The Taj Mahal Necklace's Romantic History

The magic of the Taj Mahal Necklace is that it has been a symbol of not one, but two of the most romantic couplings of all time - across centuries and continents. 

Shah Jahangir

The necklace was first commissioned by the Mughal ruler Shah Jahangir, and features an inscribed heart-shaped table-cut diamond with a red stone and jade mount. The neck chain (created later by Cartier to mimic the silk cord the pendant was originally suspended on) is set with cabochon rubies and old mine-cut diamonds.

The Persian inscription has three phrases: Nur Jahan Baygum-e Padshah (his wife), 23, and 1037. 23 refers to the year of his reign, and 1037 was the year in the Islamic calendar (translates to 1627-28).

Shah Jahangir later gave the jewel to his son Shah Jahan, who gifted the diamond to his most beloved wife, Mumtaz-e-Mahal. When she died during childbirth in 1631, he locked himself in his room for eight days, refusing food.

Mumtaz Mahal

It was in her memory that he build perhaps the most famous structure in the world - the Taj Mahal - which took 20,000 labourers 20 years to complete.

When Richard Burton was looking for the perfect gift for Elizabeth Taylor's 40th birthday, he could think of nothing more befitting than the necklace. It was delivered to him at JFK airport of all places where he assessed it and purchased it while awaiting a connecting flight. He later presented it to her in Budapest during her two-day long birthday celebration, where it stole the show as a symbol of their love.

Elizabeth Taylor Showing Her Guests the Taj Mahal Necklace at her 40th Birthday