LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Margot Robbie turned heads by wearing a historic necklace associated with Mughal Empress Noor Jahan, bringing a piece of South Asian royal heritage to the global spotlight.
According to Vogue, the necklace is far from an ordinary piece of jewellery.
It is a centuries-old diamond necklace attributed to Mughal Empress Noor Jahan, often referred to as the “Taj Mahal Diamond.”
The jewel was previously owned by legendary Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Robbie’s upcoming film, Wuthering Heights, is set for release on February 13 and stars Jacob Elordi opposite her in the lead roles.
Based on Emily Brontë’s classic Gothic novel, the film has been reimagined against the stark landscapes of Yorkshire.
For the premiere, Robbie wore a bespoke couture ensemble by the renowned fashion house Schiaparelli, but it was the historic necklace that captured widespread attention.
The piece features a heart-shaped diamond set in jade, suspended from a chain crafted of gold, rubies, and diamonds.
Vogue reported that the necklace bears a Persian inscription translating to “Love endures forever,” along with the engraved name of Empress Noor Jahan.
Historically, the necklace is believed to have been gifted by Mughal Emperor Jahangir to his wife, Noor Jahan, as a symbol of love.
It later passed to Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, and through this royal lineage became known as the Taj Mahal Diamond.
Centuries later, the necklace reached European luxury jeweller Cartier, where it was redesigned.
In 1972, Cartier presented it to Elizabeth Taylor as a gift from her husband Richard Burton.
Following Taylor’s death in 2011, the necklace was sold at auction for $8.8 million, setting a record at the time for an Indian jewellery item.
Margot Robbie’s appearance wearing the necklace has reignited debate over colonial-era artefacts taken from India.
The jewel is among thousands of historically significant treasures removed during the colonial period, as India continues to press for the return of its cultural heritage from Britain and other countries, including the famed Koh-i-Noor diamond.
