May 06, 2025: While Diljit Dosanjh made a regal statement at the Met Gala 2025, bringing Punjabi royalty to the global fashion spotlight, a key piece of his envisioned look was missing—the legendary Cartier necklace once owned by the Maharaja of Patiala.
According to The New York Times, Dosanjh’s team attempted to borrow the historic 1,000-carat diamond necklace, commissioned in 1928 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and created by the French luxury brand Cartier. The extravagant piece, the largest necklace ever made by the jeweller, remains one of the most iconic symbols of Indian royal opulence.
However, their request was denied, as the original necklace is preserved and sealed in a museum, unavailable for lending. In response, Diljit’s stylist Devika Devnani commissioned Indian jeweller Golecha to recreate jewellery inspired by the Maharaja’s collection, including a dazzling turban brooch and a multi-layered diamond necklace that complemented Dosanjh’s traditional attire.
Despite not having access to the original heirloom, the singer stunned in a black kurta, tehmat, jewel-encrusted turban, and a lion-headed kirpan, embodying Punjabi pride and the Met Gala’s 2025 theme of “Black Dandyism.”
Diljit later took to Instagram to express his pride in representing his culture, writing, “Main Hoon Punjab… I bring my turban, my culture & my mother tongue ‘pNjaabii’ to the MET GALA.”
His tribute to the Maharaja of Patiala was a standout moment, reinforcing the rich legacy of Indian royalty on one of fashion’s most influential platforms.