![]() History of Darya-I-Noor Diamond This table-cut stone’s pavilion consists of large step facets of which one bears an inscription in Persian, "The Sultan, Sahib Qiram, Fath Ali Shah, Qajar 1250" (AD 1834, the year of his death). Darya-I-Noor along with Kohinoor was among the diamonds taken and brought to Iran by the King Nader of Afshar family. After Nader, his grandson Shahrokh took the ownership of Darya-I-Noor. Then it was passed to the hands of Mir Alam Khan who was an Arab and then to Mohammad Hassan Khan Qajar, the predecessor of the Qajar kings. After the murder of Mohammad Hassan Khan and following a series of events, King Karim Khan of Zandiyeh family became the owner of the diamond and after his death it was passed to his son Lotfali Khan. ![]() Until the time of Qajar king, Nasereddin Shah, the diamond was among the gems covered into one of the royal arm bands, but in his reign, wearing arm band slowly got out of fashion. Then, the diamond was fitted into the hat of the king, put within a golden frame along with other jewels such as the golden emblems of a lion and a sun as well as a crown. Later on, Darya-I-Noor was transferred to the National Jewellery Museum and remained there until 1908. Description of Darya-I-Noor Diamond Darya-I-Noor, cut from both sides, is like a pyramid with a four by three centimetre base. All sides of the diamond are horizontal. The table cut diamond is set in a frame with 457 smaller diamonds and 24 rubies, and the whole item of jewellery stands at a dazzling 7.2 centimetres high and 5.3 centimetres wide. Fathali Shah’s name is engraved in Persian on one surface. This is a spectacular pink and weighing 182 carats, considered unusual due to both, its colour and size. |