The history of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, whose name in Persian means ‘Mountain of Light,’ is full of legends and the most peculiar stories. This extraordinary, bright stone was discovered in India in the 13th century. For centuries, it belonged to the rulers of many lands, and its owners went insane, were poisoned, murdered, and fell ill with mysterious diseases. The diamond supposedly brought misfortune to every man who came into possession of it.Was it really the diamond’s fault? Where is the Koh-i-Noor now, and why is it considered one of the most valuable diamonds in the world?
An extraordinary discovery
Over seven centuries ago, in a small village called Kollur in India, an extraordinary stone was found. Everyone was astonished by its unusual color and large size. Until the 14th century, the diamond belonged to the Rajas of the Kakatiya dynasty in Warangal. In 1323, the Sultan of Delhi conquered Warangal, and the Koh-i-Noor became part of his spoils. The diamond remained in the possession of the ruler’s family in India until 1526, after which it fell into the hands of Emperor Babur, the ruler of the Mughal Empire.
Mountain of Light
For several centuries, the Koh-i-Noor remained in the possession of the Mughal emperors, who placed the diamond on the Peacock Throne – a gem-encrusted seat. When in 1739 the Persian ruler Nader Shah Afshar conquered Delhi, drawn by tales of the extraordinary wealth of Emperor Muhammad Shah, he threw the latter into prison and plundered all the treasures. Among the jewels, however, there was no trace of the precious diamond he had heard so much about.Legend has it that Nadir Shah discovered the Koh-i-Noor hiding place by accident. When he threw Muhammad Shah into prison, he ordered the turbans of the deposed emperor to be exchanged. He did not know that Muhammad had hidden his beloved diamond in the headgear. When Nadir saw the bright, sparkling diamond, he shouted “Koh-i-Noor.” From that moment on, the name stuck to the diamond.
Koh-i-Noor in Persia
Nadir Shah brought the Koh-i-Noor to Persia, but he was very afraid that the diamond would be stolen from him, which ultimately drove him to madness and led to his sudden death at the hands of assassins in 1747. After Nadir Shah’s departure, his grandson gave the diamond to Ahmad Shah Durrani, now considered the founder of modern Afghanistan, in exchange for his support. Ahmad ordered the diamond to be placed on a bracelet so he could always have it with him. Soon he was struck by a mysterious disease – his body seemed to rot while he was still alive.The ruler died in 1772 in terrible pain. The diamond went to his children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, everyone who wore the bracelet with the beautiful crystal soon lost their life. As a result of succession struggles, the diamond ended up with Shah Shuja Durrani, who was the last Persian owner of the stone. Between 1801 and 1809, he fought with Mahmud Shah for the throne. After losing the battle, he fled with the Koh-i-Noor to Punjab, now known as Lahore, in Pakistan. When he arrived, he was captured by the soldiers of the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh.However, Shah Shuja managed to redeem himself by giving the Koh-i-Noor to the Maharaja. In exchange for this, he helped the Shah regain the throne of Afghanistan. Ranjit Singh often wore the diamond in his turban and greatly valued its extraordinary beauty.
Koh-i-Noor goes to England
In 1849, the British East India Company took over the Sikh Empire. The British imprisoned the last Sikh ruler, Dalip Singh, and took the Sikhs’ wealth as war compensation, forcing Dalip to sign an act of surrender. In the peaceful Treaty of Lahore, which ended the war in 1846, the fate of Koh-i-Noor was addressed. From that moment on, the stone was to belong to the British conquerors. In England, the East India Company presented the diamond as a gift to Queen Victoria in 1850.
Re-cut
The diamond pleased the queen, who wore it in a brooch. In 1851, with the monarch’s consent, the Koh-I-Noor was exhibited at the Great Exhibition in London. However, the diamond had not been cut for years, and its outdated shape, so typical of the Mughal era, did not impress the residents of the Old Continent – it was not as sparkling as other cut diamonds from that era. The monarch was very dissatisfied because of this, so Prince Albert, the queen’s husband, suggested that the diamond be recut.
In 1852, the search began for a professional who would be talented enough to cut a diamond in a perfect way. Unfortunately, no one like that was found in England, so the British decided to look for an expert outside their country. That is how they ended up in Amsterdam, where they asked Mr. Coster from Royal Coster Diamonds for help, and he agreed to assist them. He sent two of his best employees to England.Fedder and Voorzanger polished a 186.00-carat diamond down to its current weight of 108.93 carats, bringing out a dazzling brilliance from the stone. From that moment, the name Koh-i-Noor was fully appropriate: the diamond shone like a mountain of light.
Currently, Koh-i-Noor is displayed in the Tower of London along with other crown jewels of the United Kingdom.
Legends associated with Koh-i-Noor
There are many legends associated with the Koh-i-Noor. One of the best known says that this diamond can only be worn by emperors and female monarchs. Thanks to the power of the stone, they will rule for a long time and prosperously. However, if a man wears the stone during his reign, he will die prematurely (historical facts do not contradict this…). The Koh-i-Noor has been worn only by female leaders throughout its existence in England.
Custom jewelry
Diamonds adorn most of the crown jewels of world monarchies, and they are also the most commonly chosen gemstone in wedding and engagement jewelry. The ring and wedding band designs from our 79 Diamonds jewelry workshop are characterized by excellent quality materials – we use only certified diamonds – and each design is dedicated, unique, and made with the greatest precision and attention to detail. Our custom diamond jewelry will certainly help celebrate and forever commemorate the special moment of engagement and marriage. Visit the workshop website 79 Diamondsand find what suits you best in the rich offer of gold rings and wedding bands with diamonds.