Taj Mahal Diamond and Gems Necklace Returns to Spotlight with Global Backlash

Gems News: Margot Robbie’s red-carpet appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of Wuthering Heights has unexpectedly reignited a global debate around colonial history, cultural ownership, and the fate of priceless Indian jewels. While her Schiaparelli haute couture gown drew admiration, it was the historic necklace around her neck that dominated headlines and social media conversations worldwide.

The actress wore the famed Taj Mahal diamond necklace, a heart-shaped Mughal-era jewel estimated to be worth around $8 million. Loaned by luxury jewellery house Cartier, the necklace was described by Robbie as having a “romantic history,” a statement that immediately drew criticism from Indian historians and netizens who argued that its deeper origins were being ignored.

A Jewel Rooted in Mughal India

The Taj Mahal diamond traces its origins back to the early 1600s, during the height of the Mughal Empire. The jewel originally belonged to Nur Jahan, the influential wife of Emperor Jahangir, one of the most powerful women of her time. The pendant bears a Persian inscription reading “Nur Jahan Begum-e-Padshah,” along with the number 23 marking Jahangir’s regnal year, and the Islamic year 1037, corresponding to 1627 AD.

This Gems News report notes that the jewel later became associated with Shah Jahan, Jahangir’s son, who passed it on to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It is this connection that ultimately gave the diamond its enduring name, linking it symbolically to the Taj Mahal, one of the world’s greatest monuments to love.

From Imperial Courts to Western Vaults

Historians believe the jewel left India following the 1739 sack of Delhi by Persian ruler Nadir Shah, a moment that saw countless treasures removed from the subcontinent. Centuries later, the diamond resurfaced in Western collections and was acquired by Cartier in 1971. The French luxury house redesigned it into an ornate necklace featuring rubies, jade detailing, and gold tassels crafted by designer Alfred Durante.

In 1972, actor Richard Burton famously purchased the necklace for Elizabeth Taylor as a 40th birthday gift, cementing its association with Hollywood glamour. After Taylor’s death, the piece was auctioned in 2011 and eventually reacquired by Cartier for approximately $8.8 million.

Online Anger and Cultural Reckoning

Robbie’s decision to wear the necklace has sparked intense backlash across Indian social media platforms. Many users accused global media outlets of framing the jewel primarily as “Elizabeth Taylor’s necklace,” while glossing over its Mughal origins. Calls for the return of Indian artefacts taken during colonial rule grew louder, with comparisons drawn to the ongoing dispute surrounding the Kohinoor diamond housed in the British Crown Jewels.

The controversy also revived memories of earlier disputes involving Cartier and Indian royal jewellery, including its refusal to loan the Patiala necklace to Punjabi artist Diljit Dosanjh, while other fragments were worn by Western celebrities at major fashion events.

Heritage Beyond Fashion

This renewed debate highlights a growing global sensitivity around how historically significant artefacts are displayed and contextualized. While celebrities often view such jewels as symbols of romance or vintage elegance, critics argue that wearing them without acknowledging their full history risks reducing centuries of cultural heritage to mere fashion statements.

The discussion surrounding the Taj Mahal diamond underscores the urgent need for transparent storytelling, ethical stewardship, and meaningful dialogue between collectors, brands, and countries seeking to reclaim fragments of their past. As global audiences become more historically aware, the expectation is shifting from admiration alone to accountability and respect for origin cultures, making such moments far more than fleeting red-carpet spectacles.

For the latest on stolen jewels by the British, keep on logging to Gems News.