Indian Royal Jewels


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The hope diamond

The Hope is an Indian diamond,it's a deep blue diamond and is 45.52 carats (9.10 g) :eek:and is currently housed in the Smithson Natural History Museum in Washington DC, USA and is considered to be cursed as it was stolen from a temple.

The story goes that it formed the eye of an icon. Was it the third eye of the Lord Shiva which when gazed upon consumes the viewer with fire? One is not quite sure, but what befell Tavernier and his king after the Hope became French property underlines the legend that bad luck pursues the illegal owners of this stolen diamond.:ermm: Baron Jean Baptiste Tavernier died penniless and as an obscure exile.:bang:

Here's a pic, it's a eally pretty stone : http://www.visitingdc.com/images/hope-diamond-picture.jpg

It's said to be valued at $200,000,000–$250,000,000:eek:

Seeveral other stones have been fromm the indian sub-continent the Darya -ya-Noor Diamond (Sea of Light) and Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond(The light of the eye) and the Shah diamond which no longer are in their posession- there all so pretty though!
 
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V&A Exhibition of Maharaja's thrones, gems and weapons

From The Telegraph co.uk

Royal collections of the Maharajas

Thrones, gems and weapons once belonging to India's maharajas are to be exhibited at the V&A in London. More than 250 objects are being brought together and many are on loan in the UK for the first time.

Patiala Necklace
This Patiala Necklace is being shown for the first time and is part of Cartier's largest single commission ever. It was completed in 1928 and originally contained 2,930 diamonds and weighed almost a thousand carats.

Turban jewel, mid 18th century
Golden throne once belonging to Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Sir Sri Krishnaraja Wodiyar IV, Bahadur of Mysore, 1906
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, late 19th century
 
Thank you "Little Star" for starting such an interesting thread- you have put so much work into it by being so thorough. I am amayzed at the intricate level of craftsmanship and stunning detail of the Indian Royal Jewelry- truly breathtaking, and quite overwhealming to take in all in one setting. I will have to study this more!
 
I have just been reading an interesting book "Maharanis" by Lucy Moore.
In it the Maharani Indira of Cooch Behar gave her daughter some very useful advice which was more or less never wear emeralds with a green sari, emeralds go best with pink.
When you think about it, she is giving a very good tip, which could be noted by some of the royals who wear emeralds nowadays.
 
Forehead Jewelry is one which is worn by Indian Brides and Women without missing out on it in marriages. The birthplace of Forehead Jewelry is from India. This jewelry is very different from any other jewelry and is hardly found in any other parts of the world. However, Jewelries worn on hair are also found in Egypt as well. Forehead Jewelry has become very popular and Fashion Designers imitated this type of jewelry very often.
 
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Associated most exclusively with royalty. It was an emblem of power, and a change of ownership made a strong political statement. This was but a prelude to the magnificence of the Mugfuls, whose favorite horses and elephants were as opulently bedecked..
 
really nice share... i am from hyderabad, and i seen the jewels of nizam....
wanna hear abt the nizam should hear it from queen victoria....
 
Patiala Necklace
This Patiala Necklace is being shown for the first time and is part of Cartier's largest single commission ever. It was completed in 1928 and originally contained 2,930 diamonds and weighed almost a thousand carats.
does anybody know who owns the Patiala necklace now?
 
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does anybody know who owns the Patiala necklace now?
Cartier does own the remains of it.
"Over the years, the necklace was dismembered by the family and sold in bits and pieces. However, the original platinum chains and some of the stones surfaced in London in 1998. Cartier bought the remnants and restored the necklace using substitute gems -- cubic zirconium to fill in the open settings of the original diamonds and synthetic rubies to replace the original Burmese ones. The necklace now looks like the original to the untrained eye". - Article
 
Cartier does own the remains of it.
"Over the years, the necklace was dismembered by the family and sold in bits and pieces. However, the original platinum chains and some of the stones surfaced in London in 1998. Cartier bought the remnants and restored the necklace using substitute gems -- cubic zirconium to fill in the open settings of the original diamonds and synthetic rubies to replace the original Burmese ones. The necklace now looks like the original to the untrained eye". - Article

Many thanks, that is very useful.
 
it was wonderful to see the crown with emarald drops and other gifts given to king edward vii they are truly all magnificent jewels i do like the kundan style and i would love to have my own matha patti (indian stle tiara) and i do like the agrettes turban jewels.
 
