On 1 February 1850 the Governor-General of India, the Marquess of Dalhousie (1812-60), informed Queen Victoria that he had personally carried the celebrated diamond, the Koh-i-nûr (Mountain of Light), from Lahore and deposited it that day in the treasury at Bombay, prior to its despatch to England. The great diamond, set in this armlet, was delivered to Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace by the President of the Board of Control at the East India Company on 3 July 1850.

The Queen and Prince Albert both felt that the Koh-i-nûr was badly cut and disappointingly lacking in brilliance. The diamond and two side stones were examined in detail by Sebastian Garrard on 9 April 1851, and a mould was taken so that a crystal facsimile could be cut. This work was carried out between July and September 1852.

After re-cutting, Garrards devised a number of alternative settings for the original stone. The Queen wore it frequently as a bodice brooch, but it could also alternate with the Timur Ruby as the centre of a necklace. The two side stones were used as pendants on the Timur Ruby necklace, but after the return of the Hanoverian jewels in 1858, Garrards made them detachable for use as drop earrings to accompany the newly made Coronation necklace.

Since its arrival in England the Koh-i-nûr has only been worn by Queens regnant and consort due to a legend which states that it will bring bad luck if worn by a man. After Queen Victoria's death the stone has been mounted successively in the crowns of Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth (consort of George VI).

The rock crystals now in this armlet represent the original form in which the Koh-i-nûr diamond arrived from India.

Text adapted from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love, London, 2010