In many museum exhibits and historical books, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala is often seen adorned with a stunning necklace. This piece of jewelry, known worldwide as the Patiala Necklace, holds a fascinating and mysterious story. Just as magnificent as it is valuable, this necklace is estimated to be worth around USD 30 million today. This necklace was known as one of the largest diamond necklaces in the world. The Patiala Necklace featured 2,930 De Beers diamonds, which were originally discovered in South Africa in 1888 and later purchased by the Maharaja. He then used these diamonds to craft the legendary necklace.
In 1948, however, the necklace mysteriously vanished from Patiala’s royal treasury. Thirty-two years later, it surfaced at an auction—stripped of all its diamonds except for one. Cartier Jewels in London purchased the single remaining diamond from that auction, where it is still displayed today.
About Patiala Necklace
The Patiala Necklace, also known as the Collier de Patiala, was an extraordinary creation commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in 1925 from Cartier. At the time, it was the largest and most expensive single order placed with the prestigious jewelry house, taking three years to complete. The necklace featured a staggering 2,930 diamonds, with the 234.65-carat De Beers yellow diamond as its centerpiece.
The design comprised five layered chains, or ladi, made of platinum, adorned with seven large diamonds weighing between 18 and 73 carats, and Burmese rubies. With a total weight exceeding 1,000 carats, this masterpiece was one of the grandest jewelry pieces ever crafted.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, known for his extravagant tastes, intended the necklace as a gift for his favorite wife, Maharani Sri Bakhtawar Kaur Sahiba. After his passing, the Patiala Necklace was last worn by his son, Yadavindra Singh, and stayed in the royal treasury until 1948, after which it mysteriously vanished for nearly three decades. Theories about its disappearance remain unconfirmed, though the De Beers diamond resurfaced at a Geneva auction in 1982.
Then, in 1998, the necklace’s skeleton was discovered in an antique shop in London, stripped of its precious gems. Cartier London eventually acquired it, restoring the piece with cubic zirconia and synthetic diamonds as replacements.
Today, the restored Patiala Necklace remains in the Cartier archives. The necklace gained renewed attention when influencer Emma Chamberlain wore it to the Met Gala in 2022, showcasing its historical and aesthetic legacy to a new audience.
Diljit Dosanjh gets a glimpse of the Patiala Necklace
Recently, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh visited Cartier’s showroom in London, reigniting interest in the legendary Patiala Necklace. During his Dil-Luminati Tour, the singer-actor visited the Cartier store and was clearly awestruck by the magnificence of one of the most iconic necklaces ever created. He shared a snap holding a coffee table book that featured a picture of the Patiala Necklace and Maharaja Yadavindra Singh wearing it.
