The Imperial crown jewels of Iran (also known as the Imperial crown jewels of Persia) include several elaborate crowns and decorative thrones, thirty tiaras, and numerous aigrettes, a dozen bejeweled swords and shields, a vast number of unset precious gems, numerous plates and other dining services cast in precious metals and encrusted with gems, and several other more unusual items (such as a gemstone globe) collected by the Iranian monarchy during its 2,500-year existence. The collection is kept at "The Treasury of National Jewels" which is its official name, but goes by the street name of "Jewelry Museum". It is situated inside Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tehran's Ferdowsi Avenue. The Imperial crown jewels of Iran is the largest jewelry collection in the world. The museum is open to the public four times a week from 14:00 to 16:00.

During the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, most of the royal treasury was transferred to the National Bank of Iran, in order to strengthen the financial capacity of the bank, as well as serve as a guarantee of the Iranian currency. In January 1960, during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah, the meeting was moved to the newly established Central Bank of Iran, on where it is to this day.

Nader Shah's dagger with a small portion of his jewelry.

After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the royal collection of the Pahlavi dynasty, and some other jewels were added to the treasury of the Central Bank. Since then, it was renamed the National Iranian treasury jewelry, more commonly referred to as a "Museum of jewelry." And now there is the most valuable collection in the world of jewelry - today the largest and most amazing collection of jewelry in the world.

Nader Shah's shield made of rhinoceros skin. It was used during the war with India in 1739 – 1740. Later, in honor of this event, the shield have been added large rubies, diamonds, corundum and emerald.

Crown Fath Ali Shah, better known as the "Crown Kiani," decorated with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls. Basic red stone - corundum Aurangzib. Crown produced during the reign of Fath Ali Shah, in 1797, and it was used a few of checks after that. It was the first crown, made after the Sassanid dynasty.

Crown, which is used by Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It is made of gold and silver and decorated with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and pearls.

Woven of the crown is made of red velvet. On the four sides of the crown are scenes of battles and sun with bright rays and four planets, all made from diamonds. In general, the crown of crowns in the style of the Sassanid rulers (226 -651 years).

This crown, which includes 3380 diamonds (1144 carats) and 368 pearls (all together weigh 2080 g) was used during the coronation of Reza Pahlavi, April 25, 1926, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi October 26, 1967

Cover the dish, decorated with precious stones

One of the world's most famous diamond is the Darya-ye Noor ("More Light"). It is the largest pink diamond in the world - and it certainly ranks first among the huge variety of diamonds in the National treasury of Iran. This stone is passed by Shah Iran from generation to generation - from Nader Shah to Nasruddin Shah. Which belonged to the stone with a special love. Weight "Darya-ye Noor" is about 182 carats, it is a pale pink color, which is very rare among diamonds. Scientists suspect that before it was only part of a larger stone, weighing 242 carats, and later split into "Darya-ye Noor" and "Noor-ol-Ein" (60 carats).

Gold belt with a large emerald (weighing 175.5 carats) on the buckle, is surrounded by 60 faceted diamonds and polished pink diamonds 145.The length of the belt is 119 cm, width - 4 cm belt was used during the coronation of Reza Khan Pahlavi in 1926

Also known as the Shahi Sword, it was a present to Nasseridin Shah from Amin-o’Sultan, his prime minister. Before his assassination, Amin-o’Sultan served in the court of a number of Kings in that capacity.

However, he wasn’t as well appreciated by the common folk. Through his various posts, which included the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of the Treasury and Customs, he managed to accumulate sufficient wealth to afford such presents.

Hookah (also known as a waterpipe or narghile) from ostrich egg shells and gold

Water bottle, made in the XIX century, adorned with turquoise and rubies that cover it in a spiral

Gold brooch in the form of a bouquet, inlaid with diamonds, rubies and opals.It was made in the XIX century.

The brooch, made in the XIX century. In the form of a double knot made of a set of identical jewels.