Jewels fit for a maharajah: India's most magnificent royal gems - worth over £1.5 million - go on display inside the Kremlin | Mail Online

Jewels fit for a maharajah: India's most magnificent royal gems go on display inside the Kremlin

India’s most beautiful and magnificent jewels have been gathered from across the world and put on display in the Kremlin in Moscow.
More than 300 dazzling pieces of jewellery and jewelled objects, some of which are up to 500 years old, are being brought together for the first time as part of the India: Jewels that Enchanted the World exhibit.

The British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum have loaned some of their precious treasures, alongside over 30 other museums, institutions and private collections from around the world. The jewellery includes bejewelled dancing peacocks, stunning pieces of gold decorated with flowers made of gems, necklaces made of golden wires, and elaborate crowns and hair jewels fit for gods and goddesses.

Some of the oldest and most elaborate pieces date back to the Mughal courts where gold, gems and enamel were designed to reflect the power and culture of the conquering and lavish Mughal dynasty. Turban jewels, emblems of sovereignty, sparkle with table-cut diamonds, while rigid collar-necklaces are studded with gems and cascade down the neck. The genius of Mughal design and craftsmanship are illustrated by armbands set with diamonds, exquisitely enamelled bangles with animal-head terminals and a tiny box, set with 103 exquisitely carved emeralds.

One section of the exhibit shows off jewelry from the late 19th and early 20th centuries when India and Europe began to cross cultures and influence one another. Famous brands such as Cartier, Chaumet, Mauboussin, Mellerio and Van Cleef & Arpels all turned to India for precious stones and inspiration. Sapphires, emeralds and rubies carved into flowers and leaves became an integral part of Cartier’s 'Tutti Frutti' style.

The maharajas were among their main clients and for them they created an extraordinary jewels combining Indian colour, motifs and forms with European elegance and techniques. Cartier’s creations for their most esteemed client, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, consisted of an entire range of jewels.

click link at top for photographs

 
Kapurthala

The Kapurthala Diamond & Emerald Necklace

This diamond and emerald necklace was originally owned by Maharajah Sir Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala (1872-1949). In 1908 he married for the 5th time Spanish dancer Anita Delgado (1890-1962), known as Maharani Prem Kaur. The Maharajah had seen her perform two years previously in Madrid during the celebrations for the wedding of King Alfonso and Queen Ena.

The demi-parure or suite later came into the possession of Spanish aristocrat the Count of Romanones whose wife Aline sometimes wore the necklace converted into a tiara.

The jewels were auctioned at Sothebys in 2011 and have most recently come to prominence when the necklace and earrings were worn by Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn née Larson at a gala in St Petersburg in June.

v The Kapurthala Diamond & Emerald Necklace & Earrings
Aline, Countess of Romanones
→ → Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
The thumbnail images form small cropped portions of the original and larger photographs.
 

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Warren,
Thanks for the photos!:flowers:
Stones are huge. I have never seen such bright emeralds.
 
The Kapurthala Diamond & Emerald Necklace

This diamond and emerald necklace was originally owned by Maharajah Sir Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala (1872-1949). In 1908 he married for the 5th time Spanish dancer Anita Delgado (1890-1962), known as Maharani Prem Kaur. The Maharajah had seen her perform two years previously in Madrid during the celebrations for the wedding of King Alfonso and Queen Ena.

The demi-parure or suite later came into the possession of Spanish aristocrat the Count of Romanones whose wife Aline sometimes wore the necklace converted into a tiara.

The jewels were auctioned at Sothebys in 2011 and have most recently come to prominence when the necklace and earrings were worn by Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn née Larson at a gala in St Petersburg in June.

v The Kapurthala Diamond & Emerald Necklace & Earrings
Aline, Countess of Romanones
→ → Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
The thumbnail images form small cropped portions of the original and larger photographs.


Isn't that Corrina of the Juan Carlos infamy. ?
 
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