While the Koh-i-Noor commands global fascination from its perch in the British Crown Jewels, its colossal, rosy-hued counterpart – the Darya-i-Noor ("Sea of Light") – languishes in relative obscurity. This isn’t just another diamond; it’s a 182-186 carat pale pink marvel, nearly twice the size of the Koh-i-Noor, forged in the legendary mines of Golconda and steeped in empires, invasions, and unmatched rarity. Buckle up for a journey into the heart of diamond history.

Golconda:

The story begins in Golconda, India the hallowed ground that birthed history’s most mythic diamonds. Unlike modern mines, Golconda’s alluvial deposits yielded crystals of unparalleled purity and size. The region’s geology produced Type IIa diamonds, chemically pure with minimal nitrogen defects.

This category includes less than 2% of all natural diamonds and Golconda’s pink variants are the rarest of the rare. The Darya-i-Noor shares this pedigree with the Koh-i-Noor and even the enigmatic Hope Diamond.

Tavernier’s "Great Table":

In the 1640s, French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier documented a staggering pale pink diamond in the Mughal treasury. He sketched it as the "Diamanta Grande Table" a name reflecting its unique flat, tabular cut. Unlike today’s brilliant cuts optimized for sparkle, Mughal lapidaries prioritized preserving carat weight, resulting in broad, luminous surfaces that captured light like a still ocean.

Tavernier’s sketches (now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France) are the first scientific record of the Darya-i-Noor.

Gemological Dissection –

The Rarity Trinity

Size: At 182-186 carats, it dwarfs the Koh-i-Noor (105.6ct).

Color: Pale pink Type IIa diamonds constitute <0.1% of gem-grade diamonds.

Cut: Its tabular cut is extinct modern equivalents like the Radiant Cut prioritize sparkle over mass preservation.

Scientific Anomalies

UV Fluorescence: Glows intense orange-red under UV light a Golconda signature.

Inclusions: Microscopic "twinning wisps" prove natural origin, as validated by the Smithsonian’s Mineral Sciences Department.

Color Origin: Unlike Australian pinks (from irradiation), its hue stems from crystallographic distortion at 725km deep.

Darya-i-Noor vs. Koh-i-Noor – Beyond the Obvious

Parameter Darya-i-Noor Koh-i-Noor

Weight 182-186 carats 105.6 carats

Color Pale Pink (Type IIa) Colorless (Type IIa)

Cut Style Mughal Tabular Victorian Oval Brilliant

Current Home Central Bank of Iran Tower of London

Public Access Rarely displayed Permanent exhibit

Auction Value $250M+ (est.) "Priceless" (Crown Jewel)

Source: GIA Diamond Origin Report

The Darya-i-Noor’s pink hue isn’t just rare; it’s a geological fluke. Pink diamonds form under extreme stress that distorts their crystal lattice. Golconda’s Type IIa pinks (like the Argyle Pink Diamonds now coveted post-mine closure) owe their color to this "plastic deformation" – a phenomenon studied by institutions like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

The Mughal Throne & Nader Shah’s Plunder

The Darya-i-Noor once glittered atop the Peacock Throne, the seat of Mughal emperors from Shah Jahan to Aurangzeb. Crafted from solid gold and studded with 2,000+ gems (including the Koh-i-Noor), the throne embodied India’s wealth.

In 1739, Persian conqueror Nader Shah sacked Delhi, hauling away the throne and its diamonds. While the Koh-i-Noor changed hands through Sikh rulers to the British, the Darya-i-Noor remained in Persia.

Today, it’s displayed at the Iranian National Jewels Treasury in Tehran a symbol of Persian resilience.

Why Pink Diamonds Command Kings’ Ransoms

Rarity: Only 1% of Argyle’s output was pink; Golconda pinks are exponentially rarer.

Auctions: The CTF Pink Star (59.6 carats) sold for $71.2M in 2017.

Science: Their color originates from deep-earth stress, not chemical impurities (Smithsonian Mineral Sciences).

For collectors, pink diamonds are the ultimate trophy asset. At CaratX , we source ethically mined pink diamonds that capture this legacy.

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The Tabular Cut: Ancient Mastery vs. Modern Brilliance

The Darya-i-Noor’s flat, rectangular profile seems understated today. Yet under Persian light, its broad facets act like prisms, bathing rooms in a soft pink glow. Modern cuts like the Radiant or Cushion Brilliant prioritize fire, but antique cuts whisper history.

At CaratX, we honor both worlds. Discover Antique-Cut Diamonds with storied pasts or commission a custom piece blending old-world charm with contemporary design.

CaratX: Your Portal to Diamond Legend

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The Sea of Light Endures

The Darya-i-Noor isn’t just a diamond; it’s a testament to human obsession, conquest, and geological magic. It survived throne-shattering wars and outshone its famous "sister" in size and rarity – yet chose silence over spectacle. In a world chasing brilliance, sometimes the greatest light is a soft, enduring glow.

Unearth Your Legacy Whether you seek a pink diamond echoing Golconda’s romance or a modern masterpiece, CaratX bridges millennia of gemology. Register now – where history meets your collection.

Image Credit - WikiPedia