Misc

Koh-e Noor, The Priceless Diamond

Queen Mother of Britain died in late March at the age of 101 and when her coffin took its place in Westminster Hall in London for three days, it was accompanied by her priceless crown which she wore at her coronation.

What makes the crown so priceless is the famous Koh-e Noor diamond at its heart. It was made for the Queen Mother to wear at the coronation of her husband King George VI in 1937. The Koh-e Noor diamond was set in a new crown. Although the crown was new but the fantastic diamond was taken from Queen Mary's crown which had been set in 1911.

The 105-carat oval diamond has a long and sinister history. Legend has it that anyone who wears it will be incredibly powerful but male owners will die. Its origins are fought over but it first surfaced in history in 1304 and Iran, Pakistan and India have all laid claim to it over the years.

At one time it was an heirloom of the Afghan kings and two years ago the Taleban leaders demanded its return. They had lost it to the Sikh king Ranjit Singh. He was deposed when the British annexed Punjab in 1849 and, exiled in Britain, he became a friend of Queen Victoria, who was godmother to several of his children.

He presented the Koh-e Noor - meaning Mountain of Light - diamond to her and it has been a centerpiece of British Royal jewelry since. The precious diamond was re-cut in 1851 after being on exhibition at Crystal Palace.

Visitors had been disappointed that it did not sparkle more. Its place in the Queen Mother's crown is at the center of a jewel-encrusted Maltese cross on top of her crown. The crown can also usually be seen on display with the other Crown Jewels in the Tower of London..