A gem-set enamelled-gold navratna armband (bazuband) with 19th century European bracelet
North India, 18th/ 19th Century
comprising a central square element set with gems including ruby, sapphire, coral (corallium rubrum), half pearl and cat's eye chrysoberyl on a ground of green enamel with foliate designs, flanked by two openwork foliate elements set with emerald, ruby and diamond, the reverse and sides decorated in polychrome enamel with floral and foliate motifs
the central square element 4.1 x 3.9 cm.; 67.5 g. total weight
Footnotes:
A navratna is composed of nine gems that represent the nine cosmic influences from the Hindu system of astrology. In a typical navaratna setting, each of the gems represent the following: ruby at the centre as the sun, surrounded by diamond as Venus, pearl as the moon, red coral as Mars, hessonite as Ragu (the ascending lunar node), sapphire as Saturn, cat's eye as Ketu (the descending lunar node), yellow sapphire as Jupiter and emerald as Mercury.