07/05/2025
The Patiala Necklace: A Maharaja’s Masterpiece indeed.
In 1928, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala commissioned Cartier to create a necklace unlike any other. Known for his flamboyant style, the maharaja had already amassed a remarkable jewelry collection, but the Patiala Necklace became its crowning jewel.
The centerpiece was a staggering 234.65-carat yellow diamond from De Beers, then the seventh largest diamond in the world. Surrounding it were nearly 3,000 diamonds and Burmese rubies, all set into five cascading platinum chains. The necklace was a triumph of Art Deco opulence and Indian ceremonial splendor, a symbol of both personal grandeur and princely power.
Worn with his ceremonial attire, the maharaja’s necklace was a statement of sovereignty in colonial India. It not only reflected immense wealth, but also served as a subtle challenge to imperial aesthetics. Here was an Indian ruler asserting cultural richness through a Western luxury house’s craft.
