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 built up by Iran’s former kings that is nothing short of astonishing. 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. Amongst tray 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 gem stones, and a globe of jewels. The State Jewels are simply unmissable.