Jewels

Gold, Thrones, Diamonds: The Imperial Treasure Iran Keeps Hidden

It’s a treasure few have seen, yet one that specialists regard with awe. Behind armored doors, deep within the basement of Tehran’s Central Bank, lies what some historians consider the world’s most valuable collection of jewels—surpassing even those of the British monarchy. Amassed over more than 500 years of imperial history and expanded ...

Why Are Some of the Pope’s Jewels Destroyed After His Death?

When a pope dies, it’s not only the prayers of the Catholic world that accompany his passing. Behind the scenes, a ritual—codified, discreet, and often unknown—takes place, such as the destruction of certain jewels. Among them, the most well-known is the Ring of the Fisherman, ritually broken in public. Other items—seals, pectoral crosses, ...