A replica of a world famous diamond presented to Queen Victoria more than 150 years ago is set to go on public display.The Koh-i-Noor diamond was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 by Lord Dalhousie following the British annexation of the Punjab.Despite thousands queuing to see the 186.1 carat Indian Mogul cut diamond at the Great Exhibition of 1851, Prince Albert had the Koh-i-Noor - which means "Mountain of Light" - re-cut into an oval.
But the Natural History Museum has had an original plaster cast of the stone in its collection for more than 150 years and it joined forces with American gemartist John Hatleberg in January to create a replica.
Now it will go on public display for an exhibition at the museum on July 8 alongside other special diamonds, including the De Beers Millennium Star and the Steinmetz Pink.
Mr Hatleberg said: "Within the world of diamonds, the Koh-i-Noor above all others demands to be regarded in the realm of the fantastic.
"For 14 years it has been my quest to recreate the original Koh-i-Noor and I am thrilled it will now receive its first showing at the Diamonds exhibition in London."
He used the museum's model to create a map showing every facet of the diamond and painstakingly recreated it from natural and synthetic materials.
Before Albert ordered it to be cut, the Koh-i-Noor had 200 facets - four times more than 99% of cut diamonds - and was intended to be worn on an armlet to catch the light.
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