Also known as The Gem of Sorrow, This haunted object does not bring accidental death but instead it brings misfortune and deep sorrow. The mysterious stone is rumored to have been stolen by a British solider from the Temple of Indra (the Hindu god of war and weather) in Kanpur, India, during the Mutiny of 1857. Before he left India, a Bengal Cavalryman Colonel W. Ferris, took what he believed to be a purple sapphire from the temple. He then returned home to his family. As soon as he returned to England, Ferris began to suffer a series of financial misfortunes which brought the family to the brink of collapse. At first Ferris blamed his own poor judgement but when every member of the family also suffered a series of debilitating illnesses, his thoughts turned to the gem. His fears were confirmed when he lent the stone to a friend of the family who inexplicably committed suicide.
The stone was given to Edward Heron-Allen, a scientist and writer, in 1890. Soon after taking possession of the gem, this rational scientist abandoned all reason and began to attribute a series of unfortunate events to the curse of the stone. In 1902 Heron-Allen reluctantly agreed to lend the Delhi Sapphire to a friend. The friend was immediately beset by a series of unlucky events. He returned the gem to Heron-Allen who almost immediately began to suffer misfortunes again. In frustration he cast the stone into Regent’s Canal. Heron-Allen must have believed that he was rid of the curse once and for all. Unfortunately, the sapphire had other ideas. Some months later the ring was dredged from the canal and taken to a local jeweler. The jeweler immediately recognized the stone as the one he had mounted on a ring for Heron-Allen. Believing that he was performing a kindness, he returned the ring. When much later, a friend asked to borrow the jewel, Heron-Allen once again lent it out. This time the unfortunate recipient was a professional singer who never sang again after wearing the cursed gem. Exasperated, Heron-Allen packed the Delhi Sapphire into seven boxes filled with charms. He then deposited it in the safe of his bank with instructions for it not to be opened until after his death.
Heron-Allen warned that the Delhi Purple sapphire is "accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonor of everyone who has ever owned it." Wary of its alleged powers, he kept it locked away in seven boxes and surrounded by good luck charms. In 1944, Heron-Allen died. Despite insisting that the box containing the Delhi Sapphire should not be opened for 33 years after his death, Heron- Allen’s daughter wisely disposed of it as quickly as she could and sent it to the Natural History Museum. There it stayed until 1972, languishing in a drawer until curator Peter Tandy uncovered the sapphire and the strange letter enclosed detailing the particular tales of woe attached to the stone. It ends…” Whoever opens this box, do whatever you want with it. My advice however is to throw it into the sea.”
The mysterious Delhi Purple sapphire is now permanently on display as part of London’s Natural History Museum's Vault Collection.
The stone was given to Edward Heron-Allen, a scientist and writer, in 1890. Soon after taking possession of the gem, this rational scientist abandoned all reason and began to attribute a series of unfortunate events to the curse of the stone. In 1902 Heron-Allen reluctantly agreed to lend the Delhi Sapphire to a friend. The friend was immediately beset by a series of unlucky events. He returned the gem to Heron-Allen who almost immediately began to suffer misfortunes again. In frustration he cast the stone into Regent’s Canal. Heron-Allen must have believed that he was rid of the curse once and for all. Unfortunately, the sapphire had other ideas. Some months later the ring was dredged from the canal and taken to a local jeweler. The jeweler immediately recognized the stone as the one he had mounted on a ring for Heron-Allen. Believing that he was performing a kindness, he returned the ring. When much later, a friend asked to borrow the jewel, Heron-Allen once again lent it out. This time the unfortunate recipient was a professional singer who never sang again after wearing the cursed gem. Exasperated, Heron-Allen packed the Delhi Sapphire into seven boxes filled with charms. He then deposited it in the safe of his bank with instructions for it not to be opened until after his death.
Heron-Allen warned that the Delhi Purple sapphire is "accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonor of everyone who has ever owned it." Wary of its alleged powers, he kept it locked away in seven boxes and surrounded by good luck charms. In 1944, Heron-Allen died. Despite insisting that the box containing the Delhi Sapphire should not be opened for 33 years after his death, Heron- Allen’s daughter wisely disposed of it as quickly as she could and sent it to the Natural History Museum. There it stayed until 1972, languishing in a drawer until curator Peter Tandy uncovered the sapphire and the strange letter enclosed detailing the particular tales of woe attached to the stone. It ends…” Whoever opens this box, do whatever you want with it. My advice however is to throw it into the sea.”
The mysterious Delhi Purple sapphire is now permanently on display as part of London’s Natural History Museum's Vault Collection.