The necklace was now reduced to 6 rows, from its original 7. It's unknown whether it was the shortest or longest strand that was missing. The fate of the necklace since then was unknown, but a 2-stranded pearl necklace restrung from selected pearls of the original necklace appeared at a Christie's N.Y. in 2007.

The 7-strand pearl necklace became world famous when a photo of the 12th Gaekwad Maharajah Sayaji Rao III, wearing it appeared in the "Book of the Pearl" published in 1908 by Tiffany's gemmologist George Frederick Kunz who described the Baroda holdings as ''among the greatest jeweled treasures of India'', & came to be known as the "Baroda Pearl Necklace." The last Gaekwad Maharajah, at the time India became an Independent republic, Maharajah Pratapsingh Rao Gaekwad, who ruled between 1939 & 1951, the necklace again aroused attention, when the Maharajah was photographed by Henri Cartier Bresson wearing it.

Each pearl luminous strand radiated elegance, wealth & power, this necklace was among the most expensive pieces in the Baroda Royal Treasury & remained one of its prized jewels throughout the 20th century.
''Having amassed huge quantities of pearls from all over the Gulf region, the Indian Royal families were famed for the superlative natural pearls in their treasuries. The 7-strand Baroda pearl necklace was the masterpiece of all these collections. The 2-row necklace now comprising 68 of the finest & largest pearls of this superb necklace encapsulates everything the modern collector could expect from the
most important pearl necklace in the world,'' said Christie's.

"The Baroda Pearls Necklace" is a combination of perfect quality & royal provenance that something never witnessed in the history of jewellery before, made it one of the most expensive pearl necklaces in the world to date.
Images by Christie's

A magnificent suite of royal treasure:
● Referred to as "The Baroda Pearls", this legendary 2-strand Baroda pearl necklace, made of 68 graduated natural pearls (9.47 to 16.04 mm), all impeccably matched in colour, luster, size & shape, & jointed by a stunning 8.57-ct circular old mine cut diamond & platinum foliate clasp, mounted by Cartier. The necklace is assembled from the original 7-strand pearl necklace owned by the Indian Maharajas of Baroda, once was part of the Baroda treasure dated to the Mughal times.
● A pair of ear pendants, each suspending a drop-shaped pearl, measuring approx. 13.34 - 15.08 x 22.26 mm & 14.40 - 15.01 x 21.05 mm, within an old European & old mine-cut diamond surround, to the button pearl surmount, each measuring approx. 12.56 - 12.62 x 10.85 mm & 12.31 - 12.76 x 9.28 mm, within a similarly-set diamond surround, mounted in silver-topped gold. Necklace clasp signed Cartier.
● A brooch, set with an oval-shaped pearl, measuring approx. 17.17 - 19.16 x 15.09 mm, within a bezel-set old European & old mine cut diamond foliate surround, mounted in platinum.
● A ring, set with a button pearl, measuring approx. 14.62 - 14.90 x 13.52 mm, flanked on either side by graduated baguette-cut diamonds, mounted in platinum, with French assay mark.
Gübelin states that the 2-row necklace consisting of 68 graduated pearls are natural. The 2 button pearls & the 2 drop-shaped pearls are natural. The oval-shaped pearl is natural. The button-shaped pearl is natural.

The most famous & sought-after pearl necklace in history:
A close up of the Baroda pearl necklace, which was sold at N.Y. Magnificent Jewels sale in April 2007 for $7.1 M. It set a world record price for a pearl necklace, the highest ever achieved by a pearl necklace at auction.



Maharajah Gaekwad Khande Rao (1856-1870), during whose reign the original Baroda Pearl Necklace was commissioned.
Considered to be one of the greatest jewellery collectors in the 19th century, Maharaja owned an unparalleled collection of crown jewels. One of the most extravagant piece was an extraordinary necklace composed of 7 strands of perfectly matched & graduated natural pearls.

Maharajah Gaekwad Khande Rao (1856-1870), during whose reign the original Baroda Pearl Necklace was commissioned.
Considered to be one of the greatest jewellery collectors in the 19th century, Maharaja owned an unparalleled collection of crown jewels. One of the most extravagant piece was an extraordinary necklace composed of 7 strands of perfectly matched & graduated natural pearls.