Editor’s Note
This article reports on former cricketer Ajay Jadeja’s inheritance of the royal title and estate of Jamnagar, significantly increasing his wealth. While the core details are presented, the sourcing for the financial figures and historical claims about the family’s assets is not provided. Readers are advised to treat the specific monetary valuations and descriptions of inherited properties with caution, as such details often require verification from official records or estate documents.
NEW DELHI:
Former Indian batsman Ajay Jadeja has recently become the heir to the royal throne of Jamnagar. Jadeja will now be known as the new Jam Saheb of Jamnagar. Following this, his net worth has exceeded 1400 crore rupees. By becoming the Jam Saheb, Ajay Jadeja has overnight become one of the richest cricketers in India. Along with this, he has also become the owner of several ancestral properties of the royal family. At one time, the Jamnagar royal family possessed the Toussaint Necklace.
Maharaja Ranjitsinhji Jadeja ordered the creation of the Toussaint necklace in 1931. This necklace no longer exists in its original form. The Toussaint necklace was an opulent piece of jewelry. At its center was set the Queen of Holland diamond. He was the ruler of the princely state at that time. The necklace was designed by the famous jewelry house Cartier. It was named after Cartier’s director, Jeanne Toussaint. Jeanne Toussaint drew inspiration from Mughal and other royal Indian jewels. She was also involved in the Art Deco movement. In 1960, this necklace was broken apart. It no longer exists in its original shape.
The Toussaint necklace featured two strands set with large white diamonds. Pink diamonds acted as links between them. In its center were three pink diamonds. It also featured a 26-carat blue diamond and a 12-carat green diamond. Hanging as a pendant in the center was the blue Queen of Holland diamond. At that time, its weight was 136.25 carats. It was considered one of the largest diamonds in the world. According to reports, the current value of the Toussaint necklace is 12,650,000,000 rupees.
It is said about this diamond that it was found in 1904 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. At that time, many diamonds were arriving there from South Africa. Therefore, it was believed that this diamond also originated from there. However, its blue hue resembles that of Golconda diamonds. Therefore, experts believe this diamond is from the Deccan region of India. Ranjitsinhji was not only a connoisseur of jewelry but also a famous cricketer. He purchased this diamond from a firm in 1930. He took it to Cartier in 1931. He had it set in the center of the Toussaint necklace.
This necklace was completed in 1933. That same year, Ranjitsinhji passed away. His nephew and successor, Digvijaysinhji Jadeja, wore it on several occasions. Until 1960, this necklace remained with his family. Then it was broken apart. Cartier separately purchased the Queen of Holland diamond. In 1978, it was sold to William Goldberg. The diamond was recut, and its weight was reduced to 135.92 carats. Currently, this diamond is in the possession of Robert Mouawad, former president of the Mouawad House.