By Mir Osman Ali Khan was known for his quirks and his eye for impeccable craftsmanship in Indian jewels. Excellent would be too insignificant a word to describe the intricacy and charm of the treasure of Osman Ali. Every piece of jewelry in it was nothing but exquisite. The sheer magnificence of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, pearls, rubies, and other gemstones showcase the glory of the mighty Osman Ali and his elite choice.
For over three centuries, the state of Hyderabad was under the reign of the Nizams who built their mighty empire crushing the ruins of the Mughals. There were seven generations that lived to rule the princely state. As they ruled, the Nizams amassed such wealth that Mir Osman Ali, the last living Nizam, was titled the richest man in the world by Time magazine. He was even on the cover of the renowned magazine in 1937. Mir Osman Ali’s Treasure is worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore and consists of over 173 pieces of masterfully crafted jewelry.
The Treasure
The 173 jewels included diamonds and emeralds that weighed nearly 2,000 carats. The pearls exceeded 40,000 chows. It included turban brooches, necklaces, belts, buckles, armbands, bracelets, anklets, buttons, tiaras, nose rings, rings, and all other types of accessories. Here are a few of the most iconic pieces of the treasures
Satlada – The Pearl Necklace
This is a seven-stringed pearl necklace that has over 465 precious pearls embedded in it. These pearls were sourced from the Middle East. The endings of this gorgeous necklace are of Almas or uncut natural diamonds. Unlike most historical jewels, this priceless gem is impossible to replicate as every pearl used in the necklace is unique in terms of shape and shade. The satlada will always be the Royal Jewel of the Nizam.
The Diamond Paper Weight
The Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali, used a diamond as a paperweight. This should give us the idea of just how wealthy he was. It was Jacob’s diamond, a marvel that weighs 184.75 carats. It is double the size of the Kohinoor diamond and the seventh-largest diamond in the world.
The Nizami ‘Bajuband’
Bajuband is essentially an armband that is worn on the upper arm by both men and women. The Nizami bajuband from the treasures of Mir Osman Ali was a masterpiece as they were intricately design with natural pearls, and uncut diamonds, and with other gems such as rubies, and emeralds, ambers, and sapphires.
The Royal Anklets For The Queens
Moreover, the Begums of the Nizam dynasty wear the Pajeb or Pazeb which is a type of anklet which were with diamonds, natural pearls, rubies, and emeralds over gold silver plates. Also, they were delicately designed to add to the elegant demeanor of the gracious queens.
Bachkana Sarpanch
This exquisite turban accessory was specially for prince Mahboob Ali. When he ascended the throne and was pronounced a Nizam. Moreover, this is a solitaire set designed in gold with five Golconda diamonds on each side. And an enchanting bird crafted with small diamonds for its plumage which has ruby as its eyes. Hence, to add to the intrigue of this piece, the bird is holds a taveez in its beak.
This was just the tip of the iceberg. The treasure has way more artifacts than one could imagine. Hence, the treasure is now in the vaults of the Reserve Bank of India with utmost security. A few items from the treasure are occasionally in the showcase in certain high-security exhibitions. Moreover, for the general public to admire the charm of the jewels and the choice of Mir Osman Ali.
