Imperial State Crown: Gemstones & History Guide

Britain's Most Famous Crown

The Imperial State Crown is the most recognizable piece of royal regalia in the world — the crown that appears on British currency, on the cover of passports, and in countless photographs of state occasions. Worn by the sovereign at the State Opening of Parliament each year and at the close of coronation ceremonies, it is the working crown of the British monarchy, combining extraordinary gemological significance with deep historical associations stretching back centuries.

Unlike St. Edward's Crown, which is used only at the moment of coronation, the Imperial State Crown is a regular presence at state occasions — making it the most publicly visible piece of the Crown Jewels collection and the crown most closely associated with the living monarchy. Its 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies make it one of the most gemologically significant objects in the world.

History: From the Restoration to the Present

The current Imperial State Crown was made in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI, replacing an earlier version made in 1838 for Queen Victoria's coronation. The 1838 crown incorporated many historic stones from earlier crowns, and the 1937 version continued this tradition, preserving the most historically significant gems while updating the crown's overall design.

The first Imperial State Crown — distinct from the coronation crown St. Edward's Crown — was created following the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, when the entire set of royal regalia had to be remade after Parliament's destruction of the medieval Crown Jewels in 1649. The concept of a separate, lighter crown for use after the coronation ceremony itself dates to this period.

Queen Victoria's 1838 crown was the first to be called the "Imperial State Crown" in its modern sense, reflecting Britain's growing imperial ambitions. It incorporated the Black Prince's Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire, and other historic stones, establishing the tradition of using the Imperial State Crown as a repository for the monarchy's most historically significant gems.

The Diamonds: 2,868 Stones of Light

The Imperial State Crown contains 2,868 diamonds in a variety of cuts and sizes, set throughout the crown in elaborate floral and foliate patterns. The most significant is Cullinan II — the Second Star of Africa, a 317.4-carat cushion-shaped brilliant set in the front band of the crown. Cut from the 3,106-carat Cullinan rough diamond found in South Africa in 1905, Cullinan II is the second-largest colorless cut diamond in the world and the most valuable stone in the crown.

The remaining diamonds range from large table-cut stones in historic settings to tiny brilliant-cut stones that fill the spaces between the larger gems, creating the crown's characteristic blaze of light. Many of the larger diamonds have been in the royal collection for centuries, their origins lost in the records of medieval and early modern royal treasuries.

The Black Prince's Ruby: A Spinel with a Warrior's History

Set in the front cross of the Imperial State Crown, directly above Cullinan II, is the Black Prince's Ruby — one of the most historically significant stones in the entire Crown Jewels collection. Despite its name, this large red stone (approximately 170 carats in its rough form, now polished to a cabochon) is not actually a ruby but a red spinel — a different mineral species that was indistinguishable from ruby by pre-modern gemologists.

The stone's history is extraordinary. It was acquired by Pedro the Cruel of Castile in the 14th century, given to Edward the Black Prince (son of Edward III) in 1367 as payment for military assistance at the Battle of Nájera, and has been part of the English royal collection ever since. It was reportedly worn by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, set in his helmet — a near-miraculous survival given the violence of medieval battle.

The Black Prince's Ruby carries the healing and protective properties of red spinel: vitality, courage, protection in conflict, and the energizing power of red. Its centuries of association with English military victory give it an accumulated energy that makes it one of the most powerful stones in the collection.

The Stuart Sapphire: A Stone of Royal Exile

Set in the back of the Imperial State Crown is the Stuart Sapphire — a large oval blue sapphire (104 carats) with a history as dramatic as any stone in the collection. The sapphire is believed to have been part of the regalia of James II, who took it into exile when he fled England in 1688 following the Glorious Revolution. It subsequently passed through the collections of the exiled Stuart court in France before being acquired by George IV and incorporated into the Crown Jewels.

The Stuart Sapphire's journey — from the crown of a deposed king, through decades of royal exile, back to the crown of the restored monarchy — gives it a poignant historical resonance. Its deep blue color and its associations with wisdom, truth, and divine favor make it an appropriate stone for a crown that symbolizes the sovereign's responsibility to rule justly.

The Four Rubies: Courage at the Corners

The Imperial State Crown contains four rubies, set at the four corners of the crown's arches. These stones — smaller than the Black Prince's Ruby but significant in their own right — reinforce the crown's associations with royal courage and vitality. Their placement at the structural corners of the crown gives them a protective function, guarding the crown's integrity from all directions.

The 17 Sapphires: Wisdom Throughout

Seventeen sapphires are set throughout the Imperial State Crown, in addition to the Stuart Sapphire. These range from large stones in prominent settings to smaller stones that provide blue accents throughout the crown's design. Their consistent presence throughout the crown reflects the deep association between sapphires and royal wisdom — a tradition stretching back to the medieval understanding of sapphires as the stone of bishops and kings.

The 11 Emeralds: Hope and Renewal

Eleven emeralds are set in the Imperial State Crown, their vivid green color providing contrast to the blue of the sapphires and the red of the rubies. Emeralds are associated with hope, renewal, and the fertile power of nature — qualities that complement the crown's other gemstone symbolism and reflect the sovereign's responsibility for the flourishing of the kingdom.

The 269 Pearls: Purity and Maritime Power

The Imperial State Crown contains 269 pearls, set in elaborate drop and cluster arrangements throughout the crown. Pearls — the only gemstone produced by a living creature — have been associated with purity, wisdom, and maritime power in British royal tradition since the Tudor period. Their presence in the Imperial State Crown connects the modern monarchy to centuries of pearl symbolism and to Britain's historic identity as a maritime nation.

The Crown's Weight and the Sovereign's Burden

The Imperial State Crown weighs approximately 1.06 kg — significant but manageable for a healthy adult. Monarchs have traditionally practiced wearing the crown around the palace before state occasions to accustom themselves to its weight and balance. Queen Elizabeth II reportedly wore it while reading newspapers and eating breakfast in the days before the State Opening of Parliament, developing the upright posture and steady head movements necessary to wear it gracefully.

This physical dimension of the crown — its weight, its balance, the discipline required to wear it well — is a reminder that royal regalia is not merely symbolic but physical. The crown's gemstones, with their healing and protective properties, support the sovereign not just symbolically but energetically, providing a concentrated field of crystal energy that surrounds the wearer's head — the seat of wisdom, perception, and divine connection.