Diljit Dosanjh gained the hearts of many along with his debut on the Met Gala earlier in the present day. His outfit—an achkan in a crisp ivory hue—was paired with an identical cape, turban (or web page), and necklace impressed by the inimitable Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, who dominated from 1900 to 1938.
Ascending the throne at 9, Bhupinder Singh’s rule was characterised by unparalleled luxurious. He was, reportedly, the primary Indian to personal a personal plane and keep a fleet of 44 Rolls-Royce vehicles, and his opulent way of life really set him aside.
The Maharaja’s private life was as grand as his public persona. He’s believed to have had 10 wives and maintained a harem of 350 concubines, fathering 88 kids. His wealth was evident in his assortment of vehicles and the airplane, whereas the Moti Bagh Palace rivalled Versailles in grandeur.
One in all his most enduring legacies is the “Patiala peg,” a beneficiant measure of whiskey that he popularised throughout his legendary events, which have been attended by dignitaries, artists, and professionals from world wide.
In 2022, American YouTuber Emma Chamberlain additionally wore a choker resembling one from the unique Patiala Necklace on the Met Gala, sparking widespread criticism on-line (Supply: Wikimedia Commons)
The Patiala Necklace
In 1928, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh commissioned the Patiala Necklace from Cartier, marking the jeweller’s largest single order. The necklace featured 2,930 diamonds, together with the 234.65-carat De Beers diamond, the seventh-largest diamond on the earth on the time. It additionally included Burmese rubies and different massive diamonds starting from 18 to 73 carats.
The necklace mysteriously disappeared from the Patiala treasury round 1948. A long time later, components of it have been recovered by Cartier, who restored it utilizing artificial stones to exchange the lacking gems.
Diljit sported a multi-layered, jewel-studded necklace with a surprising emerald centrepiece resembling the Patiala necklace for his have a look at the Met Gala.
Manav Golecha, proprietor of Golecha Jewels, informed The Indian Specific in a separate dialog earlier that it took them “practically three months to create this multi-layered necklace, impressed by the unique Patiala Necklace. The present neckpiece has over 50 carats of tourmalines. The emerald centrepiece alone weighs near 130 carats.”
In 2022, American YouTuber Emma Chamberlain additionally wore a choker resembling one from the unique Patiala Necklace on the Met Gala, sparking widespread criticism on-line. Chamberlain had credited Cartier for her jewelry on Instagram, prompting a backlash from Indians accusing the model of showcasing a “stolen piece of heritage.”
Story continues beneath this advert
Following the controversy, historians shared previous images of the necklace, questioning whether or not it was certainly the identical piece as soon as owned by the Patiala royals—and the way such a treasured artefact ended up within the West.