![]() The Daria-i-Noor diamond from the collection of the Iranian National Jewels | |
Weight | 182 carats (36.4 g) |
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Color | Pale pink [1] |
Cut |
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Country of origin | India |
Mine of origin | Kollur Mine, present-day Andhra Pradesh, India |
Owner | Central Bank of Iran, Tehran, Iran |
The Daria-i-Noor ( Persian for 'Sea of Light' or 'Ocean of Light' [2] ), [a] also spelled Darya-ye Noor and Daria-i-Nur, is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing an estimated 182 carats (36 g). [3] Its colour, pale pink, is one of the rarest to be found in diamonds. The diamond is currently in the Iranian National Jewels collection of the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran. [4] During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, an elaborate frame was crafted from 457 smaller diamonds and four rubies, crowned by Iran's imperial insignia. [5] [6] However, another diamond with the same name is in a private collection in Bangladesh. [2]
It is 41.40 mm × 29.50 mm × 12.15 mm (1.630 in × 1.161 in × 0.478 in) and weighs around 182 metric carats. It is the world's largest known pink diamond. [3] Originally, it may have been cut from an even larger stone. [7]
This diamond, as is also presumed for the Koh-i-Noor, was mined in Kollur Mine in the Golconda region of Andhra Pradesh, India. [8] [2] Its early origins are shrouded in mystery, but it is believed to have been one of the eyes of the Mughal Peacock Throne. [2]
In 1739, Nader Shah of Iran invaded Northern India and occupied Delhi. As payment for returning the crown of India to the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah, he took possession of the entire fabled treasury of the Mughals, including the Daria-i-Noor, the Koh-i-Noor, and the Peacock Throne. [3]
After Nader Shah's death in 1747, the diamond was inherited by his grandson, Shahrokh Shah. From there, it fell into the hands of Lotf Ali Khan. After Lotf Ali Khan's defeat at the hands of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, who established the ruling Qajar dynasty of Iran, the Daria-i-Noor entered the Qajar treasury. During this time, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar was said to be very fond of the diamond, often wearing it as an arm band, an aigrette, or a brooch, and maintenance of the diamond was an honour bestowed upon higher ranking individuals. [4]
In 1965, a Canadian team conducting research on the Iranian Crown Jewels concluded that the Daria-i-Noor may well have been part of a large pink diamond that had been studded in the throne of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and had been described in the journal of the French jeweller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1642, who called it the Great Table diamond ("Diamanta Grande Table"). This diamond may have been cut into two pieces; the larger part is the Daria-i-Noor; the smaller part is believed to be the 60-carat (12 g) Noor-ul-Ain diamond, presently studded in a tiara also in the Iranian Imperial collection. [1]