Set with emeralds, sapphires, rubies, pearls, 365 rose cut diamonds and a whopping amethyst, the cross-embellished orb (seen in the Queen's left hand) was created to represent Christ's authority over the world, and has been used for every coronation since 1661.
A symbol of the monarch's role as head of state, the scepter was created in 1661, and it contains the largest cut diamond in the world. The 3,106 carat Cullinan diamond was discovered in 1905, and the fist-sized stone was the biggest ever found. After it was gifted to King Edward VI it was broken down into several pieces. The largest - the 530.2 carat Cullinan I, also known as The Star of Africa - was set at the top of the scepter, while the other Cullinan were used mostly in brooches.
