The Missing Diamond Turban Ornaments Worn By The Nizams Of Hyderabad?
The Nizams of Hyderabad, among the richest royal families in history, wore magnificent turban ornaments (often called sarpech or jigha) that were lavishly decorated with precious gems. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds were often set in elaborately decorated turban ornaments.
Recent rumors about a turban ornament worn by the first Nizam (Asaf Jah 1), that had a vivid blue diamond set as the center stone, are drawing attention. Stories and narratives have started picking up, a fair amount of this could be little more than imagination!
The diamond is being referred to as the Seraphim Blue Diamond, the piece has never appeared at any high profile auction so far. Going by the general gem sizes used in turban ornaments belonging to the Nizams, it is expected that the Seraphim Blue Diamond would be in the 6 to 9 carat size range.
The Nizam dynasty of Hyderabad spanned 7 Nizams, the reign of the Nizam’s ended in the year 1948 when the Indian government took control of the region. Assets were shared between members of the Nizam family and the Indian treasury.
Interestingly no mention is made of two diamond studded turban ornaments that belonged to the Nizams. The Seraphim Blue Diamond is likely to have originated in the Golconda diamond mines. The second diamond it is claimed, was a pink diamond also from the mines in that region. Not many pink diamonds have made an appearance from the diamond mines in Golconda.
Some reports claim that, the Seraphim Blue Diamond made an exit from the Nizam’s treasury fairly soon. The narration is that the second Nizam (Asaf Jah 2) traded the blue diamond, in return for military protection from the French. Whether the diamond was separated from the turban ornament in which it was set, is unclear.
Some diamond traders have been suggesting that, the Seraphim Blue Diamond currently belongs to a wealthy Russian diamond collector – no mention of a Nizam owned turban ornament. Diamond collectors would shift their interest to a higher level only when, certifications from reliable institutions actually confirm these rumors and narratives.
Golconda diamonds have captured imaginations for centuries and have inspired movies, stories, and even rumors. Technically speaking diamonds from the Golconda mines, have unparalleled purity and brilliance and are classified as, Type IIa diamonds with virtually no nitrogen.
Depleted centuries ago, the Golconda diamond mines seem to have stopped yielding high quality diamonds in the 18th century. Experts suggest that, intense mining activities from the 4th to the 18th century, was the cause of depletion.
The fanatic search for Golconda diamonds is further heightened when, specific diamonds are known to be related to royalty. This is why rumors about the Seraphim Blue Diamond keep gaining momentum. If the claims and stories linked to this blue diamond – its origin in the Golconda mines, its vivid blue color and its connection to the first Nizam (1724) are officially authenticated, we could be seeing a blockbuster auction in the near future!
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