Koh-i-Noor

No stone on earth has as rich and fascinating a history as the Koh-i-noor. The lineage of this great diamond began in 1304 when it was held by the Rajah of Malwa. This was a time when possession of such a gem symbolized the power of an empire. In fact, it has been said that he who owns the Koh-i-noor rules the world.

As one might expect, the struggle for the Koh-i-noor was fierce. In 1738, after successfully invading Delhi, the next conquest of Nadir Shah of Persia was to acquire the great stone. Legend has it that a member of Emperor Mohammed Shah’s harem informed Nadir Shah that the jewel was kept hidden in the emperor’s turban.

So, at a victory celebration, Nadir was clever enough to suggest that he and the emperor partake in a well-known oriental custom whereby the two leaders would exchange turbans. The act would signify brotherly ties, sincerity and eternal friendship. For the host to refuse would have been a great insult to the conquering hero. Later that night, when Nadir Shah unfolded the host’s turban he discovered the gem. Upon seeing it he exclaimed, “Koh-i-noor,” meaning “mountain of light.” Nadir Shah then brought the jewel back to Persia. There it remained until 1849 when the British annexed the Punjab and took possession of it.

Three years later, after a public viewing in London, crowds expressed disappointment in the lack of brilliance in the stone. So it was decided that the gem be re-cut to accentuate its brilliance, thereby reducing its size from the 186-carat diamond to its present size of 108.93-carats.

In 1853, there was some question as to whether Queen Victoria would return the grand stone for fear of the misfortune it was rumored to bring. She answered the query by having it mounted in a tiara, joining more than two thousand other royal diamonds.

Recently, the actual legal ownership of the Koh-i-noor has once again been brought into question as world leaders vie for its ownership. But then, considering the history of the Koh-i-noor, perhaps that is how it will always be.