The Kohinoor diamond, with a mysterious origin and numerous legends, is currently in the possession of the British Crown. Its violent history may be due to its high value, and it was transformed into a brilliant cut by Prince Albert. The diamond continues to be a topic of diplomatic negotiations for its return to India.
The Kohinoor or Koh-I-Noor diamond is a famous diamond currently in the hands of the British Crown. Like many famous named diamonds, the Kohinoor is accompanied by numerous legends, including stories suggesting that it is cursed with violence. The history of the diamond has certainly been accompanied by violent struggles, but this may have less to do with a curse than the diamond’s value; the Kohinoor diamond was once one of the largest diamonds in the world, and large diamonds fetch high prices.
The origins of this diamond are somewhat mysterious. The Kohinoor diamond appears to have been mined in the Kollur mines in the Andhra Pradesh region of India, with the earliest recorded history of the diamond dating back to the early 16th century. Indian legends, however, state that the Kohinoor diamond is actually thousands of years old, with some stories saying it was created by the gods while others say it was found in the Godavari River.
Whatever the origins of the diamond, the 186 Kohinoor was one of many fabulous objects owned by the Mughal emperors of India. It passed between a number of owners, sometimes in rather suspicious ways, before being seized by the British East India Company and presented to Queen Victoria. The Kohinoor diamond was one of the most important items looted from India by the British and continues to be brought up in diplomatic negotiations, with several attempts to negotiate the diamond’s return to the homeland.
Historically, Indian diamond cutters have focused on preserving a diamond’s size, not cutting for brilliance. As a result, the Kohinoor diamond failed to wow the public or the Crown when it was brought to England. Prince Albert ordered the diamond cut, transforming the diamond into a 105-carat brilliant. Losing about 40% of diamond size was seen as an acceptable trade for a much higher quality stone.
It has been said that whoever owns the Kohinoor diamond will control the world. The British Empire certainly controlled large parts of the world at one point, although its influence has declined considerably since the Anglo-Sikh War years, when the Kohinoor was taken from India. Today, the diamond can be seen on display at the Tower of London alongside other items in the Crown Jewels, and is worn out for ceremonial occasions.
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