The Koh-i-Noor Diamond: Authentic Crown Jewel at the Tower of London

No, the Koh-i-Noor diamond on display at the Tower of London is not a replica—it is the genuine historic diamond. It is set in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1937) and displayed in the Jewel House with the Crown Jewels.

Provenance & History

• Origin: Golconda mines, India (Andhra Pradesh) — likely 12th-14th century
• Early History: Kakatiya dynasty → Delhi Sultanate → Mughal emperors (Babur, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb)
• Persian Conquest: Nader Shah (1739) took it to Persia; named "Koh-i-Noor" ("Mountain of Light")
• Afghan Interlude: Ahmad Shah Durrani → Shah Shuja
• Sikh Empire: Ranjit Singh (1813) wore it on state occasions
• British Acquisition: 1849 Treaty of Lahore (after Second Anglo-Sikh War); 10-year-old Maharaja Duleep Singh "presented" it to Queen Victoria

Recutting & Setting

• Original Weight: ~186 carats (Indian rose cut)
• 1852 Recut: Prince Albert commissioned Garrard & Co.; recut to 105.6 carats oval brilliant (lost 43% weight) to improve brilliance
• Settings: Queen Victoria's brooch → Queen Alexandra's crown (1902) → Queen Mary's crown (1911) → Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's crown (1937)

Contested Ownership

Four nations claim it:

• India: "Stolen property"; demands return (2016 parliamentary resolution)
• Pakistan: Lahore was capital of Sikh Empire; territory now in Pakistan
• Afghanistan: Shah Shuja surrendered it under duress
• Iran: Nader Shah took it from Delhi

UK government position: legal under 1849 treaty; non-negotiable. Display label acknowledges "history of conquest."

Display & Security

• Location: Jewel House, Tower of London (since 1937 coronation)
• Setting: Front cross of Queen Mother's crown (platinum, 2,800 diamonds)
• Security: Bombproof glass, climate control, 24/7 armed guard, pressure sensors
• Viewing: Moving walkway (travelator) ensures flow; no photography

Curse Legend

Tradition: "He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or a woman can wear it with impunity." Hence only queen consorts/queen mothers have worn it since Victoria.