Footnotes

Accompanied by a SSEF report stating that the natural spinel has no indications of treatment and originates from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Report number 94742, dated 4 September 2017.

Also accompanied by a premium appendix stating that the natural spinel exhibits a remarkable size, combined with an attractive and saturated blue colour and a fine purity. Its blue colour is due to a combination of well-balanced trace elements, notably iron and traces of cobalt, typical and characteristic for the finest blue spinels of Ceylon. A natural spinel from Ceylon of this size, quality and attractive blue colour is rare and exceptional.

9.15克拉天然無經處理斯里蘭卡尖晶石配鑽石戒指,約1950年代
戒指尺寸7¼,附SSEF證書及附件


Until 1783, red and pink spinels were mistaken for rubies because they are chemically similar. Even after fine pink gems were known to be spinels they were still referred to as "balas" or "balais" rubies. The term "balas" derives from an ancient word for Badakhshan, a province north of Afghanistan on the border with Tajikistan, where important spinel specimens were anciently mined. These Kuh-i-Lal ('red mountain') mines were the world's main source of large spinels from the 1st century AD. Marco Polo (c1254–1324) described how "fine and valuable balas rubies" were dug only for the King, who owned the entire supply, which he sent to other kings as tributes or as "friendly presents".

Mughal emperors and their ancestors, the Timurids, valued large Kuh-i-Lal spinels for their beauty and as protective talismans. The gems were polished rather than cut and were often inscribed with the names of rulers and monarchs as a way of commemoration. The Carew Spinel, in the collection of the V&A in London, is inscribed with the names of Emperors Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb. Spectacular Mughal spinels which entered Persian, Russian and European royal treasuries include the "Black Prince's Ruby": a large uncut red spinel, it was given to the Black Prince by Pedro the Cruel in 1367, worn by Henry V in his helmet at the Battle of Agincourt and is now set in the Imperial State Crown in the British crown jewels. The 361-carat "Timur Ruby", also in the British crown jewels, was owned by Sultan Sahib Qiran and Ranjit Singh, the "Lion of the Punjab". A huge polished spinel decorates the Imperial Crown of Russia, made for the coronation of Catherine the Great in 1762.

Rare and exceptional, blue spinel is also known as cobalt spinel, gahnospinel, or sapphire spinel. The prized colour is a combination of well-balanced trace element in the gems crystal structure, typically cobalt and iron. Vivid blue spinel, without steely grey overtones are the most sought after and examples over 5 carats are even considered extremely rare. The best gem-quality blue spinels are discovered in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), also known as the 'Island of Gems' since historic times.

Lot 545, is a fine example of a rare blue spinel from Sri Lanka.


在1763年以前, 因為其化學成份相似, 紅色和粉紅色尖晶石一直被認為是紅寶石。甚至他們被確認為尖晶石後,仍然被稱為"紅晶石（balas）"或"紅晶紅寶石（balais ruby）"。 "balas" (Badakhshan) 這古老詞彙源於與塔吉克斯坦交界的阿富汗北部巴達赫尚, 遠古時代重要的尖晶石標本都在此被發掘。這些Kuh-i-Lal（"紅山"）礦床是公元1世紀以來世界上大顆尖晶石的主要來源。馬可•波羅（c1254-1324）曾描述道，國王擁有全部礦藏, 被採出來價值連城的balas紅寶石都會獻給他, 也用來贈送給其他國王作為貢品或"友好禮物"。

莫臥兒皇朝和他們的祖先們，帖木兒（The Timurids），都非常珍視大顆的美麗巴拉斯（Kuh-i-Lal）尖晶石，視之為護身符。寶石通常都只會抛光而不切割, 常見刻有統治者和君主的名字作為紀念方式。在倫敦V＆A博物館珍藏的卡魯尖晶石（Carew Spinel），刻有Jahangir皇帝，Shah Jahan皇帝和Aurangzeb皇帝的名字。令人讚嘆的莫臥尖晶石, 落跡於波斯，俄羅斯和歐洲皇家的寶庫裹，包括 "黑王子的紅寶石"：這枚大顆未切割的紅色尖晶石是Pedro the Cruel於1367年贈予黑王子，曾被亨利五世在阿金庫爾戰役時佩戴於頭盔上，現在鑲嵌在英國皇家珠寶珍藏中的皇冠上，另外一顆361克拉的"Timur Ruby",曾是蘇丹（Sultan Sahib Qiran）和"旁遮普之獅"蘭吉特 ∙ 辛(Ranjit Singh)的舊藏, 现時亦藏於英國皇家珠寶珍藏中。至於鑲嵌於俄羅斯皇冠之上的巨大尖晶石，當時是為1762年的凱瑟琳大帝加冕儀式而製作。

珍罕特別的藍色尖晶石也被稱為鈷尖晶石，鎂鋅尖晶石或藍寶石尖晶石。極優的顏色是來自寶石晶體內對衡的微量元素, 一般為鈷和鐵。沒有灰色色調的艷麗藍色尖晶石最受追捧，超過5克拉的尖晶石甚至被認為是非常罕見。最優質的藍色尖晶石來自從古至今被稱為"寶石島" 的斯里蘭卡（錫蘭）。

拍品545是斯里蘭卡珍罕藍色尖晶石的一個極佳例子。