Cut, engraved spinel

A spinel is a red precious stone that is slightly softer than a ruby, with which it is often confused. Spinel was mined in northern Afghanistan and was especially admired in Iran and India.

Particularly in India under the Mughals, the finest pieces – distinguished by their color and size – were cut without facets, engraved with the owner’s name, and kept in his treasury.

The engraved inscriptions on this spinel show that it belonged to the Mughal emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Inscriptions of this kind were highly prized if the spinel was later bestowed upon a deserving subject, who could choose to have it mounted in a piece of jewelry.