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According to the Historical Service of Saed News, the Shah’s extravagance at the expense of the people was so notable that American author Wendy Leigh wrote about the Shah’s relationship with Grace Kelly:
The Shah expressed his affection for Grace by gifting her three pieces of jewelry: a gold cage with diamonds and a bird made of sapphire, a gold box containing a 32-piece diamond set, and a bracelet made of pearls and diamonds.
Grace Patricia Kelly was born in November 1929 (1308) in Pennsylvania into a wealthy family. Her father, Jack Kelly, was a rowing champion and a millionaire businessman in the East. Her mother, Margaret Majer, was the first coach of the women’s team at the University of Pennsylvania. Grace showed an early interest in performing and, after high school, decided to pursue acting in New York. She eventually attended the Academy of Fine Arts and also worked as a model during her student years. Grace continued her acting career, appearing in numerous films and television series.
Before World War II, with the rise of cinema and television, she moved to Hollywood, starring in more than 12 films and over 60 TV series. Her performance in the 1954 film The Country Girl earned her an Academy Award. Grace and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi met in late 1949 (1328) at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel during the Shah’s official visit to the United States. Introduced by Hossein Fardoust, the Shah, recently separated from Princess Fawzia, was searching for a suitable spouse.
Infatuated with Grace, the Shah presented her with three precious pieces of jewelry. However, Grace, aware of her beauty and fame as a Hollywood actress, hesitated and returned the gifts. She rejected the Shah’s proposal, which could have made her Queen of Iran. Ultimately, in 1955, Grace joined the jury of the Cannes Film Festival in France, where she met Prince Rainier III of Monaco during a photoshoot, and they married.
The following are images of the exquisite jewelry of Farah Diba, the third wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had a renowned taste for lavish spending:
1. Turquoise Tiara, Necklace, and Earrings
This half tiara, made of platinum, is adorned with 17 large Nishapur turquoise stones and cut diamonds. It appears in many famous portraits of Farah Pahlavi alongside outfits designed by Keyvan Khosravi. This stunning piece is now preserved in the National Jewelry Museum of Iran.
2. Van Cleef & Arpels Tiara
Extensive consultations went into designing this tiara, ultimately crafted with white gold and a green velvet cap—a color with special significance in Iranian culture. The tiara features diamonds, pearls, rubies, and emeralds, weighing 1,489 grams.
Matching Necklace
Commissioned by the royal court and made by the same brand as the tiara, the necklace features a large central emerald surrounded by smaller emeralds and uniform pearls set in gold and platinum.
Farah Pahlavi with the complete turquoise set: tiara, necklace, and earrings.
3. Noor Al-Ain Tiara
Among the royal women’s jewelry, the Noor Al-Ain Tiara, created for the wedding of Farah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, deserves mention. One of the most famous and expensive tiaras of the Pahlavi era, it was commissioned by Mohammad Reza and made by Harry Winston in 1958. Set with a 60-carat pink diamond imported from India by Iranian soldiers, it exemplifies royal opulence. On her wedding night, Farah wore a matching necklace, teardrop earrings, and a pear-shaped bracelet, all made from diamonds.
4. Seven-Emerald Half Tiara
The Seven-Emerald Half Tiara features emeralds brought to Iran as spoils during Nader Shah’s era. It is one of the most beautiful half tiaras in the National Jewelry Treasury. After Mohammad Reza and Farah’s marriage, several new pieces were created using gemstones from the royal treasury, including the Seven-Emerald Tiara, crafted by Harry Winston, which became one of Farah Pahlavi’s favorite tiaras.
