24/02/1955
The Shah and Queen of Iran in London at a reception for them. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are honored guests.
Noor-Ol-Ain Tiara
Description: It is one considered to be one of the most unique and is properly the most valuable of the Iranian jewels. The Noor-Ol-Ain tiara when translated from Persian is referred to as “the light of the eye,” is one of the largest pink diamonds in the world. The pink diamond is about 60 carats, the other diamonds included in the tiara range from 14 to 19 carats. The Noor-Ol-Ain tiara is believed to be apart of another Iranian jewel, the Darya-ye Noor, translated in Persian as the “(sea) or ocean of life,” the jewel is around 180 carats.
History: The history of Noor-Ol-Ain isn’t a very pretty one. The diamond is believed to have been recovered from the Golconda mines in India by Persian general Nader Shah Afshar in the 18th century.
The Noor-Ol-Ain was not converted into a tiara until 1959, when the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was to be married to for the last time to, Farah Diba, later Empress Farah Pahlavi. The tiara was designed by Harry Winston and includes 324 stones with the combination of pink, yellow, and white diamonds set it platinum.
Empress Farah wore the tiara for much of the time that she was the Empress of Iran. (she is the only Iranian monarch to wear this tiara) The Shah and his family were exiled in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution. As for the Noor-Ol-Ain Tiara, it belonged to the state and for that reason remains in Iran today, the Noor-Ol-Ain tiara along with other Iranian jewels are displayed at the National Treasury of Iran in the Central Bank of the capital city, Tehran.
Notable Occasions:
Empress Farah wore the Noor-Ol-Ain tiara to many state visits
- Wedding (1959)
Thanks to various royal blogs for the info: The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor, Wikipedia!, Iran Chamber, and, among others. I have tried to do my best research; hopefully there are no errors.)
February 11,1979: The Monarchy in Iran was dissolved. Mohammad Rezā Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran.
