Why should we visit the National Jewelry Museum of Iran?
With visiting the National Jewelry Museum of Iran, you enter a world of color, light, shine and beauty. You watch everything while you are stunned and you will not believe the glory and splendor around you. This museum houses some of the finest, most precious and beautiful jewels of Iran and the world. Now we want to introduce you the most prominent treasures of this museum.
Darya-i-Nur (Sea of Light)
The most magnificent, most beautiful and most valuable jewel of the National Jewelry Treasure is Darya-i-Nur. This is the largest pink diamond in the whole world. A golden frame with designs of lion and sun and 457 pieces of fine brilliants and 4 pieces of sapphire covered this dazzling diamond.
The first place in history that you can trace Darya-i-Nur is in the battle of Nadir Shah Afshar with Indians in 1793 AD. Nasereddin Shah, Mohammad Hassan Khan Qajar, Lotf Ali Khan Zand and Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar were among those who owned this diamond for a while. The adventure of this extraordinary diamond ended in the National Jewelry Museum. Since then it has been used as one of the supporters of Iranian Rial.
Kiani Crown
Definitely one thing that will catch your eye in the National Jewelry Museum of Iran is glittering Kiani Crown. This crown was built by the order of Fath-Ali shah and the succeeding Gajar kings used it. The Kiani Crown’s height is 32 cm and its width is 19.5 cm. So this crown is very impressive and decorated with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls. For first time after Sassanian collapse, this crown was built in the form of that period’s crowns.
As Reza Shah was reluctant to use the crown used by Qajar kings at his coronation ceremony, ordered to transfer Kiani crown to jewelry treasury. After that, the Pahlavi crown was built and used in the coronation of Pahlavi kings.
Pahlavi Crown
One of the most famous and wonderful crowns in the National Jewelry Museum is Pahlavi crown, built by the order of Reza shah. This crown was used at the coronation ceremony of Reza shah and his son, Mohammad Reza.
Decorations of Pahlavi crown are diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and pearls. The fabric of the crown is very exquisite red velvet. The golden sun with radiant diamonds and large yellow diamonds gives this crown a unique glory. The general design of this crown was in the style of the crown of Sassanid kings.
Jewel-Studded Globe
Another astonishing treasure of the National Jewelry Museum is Jewel-Studded Globe, which attracts all the visitors. This globe was made by the order of Naser al-Din Shah and by a group of Iranian jewelers. On Jewel-Studded Glob, the seas are decorated by emeralds, dry lands by sapphires, Iran and England and Southeast Asia with white diamonds, India with bright sapphire, central and South Africa with dark sapphire. Equator and other geographical lines also shine among other places.
Jewel-Studded Globe differs from anything you have ever seen. The amount of jewelry and gold used in it will amaze you for moments.
Peacock Throne (Takhteh Tavoos)
Another luxurious treasure that you can visit in the National Jewelry Museum is the huge and famous Peacock Throne or Sun Throne. This throne was built during the reign of Fath-Ali shah and by his order. Since there is a design of sun with valuable stones at the top of the throne, it was named the Sun Throne. This throne had this name for many years. It was named the Peacock Throne (Takhte Tavous) after the marriage of Fath-Ali shah with Tavous (peacock) Tajodoleh, due to her name.
Fath-Ali shah used the Peacock Throne when he wanted to meet usual people and also for meeting with ministers, ambassadors and foreign official guests. He sat on top of this throne to show everybody the glory of his kingdom.
Nur al-eyn Crown
One of the most spectacular crowns in the National Jewelry Museum is Nur al-eyn Crown that was built for Farah Pahlavi, the third wife of Mohammad Reza Shah. This elegant beautiful crown was used at the wedding ceremony of Farah Pahlavi and it is well-known for its rare pink diamond that makes it special. The small yellow, white and pink diamonds embody the larger diamond and show the excellent art of its builder.
It is believed that this diamond was brought into Iran after Nadir Shah Afshar conquered Delhi in 18th century. Also, it said that this diamond is a part of larger gem called the Great Table diamond. That larger diamond is thought to have been cut in two, one section becoming the Nur al-eyn and the other Darya-i-Nur.
Nadir Aigrette
Nadir Aigrette is one of the most famous jewelry in the National Jewelry Museum and even in Iran, which dates back to 12th century and Afsharid dynasty. In addition to the large emerald stone in its center, this aigrette is adorned with enchanting large and small rose diamonds. Above the emerald stone, which is right in the middle of the aigrette, there are seven branches that you can see leaf and flower on both sides of them. Besides, two emerald pendants are hung from the top of the aigrette and three emerald pendants from the bottom of the aigrette. All these ornaments make this gem really unique and magnificent. Reza shah Pahlavi often used this aigrette that weighs 781 carats.
Nadir Throne
Walking in National jewelry museum, a glittering chair with its splendor will catch all your attention at the end of the hall. This chair, known as the Nadir throne, was made by Fath-Ali Shah order and designed by Iranian jewelers and craftsman. 22000 pieces of gems and jewelry exquisitely decorated this throne. Since there is no such thing in terms of beauty and value in the world, it has been called Nadir (meaning rare).
The Nadir throne was used only for king’s trips. Therefore, the makers made it in nine separate pieces in order to make it easier to carry. The last time this throne was used was the time of the coronation of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
Precious Stones of the National Jewelry Collection
Another attractive thing that worth visiting in the National Jewelry museum is a collection of precious stones, which you cannot see anywhere else in the whole world. As samples of this collection, we can mention: row of small pearls that have become long strings used to decorate curtains in palaces, the biggest red spinel in the world, yellow African diamonds, rare red and black diamonds etc.
Address: Ferdowsi Ave, Tehran, Iran.
Telephone: +98 21 6446 3758, 6446 3869
Opening times: open during Saturdays to Tuesdays 14:00 _ 16:30, closed on Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays.
Price: local visitors = 40000 Rials, tourists = 200000 Rials.
3 Comments
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