Nava-Gravah Ring

The representation of the Nava-Gravah – the nine celestial Hindu deities- with gemstones is a legacy of Hindu cosmology. According to it, seven planets plus two personifications of the moon cycle denote the nine celestial deities. The Gemstones are called the Nava-Ratna. Some of them are considered more valuable – the Maharatnami-(diamond, pearl, ruby, sapphire and emerald) than others – the Uparatnani-(topaz, coral, hyacinth and crysoberyll).The diamond is considered the most valuable stone, and in India it has definitely been a symbol of power and economical wealth. During the Mughal period, the rulers concentrated their fortunes in precious gemstones which were ostentatiously displayed in order to attract and intimidate. To make the best use of irregular stones, the Mughal jewellers implemented the rose cut: This normally implies a flat back as well as a domed and faceted top where the regularity is sacrificed in order to preserve as much as possible of the mass and weight of the original rough stone.