Today marks the 15th Anniversary of the Death of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, who passed away on this day in 2009! The Cooch Behar Princess who married the dashing Maharaja of Jaipur, becoming the glamorous Maharani who won the world’s largest landslide election victory and was later jailed by the Indian Government ‘playing badminton with the prostitutes & murderesses’, Maharani Gayatri Devi possessed a spectacular jewellery collection, which included this Bulgari Gold Suite!

Cartier Emerald Suite | Cartier Ruby Suite | Bulgari Gold Suite

A striking Bulgari Gold Suite composed of a Necklace, pair of Earrings and Bracelet of diamonds are set in tiny scallop shells with minimal links to give great suppleness. Complete with original fitted Bulgari cases, one for the necklace and earrings, and a separate one for the bracelet, both covered in pink leather, the necklace case with central front opening forming two wings, each stamped in black on the silk lining: BVLGARI ROMA, the bracelet case similarly stamped in gold instead of black. The curator’s notes state:

The collar or bib shape was extremely fashionable in the 50’s. This motif was repeated by Bulgari in many variants. The full set of this particular design comprised a brooch and ring as well as necklace, earrings and bracelet. For the full set, see A.Triossi (ed), ‘Bulgari from 1884-2009. 125 Years of Italian Jewels’, exhibition catalogue, Rome and Milan 2009, pp. 74-5 (ill) and p. 299 (cat. 100-101), which refers to related designs in the Bulgari archive. Triossi notes that a similar necklace was worn by Ingrid Bergman in the film ‘The Visit’ of 1964.

The Bulgari Gold and Diamond Necklace and Earrings were acquired by Maharani Gayatri Devi in Rome in 1953, while the Bracelet was acquired the following year, when she was photographed wearing the Necklace and Earrings during a Dinner in London that year.

The following year, the Maharani of Jaipur wore her full Bulgari Gold and Diamond Suite for the first night production of The Lost Generation.

In 1960, Maharani Gayatri Devi wore the Bulgari Gold and Diamond Suite for the legendary Ballo dei Re held by Duke Francesco and Duchess Elena di Serra di Cassano held at their Napolitan Palazzo.

Maharani Gayatri Devi was also photographed wearing the Bulgari Gold and Diamond Suite for a photoshoot at her Lilypool Palace in Jaipur at some point in the late 1960s.

Disillusioned by the state of India and its government, especially after being jailed during the Emergency, the Maharani seems to gave anonymously donated some of her most prominent jewels to the British Museum around 2001, which included her Bulgari Gold Suite alongside her Cartier Emerald Suite and Cartier Ruby Suite. These jewels are on display at (G47/dc14) and were also displayed at the ‘Bulgari from 1884-2009. 125 Years of Italian Jewels’ Exhibit in Rome in 2009.

Cartier Emerald Suite | Cartier Ruby Suite | Bulgari Gold Suite

British Museum

Cartier Emerald Suite