
Persian Princess Tamar Ring
A ring of understated luxury, timeless craftsmanship, and a story that transcends centuries: the Persian Princess Tamar Ring is a meaningful bespoke creation for a young woman who appreciates history, elegance, and the power of a remarkable legacy.
The centrepiece of the Persian Princess Tamar Ring is an Islamic Seljuk dirham from the first reign of Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Kay Khusraw II, dated AH 648 / AD 1240-1241. Minted in Sivas (modern-day Turkey), the coin’s obverse features a lion striding beneath a radiant sun face, encircled by stars and a crescent, celestial symbols rich with meaning.
Princess Tamar, known as Gurju Khatun, led a life of complexity and resilience. Born into royalty, she was celebrated for her intellect and patronage of art and science. Despite challenges in her marriage to Sultan Kay Khusraw II, she left an indelible mark on the Seljuk court and beyond. She supported renowned artists and thinkers, including the Sufi poet Rumi, whose tomb she sponsored in Konya.
The lion on the coin represents the Sultan’s strength, while the radiant sun face symbolises Tamar, illuminating her role as a powerful and enlightened figure. This emblem, later known as shir-u hurshid (Lion and Sun), became a symbol of harmony and balance in the Islamic world. Surrounding this remarkable coin, 36 hand-selected grey sapphires complement the silver of the dirham, while the 18k yellow gold setting lends warmth and elegance. The sapphires’ soft hues enhance the coin’s historic importance, creating a design that is as refined as it is meaningful.
This extraordinary ring is a testament to a timeless love story and a tribute to a woman of remarkable strength and influence, forever immortalised in a single coin.
"Wearing this ring reminds me that strength often emerges from life’s complexities. This ring and the coin became a symbol of resilience, intellect, and love, that inspire me."