We uncover the royal inspiration behind the iconic Cartier Patiala necklace and Boucheron’s new high jewellery collection
Fit for a king, or a Maharaja, is the only way to describe one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever made.
Sir Bhupinder Singh, the former Maharaja (or ruler) of Patiala, is the tastemaker to trump all tastemakers and give King Louis XIV of Versailles a run for his money.
It was 1928 when the Indian royal arrived in Paris with 40 servants in tow, for whom 35 suites were booked at the Ritz. The news had spread that the king, notorious for his extravagant taste, was in town. Place Vendôme, with its many jewellery houses, was buzzing to see from whom he would make his purchase.
It turned out that his majesty’s sights were set upon Boucheron, where he was greeted by the son of Frédéric Boucheron, Louis. Together, the pair designed a whopping 149 pieces. Emerald and diamond collars, pearl necklaces, and belts made of precious materials were all created to capture the intricate genetics of Indian monarchical culture and style.
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In 2022, almost a century later, Boucheron pays homage to those creations by introducing the New Maharajahs collection. The pieces beautifully encapsulate the extravagance of ancient royalty but are still palatable to the 21st-century wearer, using precious materials such as white gold, diamonds, rock crystal, mother-of-pearl, pearls and cacholong.