MAGIC JEWEL from India "Nava Ratna" meaning "the nine gems". Splendid 19th century amulet in 18k (750 thousandths) yellow gold with two sides. One side features the nine magic stones relating to the art of Indian gemology and the influence of the planets. The stones are set using the kundan technique, a meticulous application of gold leaf. Covered in opaque sky-blue enamel, it ends on either side with two birds facing each other in opaque royal blue and transparent green enamel. The back is decorated with a floral design on opaque white enamel in champlevé, also surrounded on either side by two birds. The enamel is missing. Traces of green enamel (sabz zamin) around the edge. Bracelet mounted on a cord. Size: 7 x 2.6 cm. Gross weight (with cord): 32 g. The gems are arranged according to astrological rules and normally the ruby is always in the centre, which is not the case here and makes this jewel so special! The ruby is the sun, normally the centre of the solar system, and the pearl is the moon. The coral represents Mars, the emerald Mercury (replaced here by a quartz on a straw). The topaz is Jupiter, the diamond (replaced by a colourless sapphire) is Venus. The blue sapphire is Saturn, the hessonite garnet for the ascending lunar node and the cat's-eye chrysoberyl for the descending node. The ruby and emerald are present on the rectangle in the form of suiffé cabochons.