Historically popular Indian jewels that were once the pride of our nation

When we think of the terms Maharaja and Maharani, our minds often conjure images of regal figures draped in opulent diamonds and extravagant attire. Though the title of Maharaja and Maharani may have faded with time, their legacy continues to resonate through history. Their palaces, along with their iconic jewellery collections, stand as enduring symbols of luxury, power, and grandeur. Let’s take a closer look at five exquisite pieces of royal jewellery commissioned by the former Maharajas and Maharanis of India.

Commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1931, this iconic necklace was created by the House of Cartier. It was a gift from the Maharaja to his wife, Maharani Sri Bakhtawar Kaur Sahiba, and consisted of 3 parts. The top layer was a choker of 6 lines of rubies with side pieces of diamonds and pearls at either end. The central part had rubies, and the bottom layer had pearl strings with diamonds and more rubies attached. Surviving the passage of time, the upper choker is the only one present and has been restored by Cartier, commanding a value of USD 975,000.
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Known for his love for opulent jewels, he owned the 500-carat Nawanagar necklace that was recreated for the Ocean’s movie and featured the popular lemon-yellow tiger’s eye diamond. It gives a peek into India’s rich history and was created by Jacques Cartier. It features 17 rectangular Colombian emeralds and weighs a total of 277 carats. The 70-carat central emerald belonged to the former Sultan of Turkey and instantly caught attention across the globe after creating a buzz online for its feature in the ‘Ocean’s’ movie.
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Ranking amongst the most expensive necklaces in the world, this 5-layered diamond necklace looked more like a garland and was commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The House of Cartier created this iconic piece in 1928 using 2,930 diamonds, which also included the 7th-largest diamond in the world. Worth Rs 112.5 crores in today’s value, the necklace mysteriously disappeared in 1948 and was recovered by Cartier half a century later, but in bits and pieces.

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Art-deco-inspired, this iconic necklace was commissioned by Yashwant Rao Holkar II, who was the Maharaja of Indore. He gifted this set to his young bride, Maharani Sanyogita Devi. Created by the French jewellery house Mauboussin, it featured two pear-shaped diamonds weighing 47 carats each. As the Maharani passed away at the tender age of 23, the necklace was sold to Harry Winston after 10 years.
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Known as the Star of the South, the pinkish-brownish cushion-cut diamond was discovered in Brazil in 1953 and was sold for USD 3000 by the mine owner. It found its way to Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda 10 years later, who commissioned a 3-row diamond necklace with an £80,000 gemstone. The necklace also featured the ‘English Dresden,’ i.e., a 78.5-carat drop-shaped diamond, and was gifted to Maharani Sita Devi. It was purchased by Rustomjee Jansetji of Bombay and was sold to the House of Cartier in 2002.
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