The Darya-i-Noor (which translates from Farsi to “Sea of Light”) is the largest pink diamond and one of the largest cut diamonds on the planet. Though the exact weight is unknown, it’s estimated around a massive 182 carats. Another jaw-dropping estimation? The stone is valued at $16.5 billion. To offer a little perspective, that’s just under a 1/4th of Bill Gates’ net worth, meaning this would be big chunk of change even for the world’s richest man!
Supposedly the Darya-i-Noor was once part of a larger diamond that was cut in two. The smaller piece is now with the Iranian Crown Jewels, but the larger stone? While its exact location has sparked debate, Iran claims it is currently stored in their Central Bank. The sparkler was originally mined in India and owned by Mughal emperors before Iran invaded the country and took the gem, along with other precious treasures. We know that in its time, the Darya-i-Noor has been worn as an armband, a brooch, and a decoration on military hats. Fact and fiction aside, whoever gets to see this gargantuan diamond in person is one lucky Jewel Snob!
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