The death of Iranian Major Gen. Qassem Soleimani in an American airstrike has sparked reactions of all types from across the nation and the globe. Some have explored the circumstances that led to his killing; others have explored the legal rationale for the airstrike itself. Still others ponder the ramifications of his death on Middle Eastern politics. But there’s one particular industry that has explored a very different side of Soleimani’s death and life.
According to news reports, Soleimani’s body was identified by a distinctive ring found on one of his hands. That, in turn, prompted Israel Salas-Rodriguez and Vincent Barone of the New York Post to ask New York’s jewelers about what said ring — characterized by a large red gem — might tell us about Soleimani.
Among the takeaways from the article: Soleimani’s ring may not have been the most expensive one on the market. The experts the writers spoke with guessed that the red stone in it was likely carnelian, or possibly a large but inexpensive ruby.
As for the ring itself, Maykel Reith of R Gems Inc posited two possibilities. “It could be white gold, but it looks like silver — and whoever made a stone like this is not going to put it in gold because it’s not an expensive piece,” he said.
One of the other interviewees speculated that the ring may have been worn more for religious reasons than as a display of wealth. With Soleimani’s death, there may not be anyone remaining who can conclusively tell why he wore the ring — but there are numerous experts in the field who have plenty to say about it.
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