Corinthian Experience: Tehran’s Aladdin’s cave
Tehran may seem like an unlikely location for one of the world’s most important collections of jewels, but within a bank vault in the Iranian capital is a collection that is nothing short of astonishing. The incorporable collection which now known as the “Treasury of the National Jewels”, was built up over the past two hundred years by Iran’s former kings. There can be few, if any, bank vaults in the world that present the visitor with such an Aladdin’s Cave of wealth, glittering beauty, and exquisite artistic achievement. In a room the size of grand reception hall are an extraordinary range of jewelled exhibits. Amongst try upon tray of loose, uncut, and polished diamonds, rubies, emeralds, spinals, jewelled scabbards, thrones, and aigrettes, are some more curious exhibits including: a curtain fringe made entirely from miniature pearls, a tea set encrusted with enormous gems stones, and a globe of jewels. While not to everyone’s taste, the size of the globe is staggering and undeniably impressive. It is said to be comprised of 34 kilos of gold, and uses over 50,000 gem stones. The oceans and seas are identified in emeralds and the land is depicted in rubies, diamonds, and sapphires. The crowns and tiara’s of the Iran’s last royal dynasty, the Pahlavi’s are another major draw within the collection. The crown used by the last shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, weighs more than 2 kilos and contains more than 3,000 diamonds which total a staggering 1,144 carats and is modelled on the crowns of the ancient Sassanian kings. It might seem impossible for a single item to standout amongst these riches, but in case number 34 one item that could be held in the palm of a hand steals the show. The Darya-e-Nur (Sea of Light) is the largest pink diamond in the world and weighs in at approximately 182 carats. Pink diamonds are exceedingly rare and particularly sought after. The Darya-e-Nur is set within a frame of 457 diamonds and 4 rubies to show it off to its best advantage. While there is no substance to the story, Nasser-ed-Din Shah believed that this diamond was one of the gems decorating the crown of Cyrus the Great (558 to 529 B.C) and was particularly fond of it. Entry to the National Jewels is by guided tour only. The collection is open to visitors 4 days a week between 12 noon and 4 p.m. Saturday to Tuesday.
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