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Famous Diamonds: The Koh-i-noor
Of all the diamonds in our Famous Diamonds series, the Koh-i-noor has one of the most mysterious pasts. Its origin is obscure and shrouded in secrecy, resulting in centuries of debate about its previous ownership.
A spoil of war for centuries, the gem is in the crown of the Queen Mother as part of the British imperial regalia. – STR/AFP/Getty Images
It is thought that the Koh-i-noor belonged to the first Mogul ruler of India, Babur, and described as worth “half the daily expense of the whole world” in the early 16th century. The stone is said to have obtained its name in 1739 in the aftermath of the Battle of Karnal, located north of Delhi. Having just defeated the Mogul ruler of India, Nader Shah took possession of the stone through an exchange of turbans, and exclaimed: “Koh-i-Noor,” which means “mountain of light,” when he first saw it. Through a number of conquests and misadventures, the diamond continued to change hands until it came into the ownership of Queen Victoria following the English annexation of the Punjab Province in 1849.
When the Koh-i-noor arrived in England in 1850, it was reported to have weighed 186.10 carats, poorly cut with an oval table and four unequal facets, and set in an armlet. In 1852, largely on the suggestion of Prince Albert, it was recut for Queen Victoria, which resulted in a loss of weight in the stone of almost 43%. It now weighs 105.60 carats, a modified oval brilliant cut, and is set in the Maltese Cross, a platinum crown designed for Queen Elizabeth II for her 1937 coronation.
Just one of the many legends surrounding this gem is that the Koh-i-noor can only be worn by a queen or queen consort because it will bring bad luck to any man who wears it.
Learn about the The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, Cullinan II and The Orlov, all part of our famous diamonds series.