Curses: The Curse of the Koh-i-noor Diamond

 

 

The history of the rulers who owned the Koh-i-Noor diamond was filled with violence, murders, mutilations, torture and treachery – the legend of the curse, that men will suffer at its hands, still lives on to this day...

The Koh-i-Noor Diamond, also spelled Kohinoor and Koh-i-Nur, is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing 105.6 carats (21.12 g). It is believed to have been taken from the same mines as the Hope Diamond, in Golconda India. It's name means “Mountain of Light” in Persian.

The diamond is very old, the first historical reference can be found in the memoirs of Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur. Written in 1306, the memoir refers to the diamond being stolen from the Rajah of Malwa and it weighing 739 carats uncut!

A Hindu description of the diamond warns “he who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or woman can wear it with impunity.”

The Diamond has been the prize of many bloody battles fought between Hindu, Mongolian, Persian, Afghani and Sikh leaders, it has adorned the treasury of many rulers of lands in Asia and the Middle East.


The British East India company took possession of the diamond in 1849. In 1877, Queen Victoria then the Empress of India, obtained the Koh-i-noor diamond making it part of the British Crown Jewels.

Since being in possession by English royalty the Diamond has only been worn by women, including, Queens Elizabeth II, The Queen Mother (wife of King George VI), and Queen Alexandra of Denmark.
Currently India is trying to reclaim the diamond from England, lobbying successive prime ministers for its return.

http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/koh-i-noordiamond.html

Written & Researched
By
Allen Tiller
first published 17 Dec 2012 © Eidolon Paranormal
www.eidolonparanormal.net

Curses: The Curse of the Black Orlov

Shrouded in mystery is a steely grey 67-carat diamond known as “The Black Orlov”. Legend has it that this stone was named “The Eye of Brahma”, and was an uncut stone of 195 carats set in an idol near Pondicherry India.

A monk is said to have stolen the stone and secreted it out of India. The diamond is said to have found its way to Russia, into the hands of a Princess Nadia Orlov, who is also known as Nadezhda Orlov.
Legend says that two previous owners of the Black Orlov diamond committed suicide by jumping from tall buildings, a more recent owner, a jeweller is also said to have committed suicide after jumping from the roof of a building in New York, all the suicides have not been substantiated.

In 1947, the diamond was purchased by Charles Winson, who re-cut and reset the diamond in the piece we see today, it has since this time been bought and resold by many of its owners, and has been displayed in various museums around the world.

The Diamond was valued at $150000 in 1947 and in 1995 sold for $1.5 million.
It would seem Princess Nadezhda fled Russia after the revolution and may have sold her jewels to pay for safe passage.
 
Another large diamond, known as The Orlov, was purchased by Prince Orlov as a gift for Catherine the Great. This diamond also has a legend of being stolen from an idol in India. Perhaps the history of the 2 Orlov diamonds became muddled over time.



http://www.diamond-legend.info/diamonds/black-orlov.html


Written & Researched
By
Allen Tiller
originally published 17 December 2012
  © 2012 Eidolon Paranormal