The Thriller of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s Misplaced Patiala Necklace

By Employees Author
Might 6, 2025

The Patiala Necklace, a stunning image of Indian royalty, has as soon as once more captured international consideration following Punjabi famous person Diljit Dosanjh’s debut on the 2025 Met Gala, the place he paid homage to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The singer’s regal ensemble, impressed by the opulent Maharaja, sparked renewed curiosity in regards to the legendary necklace—a Cartier masterpiece commissioned in 1925 that mysteriously vanished many years in the past. Valued immediately at roughly $30 million (₹248 crore), the necklace’s story is considered one of extravagance, loss, and partial rediscovery.

A Jewel of Unparalleled Grandeur

In 1925, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (1891–1938), the flamboyant ruler of the princely state of Patiala, arrived in Paris with trunks brimming with gems. Identified for his lavish way of life, which included a fleet of 44 Rolls-Royce vehicles and the excellence of being the primary Indian to personal a personal plane, the Maharaja entrusted Cartier with a monumental activity: to craft the world’s most extravagant necklace. Accomplished in 1928 after three years of meticulous work, the Patiala Necklace was a marvel, weighing over 1,000 carats and that includes 2,930 diamonds. Its centerpiece was the uncommon De Beers yellow diamond, a 230-carat gem found in 1888, making it the seventh-largest diamond on the earth.

The necklace, also called the Collier de Patiala, was reportedly supposed as a present for the Maharaja’s favourite spouse, Maharani Sri Bakhtawar Kaur Sahiba. Adorned with Burmese rubies and 7 different giant diamonds starting from Eighteen to 73 carats, it was the biggest and costliest order ever positioned with Cartier on the time. Archival pictures typically present the necklace worn by the Maharaja’s son, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, the final ruler of Patiala, till the state’s merger with India in 1948.

A Mysterious Disappearance

The Patiala Necklace remained within the royal treasury till 1948, when it mysteriously vanished. For almost three many years, its whereabouts had been unknown, fueling hypothesis of theft or smuggling. Some legends recommend the necklace was smuggled out of India, whereas others level to the chaos of post-independence transitions as a doable trigger for its loss. The central De Beers diamond briefly surfaced at a Sotheby’s public sale in 1982 however has not been seen since, including to the enigma.

In 1998, a breakthrough occurred when a Cartier professional found the necklace’s naked platinum body in a London pawn store, stripped of its diamonds and rubies. Cartier later restored the piece, changing the lacking gems with duplicate stones. Whereas the reconstructed necklace is a shadow of its former glory, it stays a testomony to the unique’s grandeur. In the present day, the restored model is estimated to be price $30 million, although its historic and cultural worth is priceless.

A Legacy on the Met Gala

The Patiala Necklace’s mystique was reignited on the 2022 Met Gala when YouTuber Emma Chamberlain wore a diamond choker crafted from a phase of the unique necklace, sparking each awe and controversy. Some on-line critics mistakenly linked the piece to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, whereas others debated the ethics of displaying a colonial-era artifact. In 2025, Diljit Dosanjh’s workforce aimed to borrow the long-lasting necklace for his Met Gala debut however was denied by Cartier, citing its fragility and museum standing. As a substitute, Diljit wore a multi-layered necklace impressed by the unique, crafted by Golecha Jewels over three months, that includes emeralds, rubies, and pearls.

Diljit’s look, styled by Prabal Gurung, was a tribute to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh’s opulence and Punjab’s cultural heritage. His ivory sherwani-inspired go well with, adorned with a cape embroidered with Punjab’s map and Gurmukhi script, resonated with the gala’s “Black Dandyism” theme. The necklace, although not the unique, evoked the Maharaja’s legacy, prompting renewed discussions in regards to the misplaced jewel.

A Name for Justice?

The necklace’s story has additionally sparked requires accountability. Posts on X mirror public sentiment, with customers like @kbssidhu1961 urging the Punjab authorities to register an FIR and contain the CBI to analyze the necklace’s disappearance, calling it a “nationwide treasure.” Whereas such calls for spotlight the jewel’s cultural significance, the feasibility of tracing a theft from 1948 stays unsure.

A Image of Enduring Fascination

The Patiala Necklace is greater than a chunk of knickknack; it’s a window into India’s royal previous and a reminder of the complexities of post-colonial heritage. Its partial rediscovery and appearances at international occasions just like the Met Gala maintain its legend alive, whereas its lacking gems proceed to gasoline intrigue. As Diljit Dosanjh’s current tribute underscores, the necklace stays a robust image of Punjab’s pleasure and the Maharaja’s unmatched legacy.

For now, the unique Patiala Necklace—or what stays of it—resides in a museum, its full story nonetheless shrouded in thriller. Whether or not stolen, smuggled, or just misplaced to time, its story continues to captivate, reminding us of a bygone period of splendor and secrets and techniques.

Sources: Occasions of India, Hindustan Occasions, The Indian Categorical, News18, Occasions Now, India.com