THIS Indian cricket star’s family necklace is worth Rs 12650000000, it’s recreation was worn by Anne Hathaway in Ocean’s 8 movie too
Former India batting star Ajay Jadeja has recently become heir to the royal throne of Jamnagar. In addition to his net worth zooming up to Rs 1,450 crore, Jadeja has also become ‘owner’ of many priceless heirlooms of the family – including some stunning jewellery.
One such piece was the ‘Toussaint Necklace’, commissioned by the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar (present-day Jamnagar in Gujarat), Ranjitsinhji Jadeja (10 September 1872 – 2 April 1933), in 1931 and designed by Jacques Cartier. KS Ranjitsinhji Jadeja is the royal after whom the ‘Ranji Trophy’ domestic tournament is named. Ajaysinhji Jadeja is the relative of Ranjitsinhji Jadeja of erstwhile Nawanagar family.
According to British Vogue magazine, the was ‘Toussaint Necklace’described as, “the finest cascade of coloured diamonds in the world,” and “a superb realisation of a connoisseur’s dream”— a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s former creative director.
The necklace featured two chains crafted from large, clear white diamonds, with square pink diamonds serving as links. “At its centre, there were three pink diamonds, along with a 26-carat blue and a 12-carat green diamond. Its central pendant stone was the bluish Queen of Holland, then weighing 136.25 carats and considered one of the largest diamonds in the world,” the MAP Academy said about the necklace.
By the time the necklace was completed, Jam Sahib Ranjitsinhji had passed away, and it was only seen publicly a few times, wrapped around the neck of his nephew and successor, Digvijaysinhji Jadeja. Reportedly, if the necklace still existed, it would be valued at over $150 million or Rs 1,265 crore.
Although the necklace was dismantled sometime in the 1960s, its sheer gorgeousness led Cartier to recreate it for the Hollywood blockbuster movie ‘Ocean’s 8’. The necklace appears in the ‘Diamond Heist’ scene at the Met Gala, where a replica of the Jeanne Toussaint was worn by the character Daphne Kluger, played by Anne Hathaway.
Dua Lipa says her Tiffany & Co. necklace was taken out of the vault just for her to wear tonight.
It’s giving Anne Hathaway in Ocean’s 8 at the #MetGala wearing the Cartier Toussaint necklace. Someone watch the ladies room pic.twitter.com/4ZOjoJYN9w
— Jenna Amatulli (@ohheyjenna) May 1, 2023
Cartier, the film’s official jewellery partner, downsized the necklace’s size by 15–20 per cent to fit Anne and used natural zirconium oxides instead of coloured diamonds, mounting them on white gold. Special attention was paid to the details of the necklace, and the best jewellers of Cartier were required to execute it withing eight weeks.
Meanwhile on Dussehra (October 12, 2024), Maharaja Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja, the current Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, announced Ajay Jadeja, a member of the royal family, as his successor. The Maharaja confirmed this news in a letter, stating that his nephew and former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja will be the next heir to the Jamnagar royal throne, according to an ANI news report.
“The festival of Dussehra is believed to mark the day the Pandavas emerged victorious from exile. Today, on Dussehra, I am equally happy, as I have found a resolution to one of my dilemmas thanks to Ajay Jadeja, who has accepted to be my heir,” Maharaja Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja wrote in the letter.
Furthermore, he mentioned, “Ajay Jadeja taking up the responsibility of serving the people of Jamnagar is truly a boon for its people. I express my sincere gratitude to him.”