Our cities
Explore each city’s unrepeatable delights and mysteries with your own eyes. Learn about the unique history and tales of you preferred city with its landscapes and sites, and much more…
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- Zanjan
Crown Jewels Museum or Treasury of the National Jewels opened in 1960 and displays a priceless collection of national jewels, the exact value of this which is not known.
Before the Safavids (1501–1736) Iranian kings had never created a collection of valuable jewels. The Safavids were the first to send procurers to international markets to obtain precious stones and began amassing and preserving jewels. In the Afghan attack during the reign of Shah Sultan Husayn (1668-1726), the Iranian treasury was raided and many of its treasures were taken to Afghanistan. Nader Shah Afshar (1688-1747) returned most of these valuables to Iran.
In the Qajar era (1785-1925) many of the small gems were gathered and installed in the Kiani Crown, Naderi Throne, Peacock Throne and the Bejeweled Globe. Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1772-1834) is the monarch who contributed the most valuable items to the treasury some of which are showcased in the Crown Jewels Museum.
The Kiani Crown was made on the order of Fath-Ali Shah. From then on it was used for the coronation of Qajar kings. Made of red velvet, 1,800 small pearls, 300 emeralds and 1,800 rubies have been set on this 32 cm high and 19.5 cm wide crown.
The Naderi Throne or the Rare Throne was made on the order of Fath-Ali Shah from 26,733 jewels and is seen in most paintings featuring this Qajar monarch.
The Peacock Throne, also known as the Sun Throne because of the sun disk on its headboard, was made on the order of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar and from then on used as the coronation throne. This gilded throne shares many features with the Marble Throne in Golestan Palace.
The Bejeweled Globe is a 34 kg globe with a 66 cm diameter made of solid gold on the order of Nasser-al Din Shah (1831-1896) using 51,366 loose precious stones from his treasury. Emeralds have been used to designate bodies of water, Asia has been designated with garnets and rubies, and Iran is embellished with diamonds.
The other valuable items in this museum include the 182 carat light pink ‘Sea of light’ Daryay-e Noor diamond, which is the largest cut diamond in the world, strings of small pearls from the Persian Gulf, swords, vessels, bejeweled clothing, crowns and tiaras.
Crown Jewels Museum
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Address
Imam Khomeini Sq., Ferdowsi St., Before Istanbul Crossroads
It was a nice museum which can show Iranian art and also history.You are not allowed to bring any bags inside and no photos. One has to leave all bags at the cloak check, which is free and safe. Even I'm not a jewels fan, I enjoyed very much.