Navaratna Jewellery: The 9 Gems, Their Planets and Tamil Names

Navaratna jewellery has been worn in India for centuries, in royal courts, at weddings and as family heirlooms. In Tamil Nadu it's a classic gift for festivals like Deepavali, for weddings, and for a father or husband on a special occasion. This guide explains what the nine gems are, what they traditionally represent, and what to check before you buy.

What does Navaratna mean?

The word comes from Sanskrit: nava means nine and ratna means gem. The nine gems are linked to the Navagraha, the nine celestial bodies of Vedic astrology. Wearing all nine together is traditionally seen as bringing the planets into balance. That's why Navaratna is often described as suitable for anyone, unlike a single astrological gemstone, which is usually chosen from a person's birth chart.

The nine gems at a glance

Ruby and the two sapphires are all corundum, one of the hardest gem materials (9 on the Mohs scale). The colour makes the difference: red corundum is ruby, and every other colour is sapphire. Pearl and coral are organic gems and much softer, so they need more gentle care.

How are the nine gems arranged?

In the traditional arrangement, the ruby (Sun) is placed at the centre and the other eight gems surround it in a fixed order, one for each direction. Rings and pendants usually follow this circle closely. Necklaces, malas and bracelets often repeat the nine-gem pattern along the length of the piece. If the arrangement matters to your family, ask the jeweller to show you how a particular design places the gems.

Types of Navaratna jewellery

• Navaratna rings: the most traditional form, usually worn on the right hand.
• Navaratna necklaces and necklace sets: statement pieces for weddings and festivals.
• Gents Navaratna malas: a chain of the nine gems, often gifted to a father, husband or groom.
• Navaratna bracelets: an easy way to wear the nine gems every day.
• Navaratna earrings and pendants: lighter pieces that pair with a necklace.

At Kumud, our Navratna range includes necklaces, earrings and bracelets in 18K yellow gold and gents malas in 22K yellow gold. The necklaces and malas are set with natural uncut diamonds.

How is Navaratna jewellery traditionally worn?

Customs vary between families and regions, but common traditions include:

• Ring: worn on the ring finger of the right hand.
• Metal: set in gold, traditionally 22K or 18K yellow gold.
• Day: many families begin wearing it on an auspicious day chosen by their astrologer, often a Sunday morning (the day of the Sun).

These are traditional practices, not rules. If you follow a specific astrological recommendation, please check with your astrologer.

What to check before you buy

Navaratna pieces combine nine different stones, so there is more to check than with a single-stone piece:

1. Certification. Ask whether the gemstones are tested by an independent laboratory, and ask to see the report.
2. Natural, treated or synthetic. Heat treatment of rubies and sapphires is common and accepted, but it should be disclosed. Lab-created stones and glass-filled rubies are very different products and should be clearly labelled.
3. Diamond type. Find out whether the diamonds are natural or lab-grown, and whether they are cut or uncut.
4. Gold purity and hallmark. Check the purity (22K or 18K) and the BIS hallmark with HUID on the piece.
5. Price breakup. A transparent seller shows the gold weight, the gold rate, the stones and GST separately. Every Kumud product page shows this breakup.
6. Returns and exchange. Read the return, exchange and buy-back terms before you pay.

Caring for Navaratna jewellery

Because the piece mixes very hard stones (diamond, sapphire, ruby) with soft organic ones (pearl, coral), clean it gently with a soft cloth. Keep it away from perfume, hair spray and household chemicals, and store it in its own soft pouch so other jewellery doesn't scratch it. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners. They can harm pearl, coral and emerald.