wearing it sewn to his cap above the coronet.