Summary
The Noor-ul-Ain, a remarkable pink diamond from India’s Golconda Mines, is one of the largest and most renowned colored diamonds in the world. Originating from the historic Kollur Mine, it is part of the Noor-ul-Ain Tiara, which was commissioned by the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1958 for his wife, Farah Diba. Crafted by American jeweler Harry Winston, the tiara features the Noor-ul-Ain diamond along with other white, pink, and yellow diamonds. Historically, the Noor-ul-Ain was cut from the Great Table Diamond, which had once adorned the Peacock Throne of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. The diamond’s journey through empires and its unique characteristics, including its classification as a Type IIa diamond, underscore its significance in the world of precious stones.
Key Points
- The Noor-ul-Ain diamond is a 60-carat pink diamond from the Golconda Mines in India.
- It is part of the Noor-ul-Ain Tiara, which was commissioned in 1958 by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran.
- The tiara, designed by Harry Winston, includes a mix of white, pink, and yellow diamonds and weighs 2 kilograms.
- The Noor-ul-Ain was cut from the Great Table Diamond, which originally weighed 400 carats and was part of the Peacock Throne of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
- The Great Table Diamond was plundered by Nader Shah in 1739 and later cut into the Noor-ul-Ain and the 182-carat Darya-i Noor diamond, both of which are now in the Iranian Crown Jewels.
- The Noor-ul-Ain is classified as a Type IIa diamond, the rarest type, known for its chemical purity and lack of nitrogen or boron impurities.
- The diamond is surrounded by 324 baguette-cut diamonds of various colors and sizes, ranging from 14 to 19 carats each.