Indian diamonds

Chest for treasure, enameled with artful drawings of the Persian Qajar dynasty and floral patterns

"Egret Nader" decorated with diamonds and emeralds.

Artfully made from silver egret, encrusted with diamonds and emeralds

Egret with diamonds and sapphires, made at the beginning of the XIX century

Egret in gold and silver, with rubies and diamonds (the beginning of XIX century)

In this box are some emeralds, weighing from 10 to 320 carats, as well as objects, decorated with emeralds

Necklace Garamol Saltan, of gold and silver with diamonds and emeralds

Platinum necklace with diamonds and emeralds, made in 1967

Egret turquoise, depicting the sun, made during the reign of Shah Nasiruddin (1848-1896)

A necklace of emeralds, diamonds and pearls, made in 1967, coronation necklace of Farah Pahlavi

Following in the footsteps of policies initiated under the White Revolution that directed the further emancipation of Iranian women, Mohammad Reza Shah determined to make a symbolic gesture by crowning his consort, Empress Farah, during his own elaborate coronation ceremony in October of 1967.

Until that date, the wives of Persian monarchs had never been crowned, so it was therefore necessary to design a new crown for the occasion. That honor was bestowed upon the French jewelers, Van Cleef & Arpels. The crown made from the finest gems of the Treasury, is made of platinum and gold and encrusted with 1469 diamonds, 36 emeralds, 105 pearls, 34 rubies and two corundum. Its total weight is 1 480 g

In accordance with tradition, the gems used were selected from loose stones already in the Imperial treasury.

Since it was against the law for items from the Imperial Treasury to leave Iran, Van Cleef & Arpels were obliged to send a team of jewelers to Tehran in order to construct the crown, a process which occupied them for six months

The Empress Crown is part of the coronation regalia used by the only Shahbanu (Empress) of Iran, Farah Pahlavi. It is part of the Iranian Crown Jewels and is currently on display at the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran.

Work on the Globe of jewelry began in 1869, by order of Nasreddin Shah. Iranian jewelers group led by Ibrahim Massihi, made this globe of individual stones, which were kept in the treasury. Net weight of gold used in the manufacture Globe is 34 kg, and precious stones all together weigh 3656 g.

As this is often mentioned, jewelers, much better versed in working with the jewelry, rather than in geography, so sometimes some of the country on the globe to define sufficient difficult. Seas and oceans are made of emeralds, continents - from rubies. Southeast Asia, Iran, Britain and France are represented with diamonds. The diameter of the globe is about 66 cm Reliance made of wood, inlaid with precious stones

Presented here, "Nader throne", although it is named in his honor, has nothing to do with the Iranian ruler of the XVIII century.

The inscriptions on the panels surrounding the seat of the throne shows that it was created during the reign of Fath Ali Shah (1798 - 1834). Fath Ali Shah ordered that throne in order to demonstrate the luxury of his court and subjects of foreign ambassadors who attended the king in the various summer residences in the vicinity of Tehran.

The throne is made up of 12 individual parts and includes the whole 26 733 precious stones. It was also used during the coronation ceremony of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Fath Ali Shah, who reigned from 1798 - 1834, commanded his craftsmen to produce this throne. Became known as "Sunny the throne," because his back was shown the sun. After the shah was married to Tawus ("Peacock") Tadzhodole, the throne was renamed the "Peacock." Some believe that it is - the famous "Peacock Throne", which was brought from India, but it is not.

Shah Jahan on The Peacock Throne

"Sunny the throne,"

After Fath-Ali Shah’s death, his successor, Nasser-ed-Din Shah, ordered the throne to be changed, and some panels were added, carrying verses in blue enamel on golden background. The throne was kept in Golestan Palace until 1981. Due to its rich decoration with jewels, it was then decided to keep it with other pieces of the National Treasury and thus delivered to the Central Bank.

Muhammad Isfahani Nasir ad-Din 1850s Hermitage S-Peterburg

Text & pictures: Internet

Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanu

Sound: Kiawasch Saheb Nassagh - Moments - March 2, 2002