Home › The Greater Gems in the Jewel House › The Greater Gems in the Jewel House: Sword

The Greater Gems in the Jewel House: Sword

THE JEWELLED STATE SWORD Plate XV THE SWORD OF STATE "CURTANA" OR SWORD OF MERCY THE GREATER GEMS Under the charge of Major Macheson the Koh-i-Nur travelled to England and was presented to Queen Victoria. When in the possession of Runjeet Singh the stone had been set in an armlet flanked by two large diamonds. This original setting, with models of the stones as then worn, is in the Jewel House, from which can be gathered the curious conical shape the Koh-i-Nur then had.

The tassels of the armlet end with large pearls, each surmounted by a ruby, all of considerable value, but eclipsed by the glory of the great stone. It was then valued at £140,000 intrinsically; but as in the case of the Black Prince's ruby, a stone with such a history is indeed priceless.