According to Iranian tradition, it was essential that the pieces be adorned with gems from the National Treasure, held in the royal vault at the Iranian Central Bank. Over a span of six months, Pierre Arpels made 24 trips to Tehran, where he meticulously selected the stones, finally establishing a temporary workshop in the Treasure Chamber, together with a Van Cleef & Arpels supervisor and designer.

The crown worn by Empress Farah at her coronation features 36 emeralds, 36 spinels and rubies, 105 pearls and 1,469 diamonds. The full ensemble also includes a pair of earrings – two emerald pendants – and a necklace. The latter is embellished with an engraved hexagonal emerald fashioned as a pendant, four emerald-cut emeralds, four pear-shaped pearls, 11 cushion-cut yellow diamonds and diamonds cut in antique-style. Other jewels were created for the event as well, in particular parures for the Shah’s daughter and sisters.