The Truth Behind 6 Rumors About the Precious Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) is considered a unique and beautiful diamond. However, many people may not know that it has sparked gossip and intrigue for centuries.

The Koh-i-Noor diamond

Why the Koh-i-Noor diamond is famous

Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) is one of the diamonds with the most legends in the world. It was the cause of conquests and battles for many centuries, as it passed through the hands of the Kakatiyas, Rajputs… It once belonged to Emperor Shah Jahan (1592 – 1666)

The 105-carat stone fell into British hands in the mid-19th century. It then became the central stone mounted on the British royal crown, which is currently on display at the Tower of London.

The question of ownership of the world’s largest diamond has been an ongoing debate and a hot topic for many years. For many Indians, it was the British who stole this diamond.

Koh-i-Noor was set on the Royal Crown, now on display in London

Rumor 1: Koh-i-Noor is India’s most valuable diamond

Truth: That may not be true, because when the 190.3-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond arrived in England, there were two other gemstones: Darya-i-Noor, estimated at around 175 – 195 carats and currently kept in Tehran.

The other was the Great Mughal diamond, a famous 189.9-carat diamond, found in the city of Orlov, India, and one of the largest diamonds ever found in India.

All three of these jewels were taken out of India as spoils of war during the invasion of the Persian king Nader Shah in 1739. It was not until the early 19th century, when Koh-i-Noor reached Punjab, that its golden age truly began.

Rumor 2: Koh-i-Noor is a flawless gem

Truth: The original Koh-i-Noor diamond was the largest, most perfect, and most famous diamond in the world. It may be the most valuable stone in the world, but it is also a large object with flaws. A gem missing an essential part in its core will always be incomplete.

The Koh-i-Noor diamond is the largest cut diamond in the world and is ranked as one of the most valuable diamonds in history. However, when placed next to the two Cullinan diamonds at the Tower of London, its size appears more modest than imagined.

Queen Alexandra with Koh-i-Noor mounted on the crown

Rumor 3: Koh-i-Noor originated from the Kollur mine in India in the 13th century

Truth: History does not record the exact location where the diamond was discovered, and to this day its origin remains a mystery.

People have passed down the belief that it is the Syamantak jewel, a rare precious gem from the Bhagavad Purana. It is associated with one of the most famous deities in Hindu temples, so Koh-i-Noor can also be regarded as a divine stone.

The diamond was not discovered in a mine but was found in the alluvium of a dried-up riverbed, perhaps in southern India.

Rumor 4: Koh-i-Noor was the most precious treasure of the Mughal Empire

Truth: Hindus and Sikhs preferred diamonds, while the Mughals and Persians preferred large, bright, uncut gemstones. Koh-i-Noor was one of the most valuable stones in the Mughal treasury

Gemstones were the most valuable possessions these tribes owned. These unusual jewels were discovered in their lands as well as in other regions. The stones were extremely rare, unique, and valuable. They were called “diamonds of Badakhshan” or “red spinel” because of their red color. Red spinels, extracted from red gemstones in disputed territories such as Nagaland and Myanmar, were called ‘the gold of Badakhshan’.

In fact, Humayun, the exiled Mughal emperor, even brought the Babur diamond, which many believe was Koh-i-Noor, to Shah Tahmasp of Persia.

It is said that the precious stone was returned to its place of origin, but no one knows when or how it returned to the Mughal homeland.

Rumor 5: Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila had the Koh-i-Noor stolen through the turban exchange ritual

Truth: There are two legends commonly told. One is that the gem hidden in the Mughal Emperor’s turban was thrown out and Persian king Nader took it.

Second, Nader used the turban exchange ritual to steal the Koh-i-Noor that the Mughal Emperor had hidden in his turban.

According to Persian historians, the Mughal king could not have hidden the precious gem on his person. Koh-i-Noor was a diamond from the Mughal Empire, and had once been part of the head design of the peacock on the Peacock Throne, a true Mughal heirloom that was later usurped by Persia.

Rumor 6: Koh-i-Noor was rather clumsily cut and polished by a Venetian craftsman, causing its size to be significantly reduced

The Mughal Jewelry Collection is one of the finest collections ever created. The jewelry pieces were made from diamonds and precious metals. The jeweler Hortensio Borgio used the technique of hand-engraving patterns onto diamonds and then used them to carve intricate designs into precious metals. The delicate artistry and skill required for this process made it one of the most unique methods; however, it also caused the diamond to lose a considerable amount during craftsmanship.

The fate of Koh-i-Noor is not like that of the Orlov Diamond. The Great Mughal diamond (Orlov) is the diamond found in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia.

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