Baroda Pearls

Considered to be one of the most notable jewelry collectors of the Nineteenth century, the Maharaja of Baroda, Khande Rao Gaekwar (r.1856-1870), possessed an unparalleled collection of state jewels. Khande Rao came to possess an extraordinary necklace composed of seven strands of perfectly matched and graduated natural pearls. Referred to as The Baroda Pearls, each luminous strand radiated elegance, wealth and power, and would be the prized possession of Royal Gaekwars of later generations. According to the Reverend Edward St. Clair Weeden, an Englishman who visited Baroda in 1909, the pearls were worth fifty lakhs of rupees, equivalent to #500,000, making it at that time, the most expensive piece of jewelry owned by the Gaekwar of Baroda.

Later when Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwar became the ruler, he opened his treasury to European jewelers for modifications on design. Later in 1947, when Baroda was annexed to India, it was found that though Sayajirao's gand daughter in law Maharani Sita Devi has taken away major pieces from Baroda treasury, but this pearl necklace was intact. Later auctioned by Christies for 7 million USD. But how much history these pearls may have, they are by origin Basra pearls from Persian Gulf.