Princess Catherine looked absolutely stunning as she adorned the Queen’s most expensive jewel, the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, worth an astounding £66.3 million.
This magnificent piece from Her Majesty’s collection was a wedding gift to the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, from the incredibly wealthy Nizam of Hyderabad back in 1947.
Cartier, at the Nizam’s request, allowed Princess Elizabeth to choose anything she desired.
Along with the necklace, she also selected a floral tiara with removable pieces that could be worn as brooches.
The necklace has since been worn by Princess Catherine, who joined the Royal Family after marrying Prince William.
Catherine’s impeccable taste in jewelry has garnered her a legion of fans, according to Charlotte White, Head of Design at Europe’s largest online diamond jeweler, 77 Diamonds.
Speaking to Express Company UK, White discussed Catherine’s preference for natural diamonds and highlighted her choice to wear the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace at the Portrait Gala in 2014.
The pendant section alone, which can be detached, features 13 emerald-cut diamonds, making it a truly opulent creation.
The value of the necklace is so astonishing that experts at Jewelry Box estimate it would take an average Londoner 1,718 years of work to afford it.
This magnificent piece has not only graced the necks of the Queen and Princess Catherine but also that of the late Princess of Wales.
The Royal Collection boasts several other exorbitantly priced items, such as the Cullinan 3 and 4 brooch valued at £50 million, the £25 million Williamson diamond brooch, and the £4 million Greville emerald Kokoshnik tiara, worn by Princess Eugenie on her wedding day in 2018.
However, the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, valued at a staggering £66.3 million, holds the title as the most valuable piece of jewelry owned by any Royal Family.
To put its worth into perspective, Jewelry Box suggests that it would take the average British person approximately 2,000 years of hard work to afford this necklace.
The brooches accompanying the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, known as the Queen’s Nizam of Hyderabad rose brooches, are also highly valued at £80,000, according to experts at Stephen Stone, fine jewelry and engagement ring specialists.
Princess Catherine’s enchanting presence and her affinity for natural diamonds continue to captivate admirers worldwide.
Her choice to wear the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace showcases her impeccable taste and adds another chapter to the illustrious history of this extraordinary piece of jewelry.