| Kohinoor also spelled Koh-e Noor or Koh-i-Nur | | | | the Queen as a spoil of war rather than a gift |
| (mountain of light), is a 105 carat gemstone that | | | | from India by Dalip Singh as Maharaja Ranjit |
| was once the largest diamond in the world | | | | Singh's successor (who had owned it). The |
| originating from the Andhra Pradesh state of | | | | Koh-i-Noor was shipped out of India on April 6, |
| India, one of the world's earliest diamond | | | | 1850, and on reaching London on July 2, 1850, it |
| producing region. It belongs to the Golconda | | | | was handed over to the Board of Directors of |
| diamonds due to its clarity and transparency. This | | | | the East India Company. A public exhibition was |
| stone that was never bought or sold, but changed | | | | held in 1851 where the public was allowed to see |
| many hands have left a trail that speaks of | | | | the Kohinoor. |
| greed, power, murder, mayhem and unhappiness. | | | | This legendary gem though very precious has |
| The Kohinoor was first mentioned in 1306 when it | | | | been believed to possess a curse. The Curse of |
| was taken from a Rajah of Malwa, whose family | | | | the Kohinoor Diamond reads: |
| had held the diamond for centuries. Formally | | | | "He who owns this diamond will own the world, |
| owned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan | | | | but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or |
| (known for the Taj-Mahal) used to be dull, | | | | a woman, can wear it with impunity." |
| non-sparkling and a little yellowish in appearance. It | | | | Whether people believe the curse or not, this |
| became the property of the British queen after | | | | diamond has history with it owners' lives filled with |
| she was proclaimed the empress of India. The | | | | misery and violence and the sort. The British |
| Kohinoor was then re-cut losing about 43% of its | | | | Royal family obviously knows this and has passed |
| weight in the process and also its yellow colour. It | | | | it only to the wife of the male heir to the throne. |
| became an oval brilliant diamond after 38 days of | | | | In the 20th century there was war over |
| re-cutting. It was a stellar cut with 66 facets in all | | | | Koh-i-noor rightful ownership. In 1947, the |
| with both regular and pavilion facets having 33 | | | | government of India asked for the return of the |
| each. | | | | diamond. Other countries like Pakistan, Iran and |
| It has been used as ornament on the crown of | | | | Afghanistan also laid claims to the ownership of |
| different British queen since its acquisition and | | | | the diamond, though the India claim is the most |
| currently in the tower of London as one of the | | | | valid since it was country where it was mined. |
| ornaments for the crown of Queen Elizabeth the | | | | In the list of other rare diamonds include, the |
| Queen mother. In 1858 Queen Victoria ordered a | | | | Golden Jubilee of Thailand currently the largest |
| new regal circlet for the diamond and currently | | | | diamond with 544.67 carats, the Star of Africa |
| set in the Maltese cross at the front of the | | | | 530.20 carats, the incomparable 407.48 carats, |
| crown. Lord Dalhousie was responsible for the | | | | the Cullinan II 317.40 carats, The Spirit of de |
| acquisition of the gem though criticized by even | | | | Grisogono, at 312.24 carats, is the world's largest |
| some of his contemporaries. It was presented to | | | | cut black diamond, and the list continues. |