The “Taj Mahal Diamond,” featuring Persian inscriptions and royal provenance, bridges Indian imperial history and modern Hollywood glamour.
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Web Desk
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Hollywood luminary Margot Robbie has set tongues wagging at the Los Angeles premiere of her upcoming film Wuthering Heights, adorned in a rare and historically significant necklace that bridges fashion, heritage, and centuries-old imperial legacy.
The exquisite piece, reported by Vogue, is no ordinary ornament. Linked to Mughal Empress Noor Jahan, it is famously known as the “Taj Mahal Diamond” and was once owned by legendary screen icon Elizabeth Taylor.
The necklace, featuring a heart-shaped diamond cradled in jade and suspended from a chain of gold, rubies, and diamonds, instantly commanded global attention. Inscribed in Persian are the words “Love endures forever,” along with Noor Jahan’s name, cementing its symbolic significance.
Historically, the necklace is believed to have been gifted by Emperor Jahangir to Noor Jahan as an emblem of enduring affection, later passing to Mumtaz Mahal, consort of Shah Jahan, which earned it the evocative moniker linking it to the Taj Mahal.
Centuries later, European jeweler Cartier redesigned the treasure, ultimately gifting it to Elizabeth Taylor in 1972. Following Taylor’s death in 2011, the piece sold at auction for $8.8 million, setting a record for an Indian heritage artifact.
Robbie’s choice to wear the necklace has reignited a global conversation over the provenance of colonial-era artifacts. The jewel, like many others removed during imperial conquests, underscores ongoing debates over cultural restitution, as India continues to press for the repatriation of its historic treasures, including the famed Koh-i-Noor diamond.
