How India’s royals keep their natural diamond heritage alive


India’s relationship with diamonds is as old as its empires. Long before they travelled to the courts of Europe or adorned crowns in faraway lands, they were discovered here—in the riverbeds of Golconda, gleaming under the Indian sun. From the world’s most famous diamond, the Kohinoor, to the elaborate pieces that still rest in royal treasuries, the country’s legacy with these gems is steeped in opulence, and a deep sense of emotion.

Even today, India’s royal families view natural diamonds as far more than luxury. They are fragments of family history, carrying the weight of heritage. Passed from grandmother to granddaughter, these jewels are reminders of who they are, and where they come from.

Padmaja Kumari Parmar, princess of the House of Mewar, echoes this sentiment. “Tradition and culture have always been a source of pride for us, and jewellery is an extension of that,” she says. “It needs to be preserved and cared for, so it can be passed on to the next generation. Any piece that was in my family came with a story, and that’s what made it so special. Growing up with that sense of responsibility taught me to appreciate both the value and the tradition.” 

Some heirlooms remain etched in her memory. “There’s a diamond my mother wore throughout my childhood,” she recalls. “It’s one of those pieces that stays with you—not just visually, but emotionally.”

For her, heritage jewellery isn’t merely ornamental; it is narrative. “Every heirloom has a story,” she adds. “And it’s the story that gives the piece its true value. My parents have been avid collectors, so choosing just one favourite feels impossible.”

She has also witnessed how attitudes towards diamonds continue to evolve. “How we look at diamonds in 2025 is very different from before,” she explains. “What was once seen strictly as a luxury item has become more fashionable and more accessible. Diamonds still have that unmistakable allure, but I like to think of them as objects that carry stories—memories that come with them.” 

For Padmaja, that emotional meaning is everything. “We live in a world of ads and social media, but it’s still the story behind a piece that makes it truly special,” she says. “My personal favourite is the diamond ring my husband gave me. My children adore it too, because it symbolises the love their parents share.” Another cherished piece is her diamond maang tikka, worn on several meaningful occasions over the years.

That memory—simple, intimate, and rooted in legacy—captures what diamonds have always meant in royal India: vessels of history that carry forward something greater than beauty.

Across royal households, each family guards its own treasures. Like the Patiala Necklace commissioned by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1928 from Cartier—a masterpiece set with nearly 3,000 diamonds, including the 234-carat De Beers yellow diamond at its centre. Once a symbol of the Patiala court’s grandeur, it vanished after Independence, only to be partially rediscovered and restored decades later. Then there are the glittering jewels of the Baroda royal family, whose legendary collection included the Moon of Baroda, the 24-carat yellow diamond once worn by Marilyn Monroe, along with countless bespoke creations owned by Maharani Sita Devi, celebrated for her impeccable taste.

In India, royal families continue to treat these diamond heirlooms with the same devotion. They are carefully preserved, sometimes reset to reflect contemporary design sensibilities, but never stripped of their original meaning.

Yuvrani Anshika Kumari of Karauli, who grew up surrounded by heritage jewellery, shares a similar sentiment. “I especially loved my mother’s engagement ring, a very edgy gold rhombus designed by my father for her, encrusted with diamonds he selected personally,” she says. “That really shaped how I feel about jewellery, where context, personality, and love are paramount.” 

For Anshika, the fascination lies in how stories and craftsmanship intertwine. One of her most cherished heirlooms is a 1930s diamond riviere with a heart locket featuring a delicate ruby swastika. “It’s such an eclectically playful piece,” she says. “I love the juxtaposition of the Victorian sentimentality of the heart, unusual for an Art Deco-era piece, with the personal faith symbolised by the swastika.”

Over time, the meaning of these jewels has shifted. What once stood for grandeur and lineage has become far more intimate. Today’s royals see diamonds not as displays of status, but as deeply personal markers of memory, pieces that celebrate moments rather than monarchs. They’ve moved from palaces to everyday wardrobes, from ceremonial showcases to expressions of individuality, carrying with them both history and a hint of rebellion against it.

Anshika echoes that shift. “My grandmother-in-law, Rajmata Narendra Kumari of Karauli, once told me that as a young teenager in the late 1940s she found fine jewellery somewhat boring because she had seen so much of it,” she laughs. “She preferred Bakelite hoop earrings! Her thought process feels surprisingly modern, it mirrors how many of us approach jewellery now. It’s no longer just about inheritance or investment, but about wearability, and design.” 

In that way, India’s younger royals are rewriting the narrative, preserving their family’s diamond heritage while bringing their own voice to it. A necklace once reserved for coronations might now be reimagined as a choker for a contemporary ensemble. A diamond-studded brooch might be reset into a modern pendant. Through subtle re-interpretations, tradition is kept alive without feeling static.

From Golconda’s mines to palatial vaults, and now to the jewellery boxes of India’s modern royals, the journey of natural diamonds is one of endurance, and of countless stories. They shimmer with history, each facet reflecting love, lineage, and the timeless pursuit of beauty that no passing trend can ever outshine.

Lead image: Rosy Blue 

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