In 1928, the Maharaja of Patiala commissioned the legendary Cartier Patiala Necklace, featuring the 234-carat De Beers Yellow Diamond, a piece that came to symbolize India’s royal opulence and power. Nearly a century later, global Punjabi icon Diljit Dosanjh requested the same historic piece or a version of it which is present for his 2025 Met Gala debut, aiming to pay tribute to his heritage and the spirit of the Maharaja he represented.
Cartier declined, citing the necklace’s fragility and museum status. But eyebrows were raised across the internet, as just three years earlier, the same maison had lent a recreated version of the necklace to YouTuber and influencer Emma Chamberlain for the 2022 Met Gala.
The contrast is striking. Why was the necklace wearable for a white Gen Z influencer, but not for an Indian artist embracing his culture on one of fashion’s most visible stages?
Ultimately, Diljit wore custom Golecha jewels and made a powerful statement without Cartier. But the question remains—who gets to wear history, and who is asked to simply look on?
