13. Patiala Necklace
The extravagant Patiala Necklace, commissioned in 1928 by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, was among the most opulent pieces of jewelry ever crafted. Designed by Cartier, the necklace featured nearly 3,000 diamonds, including the enormous 234-carat De Beers centerpiece. In 1948, amidst political upheaval in India, the priceless necklace mysteriously disappeared. Decades later, in 1998, portions of the necklace resurfaced in a second-hand jewelry shop in London—but notably missing were several key gemstones, including the iconic De Beers diamond. Despite ongoing searches and speculation surrounding its fate, the necklace remains incomplete, leaving jewelry historians and enthusiasts intrigued by its lingering mystery.
