Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown is one of the British Crown Jewels.

The Crown is of a design similar to St Edward's Crown: it includes a base of four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, above which are four half-arches surmounted by a cross. Inside is a velvet cap with an ermine border. The Imperial State Crown includes several precious gems, including: 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies.

The Crown includes several famous jewels. The Cross atop the Crown is set with a stone known as St. Edward's Sapphire, a sapphire taken from the ring (or possibly coronet) of Edward the Confessor. The Black Prince's Ruby (actually a spinel) is set on the front cross pattée. Furthermore, the famous Cullinan II, or Lesser Star of Africa, is set on the front of the Crown. The back of the crown is set with the 104 carat (20.8 g) Stuart Sapphire in its band, directly above Cullinan II, is the Koh-i-Noor, which was once set into the tiara of the Queen Mother, and until recently, kept separate from the rest of the Crown Jewels, the Koh-i-Noor was placed into the Imperial State Crown shortly after the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.