in the sixteenth century from Babar, the famous Mughal Sultan. It later remained in the possession of Mughal emperors and is believed to have been set in the famous Peacock Throne that was prepared for Shah Jehan, who made the Taj Mahal. After the break-up of the Persian Empire, this diamond reached India again, from where it originally was mined by the Golconda Empire. It is thought to have travelled to Afghanistan as well, with a bodyguard of Nadir Shah, who escaped with the stone when Shah was murdered. Later on, he offered it to Ranjit Singh of Punjab to request military help. Later in history, the diamond was snatched by the East India Company as a partial indemnity during the battles between the British and the Sikhs.Queen Victoria was presented the diamond in 1850. The stone was originally said to weigh nearly 1,986 carats in its original size, when taken from India. However, it was then recut to about 108.93 carats, upon which the Queen first wore it in a brooch. Later, it was set in the State Crown, which wasworn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and in 1937 was worn by Queen Elizabeth for her coronation. At the moment, the diamond can be seen in the Tower of London, sitting along with other Crown Jewels.

Alexander Pope wrote about the Regent diamond in his famous work “Moral Essays” as follows:

“Asleep and naked as an Indian lay
An honest factor stole a gem away;
He pledged it to the Knight, the Knight had wit,
So kept the diamond,