Taj Mahal Diamond 

Rich with romance and history, the Cartier Taj Mahal necklace stands as one of the most historically significant pieces in Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary collection. Gifted to Elizabeth by Richard Burton on her 40th birthday in 1972 during a Budapest getaway, the necklace is steeped in centuries-old symbolism. The pendant's surface bears an inscription in Parsee that reads, “Love is Everlasting,” along with the name of Nur Jahan, the first woman to receive the jewel as a gift from her husband, Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahangir. The diamond was then passed down to their son, Shah Jahan, who gifted it to his most adored wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Four years later, when she died, the emperor commissioned the iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum as a tribute to her. The monument inspired the naming of the diamond, which found its way to Elizabeth and Richard — another couple whose legacy of love still lives on.