Order of the Nine Gems

The Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems
เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นโบราณมงคลนพรัตนราชวราภรณ์
Order of the Nine Gems (Breast Star)
Awarded by

the King of Thailand
Type Chivalric Order
Eligibility Royal Family and people who are Buddhist
Awarded for Inspiration of the Buddhist and Insignia for high-ranking officials to the kingdom
Status Rarely constituted
Sovereign King Vajiralongkorn
Grades Knight/Dame
Statistics
First induction 1851
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of the Royal House of Chakri
Next (lower) Order of Chula Chom Klao

Ribbon bar of the Order of the Nine Gems

The Ancient and Auspicious Order of the Nine Gems (Thai: เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นโบราณมงคลนพรัตนราชวราภรณ์; RTGS: Khrueang Ratcha-itsariyaphon An Pen Borannamongkhon Noppharat Ratchawaraphon) was established in 1851 by King Rama IV of the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand). The order is bestowed upon the members of the Thai royal family and distinguished high-ranking officials who have given service to the kingdom and who are Buddhist. In practice, it is the highest Thai order granted to Thai citizens, as the two higher orders are reserved for royalty or foreign heads of state. Members of the order are entitled to use the postnominals น.ร.

History

The order is based on the model of European orders of chivalry and merit. The nine gems are the Thai form of the original Hindu royal amulet known as the navaratna and in its original form consisted of a ring of gold bearing the nine gems awarded to a Thai general after he won an important military victory and is also part of the royal insignia given the Thai king at his coronation. This ring still is part of the insignia of the order and worn by the male members of the order. The nine precious stones of the royal amulet constitute an integral part of both the badge and the star of the order.

The nine gems and the corresponding benefits that they bestow on their bearers are:

Insignia

The decoration consists of a single class (knight). The insignia are:

  • Pendant of the Nine Gems, on a yellow sash with red, blue, and green trim, worn over the right shoulder to the left hip (for men). For women, the Pendant of the Nine Gems is attached to a silk ribbon, worn on the front left shoulder.
  • Star of the Nine Gems, to wear on the left breast.
  • Gold Ring of the Nine Gems, for men, to wear on the right index finger.
  • The Sovereign Grand Master of the Order is Knight but added the Chain of the Nine Gems sash above to wear over the right shoulder to the left hip above sash badge and the star is decorated with diamonds.

References

  1. ↑ "Nine Gems Belt". Soravij.com. Retrieved 2 January 2015.


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