Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Probably Ceylon
SIZE : 39 x 29 mm
WEIGHT : 135.8 cts

This outstanding gem is the authentic "grand saphir de Louis XIV". It is also known as "Ruspoli", name derived from the roman family name who possessed this gem before the King of France.

Unlike the Sancy and Bleu de France, this stone has not been stolen during the great robbery of Crown's jewels in September 1792. Daubenton recovered it with others jewels in the Hôtel de la Monnaie and made an inventory of it in the national collection.

The rhombohedron size of this saphir respects perfectly the facets of the original saphir. We can see the zonings on natural light. It weight 27.10 grames (135.80 carats) and measures 39 x 29 mm.

Its locality is unknown, we suppose it is Ceylon. It is today kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Corundum
VARIETY :Saphir

HISTORY : Name inspired most likely by the tamoul "kurundam" and/or by the sanscrit "kuruvinda" meaning rubis

Species "discovered" in 1714 by Woodward near Bombay, India

Typ-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients
ANCIENT NAME : Télésie, topaze orientale

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Al2 O3
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Hexagonal
COLOR : Colourless, white, red, blue, yellow
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Adamantine to vitreous
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic hexagonal crystals
HARDNESS : 9
DENSITY : 3,997

CHEMICAL CLASS : IV - Oxides and hydroxide
GROUP : Corundum
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 4/C.04-10
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 4.CB.05

Explore the Mineral Treasures of the Muséum

Welcome to
the Virtual Gallery of Mineralogy

Corundum

Saphir

MNHN N°a.67

general description

The Species page

Mineralogy