The World's Most Sought After Diamond

There are some stones that are considered priceless and deified in some cultures but are perceived to be worthless in others. But the diamond is one such stone for which people all over the world have cheated, lied, stolen, and killed to obtain. A diamond is considered to be the ultimate gift that a man would give his lover. A symbol of undying love and purity. Once cut and faceted diamonds become some of the most beautiful and sought-after gems on the planet. White diamonds are the most prized, yellow or brown stones are said to be imperfect, and red, blue and black diamonds are the most rare.

The word diamond is a derivation of the Greek word, "adamas", which means invincible. Diamonds are known as the hardest substance on earth and are mined deep under-ground. They’ve been discovered in India, South Africa, Ghana, Australia, Borneo, Siberia and a few isolated locations in North America. Today South Africa is the world’s number one exporter of the gemstones. Some of the most famous/infamous diamonds in the world are the Great Mogul (supposedly the biggest diamond ever found), the Cullinen (currently the largest cut diamond in the world), the Jubilee, the Tiffany, the Sultan of Morocco, the Black Orloff, the Great Chrysanthemum, the Idols Eye, the Hope and the Kohinoor, or Mountain of Light.

Amongst all these diamonds it is the Kohinoor that is sought by the Governments of two countries and numerous other suitors. It is uncertain whether the Kohinoor and the Great Moghul were the same stone or are two separate stones. It is said that the Kohinoor was discovered in the mines of Golconda in Central India. The uncut Kohinoor weighed a massive 240 karats. The first owner of the Kohinoor was the Rajah of Malwa. Two hundred years later it was claimed by Sultan Babar, the first Mogul Emperor in India. He passed it on to successive generations of mogul rulers, including Shah Jehan, the builder of one the Seven Wonders of the World – The Taj Mahal. When Nadir Shah of Persia annexed Delhi in the early 1700s, he seized the great gem.

The controversy regarding the Kohinoor begins when the British started ruling India. In 1851, when the British were truly well entrenched in India, the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab Province acquired the diamond. He dispatched the Kohinoor to Queen Victoria who decided to display it at the Crystal Palace Exhibition. While it was on display the Queen realized that if the humongous gem was re-cut it would look even more magnificent. It was promptly re-cut to a size of 108.93 karats. Today it is the prime gem in Queen Elizabeth’s crown and resides in the Tower of London.

Another twist to the Kohinoor tale is in the form of a curse upon all those who come in contact with it. The Shah of Persia died in a palace revolt trying to defend his treasures, including the Kohinoor. Most of the Indian empires that came into power suffered misfortune and misery, including Ranjit Singh, whose 8 descendants were unable to produce heirs and his entire royal line was eventually wiped out. The British overran the region with the support of Kharag Singh, but he himself died after one year of rule. After this Duleep Singh, the son of Ranjit Singh came into power. Subsequently he went to war with the British, which he badly lost. According to the conditions of the peace treaty the Kohinoor was to be handed over to the British. But Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth both wore the Kohinoor and neither of them fell prey to any misfortune. On the contrary Queen Victoria’s status improved on acquiring the diamond and on January 1, 1877 she became the Empress of India.

There have been rumors that both the Indian and British Government’s would sit and decide the fate of the Kohinoor. But nothing seems to have come of it. There are several individuals of both British and Indian descent who claim to be descendants of Maharaja Duleep Singh. They have been vociferously claiming that the Kohinoor be handed over to them. As of now the diamond seems safe in the crown of the Queen of Great Britain, but only time will tell if this is its final resting place.