Margot Robbie has been channeling classic Hollywood glamour while promoting her upcoming film Wuthering Heights, but her appearance at the film’s world premiere in Los Angeles elevated that nostalgia to a historic level. Held at the TCL Chinese Theatre on January 28, the premiere saw Robbie arrive in a sculptural Schiaparelli couture gown that perfectly balanced drama and elegance. Yet, it was not the gown alone that captured global attention. The true showstopper was the legendary Taj Mahal diamond necklace once owned by Elizabeth Taylor, instantly transforming the red carpet into a moment of living history.
The necklace, valued at approximately $8 million, is one of the most storied jewels ever worn by a Hollywood star. Set on a Cartier-designed gold and ruby chain, the heart-shaped diamond was gifted to Elizabeth Taylor by her husband Richard Burton on her 40th birthday. The jewel became a symbol of their famously passionate and turbulent love story, one that began on the sets of Cleopatra in 1962 and unfolded under constant public scrutiny. By wearing the heirloom, Robbie paid tribute not just to Old Hollywood glamour, but to an era defined by grand romance and unapologetic extravagance.
Long before it became associated with Elizabeth Taylor, the Taj Mahal diamond carried deep historical and cultural significance. Jewellery historians believe the heart-shaped, table-cut diamond originated during the Mughal era. The gem bears a Parsi inscription reading “Love is Everlasting” and features the name Nur Jahan, suggesting it was gifted by Mughal Emperor Jahangir to his influential wife. The diamond is believed to have later passed to their son Shah Jahan, who may have presented it to his wife Mumtaz Mahal, forever linking the jewel to one of the world’s most enduring symbols of love.
In 1971, Cartier acquired the diamond and began reshaping its destiny for the modern era. Initially suspended from a traditional Indian silk cord, the jewel was later redesigned by Cartier’s Alfred Durante into the now-iconic gold and ruby necklace, complete with intricate detailing, adjustable elements and dramatic tassels. Cartier president Michael Thomas famously introduced the piece to Burton and Taylor in 1972, and although Burton delayed the purchase, he eventually gifted it to Taylor during an extravagant birthday celebration in Budapest.
By choosing to wear the Taj Mahal diamond as a choker with the tassel flowing down her back, Margot Robbie seamlessly bridged centuries of romance, royalty and cinema. Her appearance added a contemporary chapter to the jewel’s extraordinary journey, connecting Mughal emperors, Hollywood legends and modern stardom in a single, unforgettable red carpet moment. Meanwhile, Wuthering Heights is set to release in theatres on February 13, with Robbie’s jewellery moment already cemented as one of the most iconic fashion statements of the year.
