THE KOH-I-NOOR – UNESTIMATED, PRICELESS
The name itself is enough to get people hooked. Koh-i-Noor means ‘Mountain of Light’ in Persian, and suggests the position this particular stone has occupied since its alleged discovery in the 1300s in the Golconda diamond mines in India. It was the largest diamond in circulation till 1852, when Prince Albert decided to reduce it from 105.6 carats to 86 carats in order to increase its brilliance and sparkle.
Much of its mystery is due to allegations that it is a cursed stone, bringing doom to its owner. And actually, till it came to the possession of Britain in 1849, it had brought destruction upon every owner who had ever owned it. The diamond is oval in shape, and now resides in the HM Tower of London. It is a popular tourist attraction, and was last a part of the Queen Mother’s Crown. William Dalrymple and Anita Anand recently co-authored a book attempting to trace the history of the diamond and the legends surrounding it.
It must be noted here that none of the prices listed is fixed. Often new diamonds enter circulation, bidders perform breathtaking stunts to outdo each other, price per carat changes, and most importantly, amazing things happen to owners of diamonds which increase their exclusivity. Even reading about them is a fascinating experience which has interested scholars over the ages.
by Beautifullife
