Many details have not come down to us, but it is quite possible that this stone is the oldest diamond known. It was found more than 5000 years ago, mentioned in an old Sanskrit epic poem, the Mahabharata, and in 1304 stolen from the Rajah of Malva by Sultan Ala ad-Din and incorporated in the treasure Delhi. Before that it probably was for centuries the family stone of the Rajahs.

In 1526 it fell into the hands of Babur, the founder of the Mughul Dynasty, from the house of Timur, and the first Grand Mogul, when he invaded India from Afghanistan, thus becoming the ruler of Hindustan. "It is so valuable", noted Babur in his diary, "that one could pay half the daily cost of living of the whole world with it."

The Koh-i-Noor, whose naming was yet to come, was in the possession of the Mughul Dynasty up to the descendants of the third generation . Then Shah Nadir came on the scene. He had heard of this stone and he wanted to own it. By a ruse he succeeded - and the stone changed hands. It was at this time that the Koh-i-Noor received its name. When Nadir first laid eyes on it, he called out full of delight: "koh-i-Noor" (["Mountain of Light"]in Persian). The diamond had found its name.

In the period that followed, the stone kept changing hands, many a time under rather bloody circumstances. Perhaps in the course of this period, the Koh-i-Noor came by its prophesy: Whoever owned the Koh-i-Noor would be master of India. But this prophesy also said that the stone would bring misfortune to men but never to women.

In 1849 it came into the possession of British colonial officials ; a short time later, the English royal house is in possession of the Koh-i-Noor. But they are not very amused about its cut and decide to have it re-cut. This indicates a development in the know-how of diamond cutting. See Historical development of the cuts.Up to that time the diamond had weighed 186 cts. After the re-cutting by an Amsterdam diamond cutter it only weighed 108.93 cts. (Illustr. before / after) They still were not quite happy with its appearance but left it at that. Its present whereabouts, after being allowed to show in the crown of Queen Mary, spouse of George V. , finally is the "Queen's State Crown" of Queen Mary, the grandmother of Queen Elisabeth II. This crown may be admired in the Tower of London .In spite of all this unpleasantness the Koh-i-Noor now as ever is one of the most famous gems - proof for the fact that with jewels a stormy history can be more important than outward perfection.