Noor-ol-Ain Diamond
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| Weight | Around 60 carats (12 g) |
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| Color | Pale Pink |
| Cut | Oval Brilliant |
| Country of origin | India |
| Mine of origin | Golconda |
| Original owner | Mughal |
| Current owner | Iranian Crown Jewels [1] |
The Noor-ol-Ain is one of the largest pink diamonds in the world, and the centre piece of the tiara of the same name.
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[edit] History of the diamond
The diamond is believed to have been recovered from the Golconda mines in India and was brought into the Iranian Imperial collection after Persian general Nader Shah Afshar looted and ransacked Delhi in the 18th century.
The Noor-ol-Ain is believed to have once formed part of an even larger gem. That larger diamond is thought to have been cut in two, with one section becoming the Noor-ol-Ain and the other the Darya-ye Noor diamond. Both of these pieces are currently part of the Iranian Crown Jewels.[2]
[edit] History of the tiara
The Noor-ol-Ain is the principal diamond mounted in a tiara of the same name made for Iranian Empress Farah Pahlavi's wedding to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1958. The tiara was designed by Harry Winston. It is a modern design, featuring 324 pink, yellow, and white diamonds set in platinum. It is said to weigh around 2kg. The tiara forms part of the Iranian crown jewels, held at the National Treasury of Iran in the Central Bank in Tehran. [3]
Noor-ol-Ain translated from Persian (via Arabic loan) means the light of the eye.
Noor-ol-Ain is a Type IIa diamond.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.iranchamber.com/museum/royal_jewels/national_iranian_jewels09.php
- ^ http://www.iranchamber.com/museum/royal_jewels/national_iranian_jewels09.php
- ^ http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com/2012/02/tiara-thursday-noor-ol-ain-tiara.html
- ^ http://forum.santabanta.com/showthread.htm?t=77584&page=3
