Los Angeles — At the world premiere of Wuthering Heights on January 29, Margot Robbie arrived on the red carpet wearing one of the most historically significant pieces of jewelry ever worn at a Hollywood event: the Taj Mahal diamond necklace, a Cartier creation valued at approximately $8. 8 million.
While the Australian actress acknowledged the necklace's connection to Elizabeth Taylor, who received it as a gift from Richard Burton in 1972, she omitted a crucial part of its story—its origins in 17th-century Mughal India. The oversight sparked immediate backlash from Indian and South Asian social media users who pointed out that the heart-shaped diamond's true legacy belonged to Mughal Empress Nur Jahan and her descendants, centuries before it became a Hollywood icon.
Key Facts
• The necklace features a heart-shaped, table-cut diamond originally gifted by Mughal Emperor Jehangir to his wife, Nur Jahan, around 1627–28 AD
• Cartier acquired the piece in 1971 and remounted it before Richard Burton purchased it for Elizabeth Taylor's 40th birthday in 1972, when it sold at auction for $8.8 million
• The pendant bears an inscription in Farsi reading "Love is Everlasting" along with Nur Jahan's name and royal title, making its Mughal provenance unmistakable
The necklace's journey traces back centuries to the Mughal imperial court, where it held deep cultural and romantic significance. According to historical records, Emperor Jehangir presented the diamond to Empress Nur Jahan, who later passed it to her son, Emperor Shah Jahan, the builder of the Taj Mahal.
Shah Jahan then gifted the necklace to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, in whose memory he commissioned the iconic monument that would eventually lend its name to the jewel.
When Margot Robbie spoke to media at the premiere, she described the necklace as carrying
and praised its connection to the tempestuous love story of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. However, her comments focused heavily on the Hollywood narrative while glossing over the four-hundred-year-old Mughal legacy that preceded Taylor's ownership by centuries.
Indian social media erupted within hours of the premiere photographs circulating online. Users on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram posted sharp critiques questioning why the necklace's original and most significant history—its roots in Indian imperial culture—had been erased from the red carpet narrative. One user wrote,
The controversy highlights a broader conversation about cultural ownership and historical acknowledgment in the fashion and entertainment industries. When priceless artifacts with non-Western origins appear in Western celebrity contexts, their original stories are frequently minimized or completely ignored, reducing centuries of cultural heritage to a footnote in a Hollywood love story.
Experts on cultural preservation and museum ethics have long raised concerns about similar patterns in Western media, where Eastern artifacts become "luxury accessories" stripped of their original context. The Taj Mahal necklace incident exemplifies how even when an object's provenance is verifiable through inscriptions and historical documentation, popular narratives can override authentic history.
Robbie's stylist, Andrew Mukamal, and the production team behind Wuthering Heights have not publicly addressed the cultural concerns raised, nor have they clarified how the necklace was obtained for the premiere or whether Margot Robbie was briefed on its complete historical significance before wearing it to the event.
Many users demanded that the necklace be returned to India, arguing that culturally significant artifacts should be housed in their countries of origin rather than adorning private collections or being loaned for celebrity events. The debate reflects growing activism within the Indian diaspora and South Asian communities demanding recognition and repatriation of historical treasures.
Margot Robbie told media, inadvertently acknowledging the very history she had downplayed moments earlier.
The Taj Mahal necklace's presence on the Hollywood red carpet serves as a reminder that historical narratives matter, particularly when artifacts belong to cultures that have historically been marginalized in Western spaces. As the Wuthering Heights press tour continues, questions linger about whether upcoming events will provide proper context to this remarkable piece of Mughal heritage or if its Indian origins will remain largely uncredited.
Do You Know?
The original heart-shaped diamond featured in the necklace is believed to have been worn as an amulet or talisman in the Mughal court centuries before Cartier reset it in its current ruby and gold mount in the 1970s, completely transforming the piece's physical appearance while the inscription inside tells the story of its true origins.
Key Terms
• Mughal Empire: A powerful Indian empire that ruled from the 16th to 18th centuries, known for its architectural achievements, art, and culture, with emperors like Shah Jahan and Jehangir among its most celebrated rulers
• Provenance: The documented history and ownership record of an object, particularly important for valuable artifacts and artwork to verify authenticity and cultural significance
• Cultural Repatriation: The return of cultural artifacts and historical treasures to their countries or communities of origin, a growing movement in global heritage preservation
• Nur Jahan: One of the most influential women in Mughal history, Nur Jahan was the chief consort of Emperor Jehangir and wielded significant political power during her lifetime
• Cartier: A legendary French luxury jewelry house founded in 1847, known for creating and acquiring some of the world's most famous diamonds and precious gems
Asia91 Original