The Wuthering Heights premiere red carpet showed Margot Robbie wearing the Taj Mahal Diamond necklace, which has an estimated value of $8.8 million or Rs 73–74 crore. The appearance quickly went viral, with fans and historians alike debating the necklace’s origins, ownership, and cultural significance.
After Robbie described the piece in interviews as being closely associated with Elizabeth Taylor, the buzz about her statement developed into confusion, which received criticism from Indian audiences who understood the jewel’s deeper history.
A Jewel Rooted in Mughal History
The heart-shaped diamond dates back to the 17th-century Mughal Empire. The historical records show that Emperor Jahangir presented the stone to Empress Nur Jahan together with a Persian inscription, which remains visible on the stone. The jewel later passed to Shah Jahan, who presented it to Mumtaz Mahal. After her passing, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal to honour her, which created a permanent relationship between the diamond and one of history’s most famous landmarks.
The necklace entered modern luxury fashion after Cartier obtained the piece in 1970 and transformed it into a new design.
Elizabeth Taylor Connection and Ownership Clarified
Elizabeth Taylor received the necklace as a gift from Richard Burton, who bought it for her in 1972, which led to its association with her personal jewellery collection. The piece was sold at auction in 2011; however, authentication problems forced its retrieval. Elizabeth Taylor’s estate maintains ownership of the necklace at the present time.
Robbie wore the jewel on loan, which her stylist, Andrew Mukamal, arranged to show that Cartier and private sellers do not own the piece.
Social Media Backlash and Cultural Debate
The online backlash, which resulted from the viral moment, spread throughout India when users attacked the absence of Mughal roots in the necklace design. The South Asian heritage of the necklace got overshadowed because people chose to focus only on its Hollywood connection.
The Taylor estate representatives defended their loan when they described the jewel as a cultural symbol that represents everlasting love between different cultures.
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