Although the 8th Maharaja of Patiala is not the skeleton in Shimla’s Scandal Point closet, (see my last blog titled Shimla’s Mislaid Maiden), he did have an eye for a pretty girl and reportedly housed at least one for every day of the year. History records that only ten of Bhupendra Singh’s 365 or so women were official wives. Since he had a few wives and hundreds of concubines in his zenana, or harem, which produced an estimated 88 children of which 53 survived, it’s not surprising that Bhupendra is often called “his exhausted highness.”

The 8th Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupendra Singh

The Maharaja’s sexual prowess speaks for itself, as does his talent for other popular games. Like his father before him, Bhupendra was an accomplished polo player and cricketer. Although his dad promoted and played both sports primarily within the Kingdom of Patiala, Bhupendra’s cricket and polo teams, the Patiala XI and Patiala Tigers respectively, were the best in India.

Bhupendra’s first-class cricket debut came when he skippered the all-Indian tour of Great Britain in 1911. The flamboyant Maharaja went on to play in 27 international matches finishing with England’s 1937-38 tour of India. Two of his sons also played first-class cricket including his successor, Yadavendra, who played in one Test for India in 1934.

In addition to being sportsmen of international standing, many hold both the 8th and 9th Maharajas of Patiala in high regard for their military, political and diplomatic accomplishments.

Nevertheless, the 8th Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupendra Singh, is the most talked-about of all Indian princes and arguably one of the wealthiest in his day. Not to be outdone by his father who brought the first car to India, Bhupendra was the first to import and own a private aeroplane. His fleet of prestige automobiles that included as many as 44 Rolls Royces is further evidence of his billionaire lifestyle.

The 7th Maharaja of Patiala and the French De Dion Bouton steam-powered car he imported to India in 1892. The first motorcar arrived in Calcutta five years later.

However, the 8th Maharaja of Patiala’s fondness of exquisite jewellery puts his penchant for gentlemen’s games, expensive boy’s toys and all things luxe to shame. I speak primarily of an extraordinary piece of ceremonial jewellery that he commissioned for himself. Completed in 1928 and valued in today’s money at over A$40 million, the art deco platinum Patiala Necklace is one of The House of Cartier’s most magnificent creations. It comprised five strands studded with “seven diamonds ranging in size from 18 carats to 73 carats each; close to 3,000 small diamonds; and some Burmese rubies.” The diamond and ruby-encrusted ropes swung to a pendant that featured the 7th largest cut diamond and the 2nd largest faceted yellow diamond in the world, a 234.65-carat mined by De Beers. The bib-like necklace is reputedly the most significant commission in the history of Cartier and one of the most significant pieces of jewellery ever made.

The Patiala Necklace

The history of the Patiala Necklace is as compelling as the Maharaja who commissioned it. Like the English woman at Scandal Point, the necklace mysteriously vanished from the Patiala treasury. It was last seen in public in 1941 hanging around the neck of Bhupendra’s eldest son, and successor, the 9th Maharaja of Patiala, Yadavendra Singh I.

The 9th Maharaja of Patiala, Yadavendra Singh I wearing the Patiala Necklace

Sadly, the necklace was never seen again in one piece. Interestingly, the De Beers diamond came up for auction at Sotheby’s in Geneva in 1982 but didn’t reach the reserve. It is yet to re-surface. Sixteen years later, the remainder of the masterpiece, minus the most valuable gems, was found by an associate of Cartier in a second-hand jewellery shop in London. The House of Cartier has since restored the necklace replacing the larger precious gems, including the De Beers diamond, with synthetic ones.

There is no evidence to suggest that the Patiala Necklace went missing in 1948 as some observers suggest. Like the myth about the woman who went missing at Scandal Point in Shimla, no one knows or is prepared to say, when, how or why it disappeared from the dynasty’s well-stocked treasure trove. Was it stolen? Unlikely. Was it sold on the quiet? Hmmm.

The 8th Maharaja of Patiala is well known for having maintained “one of the most lavish courts in India,” which reportedly emptied the Kingdom’s coffers and more. At a guess, I think that his successor had a fire sale to pay his father’s enormous debts. But since we do not know who put the De Beers diamond up for auction in 1982, it’s difficult to say if the 9th Maharaja converted the Patiala Necklace, or parts of it, to cash in the late 1930s.

If Yadavendra Singh did not sell the necklace, it stands to reason that either he or 10th and current Maharaja of Patiala, Amarinder Singh, might have had something to do with its disappearance especially after India gained Independence in 1947, which put the sovereignty and the prosperity of the Maharajas at risk.

I doubt history will ever record the truth behind the disappearance of the Patiala Necklace.