Historical Research

Introduction to the Mughal Mirror Diamond Necklace

A concise orientation to the necklace: what it is, what it is made of, and how this Knowledge Base is sourced.

Reading time: 4 min Last reviewed: August 2026 Category: Historical Research

What the Necklace Is

The Mughal Mirror Diamond Necklace is a jewel attributed, in the supplied curatorial documentation, to the seventeenth-century Mughal Empire, "circa Shah Jahan period." It is built around five principal diamonds, each cut flat and broad in a style the documentation calls table-cut, "mirror," "parab," or portrait-cut. The stones are set in gold, decorated with white enamel, and completed with carved emerald drops on a braided silk and gold cord.

In July 2026, the necklace received public attention when Christian Dior Couture cited it as a design reference for a haute couture collection — an endorsement covered in the supplied brochure and referenced by subsequent press material described in the supplied advisory memorandum.

Materials at a Glance

  • Principal stones: Five flat Golconda table-cut diamonds, documented at approximately 96–97 carats in total.
  • Metal: Gold, chased and shaped into frames and fittings.
  • Decoration: White enamel bordering each diamond frame.
  • Colour accents: Carved emerald drops, described in the curatorial summary as Colombian in origin.
  • Suspension: Braided silk cord with gold thread and gold-wire tassels.

The Documentation Behind This Site

This website is built from four supplied documents: a promotional brochure describing the 2026 Dior endorsement; a curatorial summary covering the necklace's materials, certification, provenance, and exhibition history; an advisory memorandum assessing the necklace's current standing; and an expert valuation report addressing intrinsic and market value estimates. Every factual claim on this site is drawn from one of these sources, and is labelled accordingly. Where a document does not fully substantiate a detail, this site says so explicitly rather than filling the gap with assumption.

"A masterpiece of Islamic design." — Christian Dior Couture, as quoted in the supplied brochure, July 2026.

How to Use This Knowledge Base

Each article in this Knowledge Base focuses on one aspect of the necklace — its diamonds, its craftsmanship, its provenance, or its documented valuation — and states its sources plainly. Use the category cards on the Documentation homepage to browse by topic, or consult the Frequently Asked Questions article for quick answers.

  • Curatorial Summary — necklace overviewAvailable
  • Promotional Brochure — Dior endorsementAvailable
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