National Jewelry Museum of Iran

There are many valuable and spectacular museums in Tehran. One of these important museums is the National Jewelry Museum of Iran. You can see many historical, valuable and expensive jewelry there.

Introduction:

• The National Jewelry Museum of Iran is located in the Central Bank building.
• When we pass the bank entrance, we reach the courtyard. After that, we enter the second building.
• Then, after walking up the stairs, we enter the bank vault with walls one meter thick. Part of Iran’s history is in this vault.
• Many of the jewelry in the museum were purchased by the Safavids and transferred to the treasury.
• During the invasion of Mahmud the Afghan, this treasure was scattered. Among them, the “Kuh-e-Noor Diamond” was lost forever and ended up in the Tower of London.
• After Nader Shah Afshar came to power, he wrote a letter to the King of India to return the looted jewelry to Iran.
• When the Indian king did not accept, Nader Shah invaded India. After that, he returned these jewels, as well as the “Peacock Throne”, which supposedly had the “Kuh-e-Nur Diamond” mounted on it, to Iran.
• Of course, he presented some of them to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) and some to the emirs, leaders of his army, and rulers.
• During the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, some of these jewels were mounted on works that the kings ordered to be made.
• In 1316 AH, the jewels were transferred to the Central Bank of Iran and were made available to this bank with the opening of the Central Bank in 1339.

Jewels in the museum:
Now let’s examine the valuable jewels of this museum:
Peacock Throne or Sun Throne:

• This throne was built by order of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.
• The sun that was placed at the top of it, the gilding and decorations with precious stones, show the artistry of the hands of artists more than the glory and splendor of the kings.
• Of course, this throne is different from the peacock throne that Nader Shah brought from India.
• ​​When Fath Ali Shah married “Peacock of Taj al-Dawla”, he changed the name of the Sun Throne to the Peacock Throne.
  Naderi Throne:
• This throne was also built by order of Fath Ali Shah.
• This throne is made of 12 separate pieces of wood.
• In order for the Shah to use it when he went hunting and military campaigns.
• Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi used this throne for his last coronation.
• Two peacocks are on top of the throne and two dragons are on either side of a leopard under the first step.
• All of these are gold-plated and have precious stones.
  Nasser al-Din Shah’s Jewel Globe:
• This geographical globe was built by order of Nasser al-Din Shah.
• 34 kilograms of gold and 3656 grams of jewels and 51366 pieces of diamonds, emeralds and rubies were used in this globe.
• In this globe, Tehran is shown with a large ruby, and Iran and England with diamonds.
• Accordingly, the bond between Iran and England at that time can be felt through this means.
  Royal Crowns and Half Crowns:
• A number of crowns and half crowns from the Pahlavi period can be seen in this treasure.
• Their design and construction are inspired by the art of the Achaemenid and Sasanian eras.
  Kiani Crown:
• This very beautiful crown was made by order of Fath Ali Shah Qajar.
• Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls were used in its construction.
  Pahlavi Crown:
• This crown was made by order of Reza Shah.
• Gold and silver were used in its construction.
• A set of jewelry such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls was used in it.
• This crown is designed in the style of Sasanian works.
• Reza Shah and the children of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi used it in their coronations.
  Abbas Mirza’s Hat:
• This hat has fewer jewels than other crowns in the museum.
• It is made of satin, red velvet, pearls, and sequins.
• The jewels used in the hat are emeralds, diamonds, gold, and rubies.
  Golden Belt:
• This belt was also made by order of Nasser al-Din Shah.
• A beautiful emerald weighing 176 carats is placed on this belt.
  Shahbanu’s Crown:
• A group of French jewelers were brought to Iran to make this crown.
• They worked for 6 months to design and make it.
• The crown is made of white gold, pearls, green emeralds, diamonds, and rubies, etc.
• The weight of this crown is 2 kilograms.
• Before that, no court lady had been crowned in previous eras.
  Darya-e-Noor:
• Legend has it that Darya-e-Noor was discovered about a thousand years ago.
• This expensive piece of craftsmanship was the sword of Afrasiab.
• Rostam captured it in the war with the Turanians.
• When Timur attacked Iran, this diamond went to India and reached the hands of Mohammad Shah.
• After that, Nader Shah brought the Darya-e-Noor and Koh-e-Noor diamonds to Iran.
• This rare pink diamond was placed in a lion and sun frame during the reign of Nasser al-Din Shah to be placed on the king’s hat.
  Naderi Jaqeh:
• Naderi Jaqeh is a type of hat pin, which was installed on the hat of kings.
• This hat has a large emerald piece in the middle and small diamonds and pearls around it.
• Designs of drums, cannon barrels, spearheads, flags, etc. can be seen in it, which is covered with various jewels.
  Half-crown of Noor-ol-Ain:
• This half-crown was made by the famous New York jeweler Harry Winston for Farah Pahlavi, the third wife of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
• This crown was also placed on Farah’s head at her wedding ceremony.
• A beautiful pink diamond shines on top of it. It is said to be part of the famous Sea of ​​Light diamond.
• The base of this crown is platinum and yellow, white, and pink diamonds are used in it.

Visiting regulations:

• Before entering the treasury, it is mandatory to pass through the inspection gate