Valentine's Day: The Most Expensive Jewelry Gifts Ever Given in India

Valentine’s Day in India has its own language: flowers, filmi songs, late-night drives, and for a very small but very visible elite, jaw-droppingly expensive jewellery.

While most couples exchange something simple, a few love stories have been written in diamonds, rubies and emeralds worth crores. This article looks at some of the most extravagant jewellery gifts connected to Indian love stories, perfect inspiration for a Valentine’s Day read, even if the price tags are pure fantasy for the rest of us.

"Love may be priceless, but sometimes the bill from the jeweller strongly disagrees."

What “the most expensive” really means

Before diving in, it helps to clarify what counts:

• These are publicly reported, high-profile jewellery gifts linked to Indian couples, families or royal love stories.
• Valuations are based on media reports and auction results, not audited financial statements, so think “best available estimate”, not GST invoice.
• There are almost certainly private gifts that are even more expensive but never made the news.

With that in mind, here are some of the biggest, boldest and most romantic jewellery gestures connected to India.

1. The ₹451‑crore ‘bahu necklace’ - Nita Ambani’s gift to Shloka Mehta

If there is one piece that dominates any list of Indian jewellery gifts, it is the necklace Nita Ambani reportedly gave her elder daughter‑in‑law, Shloka Mehta, when she married Akash Ambani in 2019.

Multiple reports state that Nita Ambani gifted Shloka the Mouawad L’Incomparable diamond necklace, a one‑of‑a‑kind piece that has held the Guinness World Record for the most valuable necklace in the world.

What makes it so extraordinary?

• A 407.48‑carat golden yellow diamond as the centrepiece
• Around 91 diamonds in total, adding roughly 200+ carats of additional stones
• Set in 18‑karat rose gold
• A reported valuation of around ₹451 crore (about 55 million US dollars at the time)

This is not a Valentine’s Day gift; it was a wedding gift. But in terms of sheer symbolism, welcoming a new bride into the family with the world’s most valuable necklace, it captures the ultimate “show of love” in jewellery form. For many Indians scrolling through the pictures, it redefined what “sasural ka pyaar” could look like.

"Jewellery is a love letter you can wear every day."

2. Royal romance in stone - the Taj Mahal diamond necklace

Long before Bollywood and billionaires, India’s love stories were written in marble and gemstones. One of the most romantic pieces tied to India’s history is the Taj Mahal diamond, a heart‑shaped stone believed to date back to the Mughal era.

Historians trace it to Emperor Jahangir’s wife, Nur Jahan, one of the most powerful women of her time. The heart‑shaped, table‑cut diamond bears a Parsi inscription with her name and the words “Love is Everlasting”, a message that could easily be a modern Valentine’s card.

Centuries later, the diamond was:

• Acquired and reimagined by Cartier into a gold‑and‑ruby necklace
• Gifted by actor Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor on her 40th birthday, a deeply personal love token between two of Hollywood’s most legendary lovers
• Auctioned after Taylor’s death for around 8–8.8 million US dollars (roughly ₹74 crore at the time), setting a record for an Indian‑inspired jewel.

Though the final sale happened in New York, the stone’s origins, inscription and name “Taj Mahal” keep it firmly rooted in India’s romantic history. It shows how a single jewel can carry centuries of love stories, from Mughal courts to Hollywood red carpets.

3. The Ambani emeralds and the ₹53‑crore diamond ring

No conversation about India’s most extravagant jewels is complete without mentioning Nita Ambani’s personal collection, which often blurs the line between adornment and art.

At her son Anant Ambani’s pre‑wedding celebrations in Jamnagar, Nita Ambani wore an emerald‑studded diamond necklace whose green gemstones alone were estimated in some reports at ₹400–500 crore. She paired it with other high jewellery pieces that turned her look into a moving treasure chest.

Another headline‑maker in her collection is the “Mirror of Paradise” diamond ring, a 52.58‑carat stone estimated at around ₹53 crore. The ring has appeared at major events, including the opening of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, and represents the very top end of what “statement ring” can mean in India.

These pieces are not publicly described as “gifts”, but within families of this scale, jewellery often moves across generations and occasions, weddings, anniversaries, births, becoming heirlooms of love and legacy rather than simple accessories.

"Real romance is not measured in carats, but in the care behind the choice."

4. Crores on the finger - Bollywood’s most expensive engagement rings

For many couples, the most meaningful piece of jewellery exchanged in a lifetime is the engagement ring. In Bollywood, several of these rings are worth as much as luxury apartments in Mumbai.

A snapshot of some of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings in India, as reported by mainstream media: indiatoday

• Asin Thottumkal - A lavish diamond ring from husband Rahul Sharma, estimated around ₹6 crore
• Shilpa Shetty - A sparkling diamond ring from Raj Kundra, valued at about ₹3 crore
• Priyanka Chopra Jonas - A Tiffany & Co. cushion‑cut diamond engagement ring, estimated at roughly ₹2.1 crore
• Kareena Kapoor Khan - An elegant diamond ring from Saif Ali Khan, said to be worth around ₹2 crore
• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - A stunning diamond ring from Abhishek Bachchan, reportedly about ₹1.5 crore
• Anushka Sharma - A classic diamond ring from Virat Kohli, estimated near ₹1 crore.

Most of these weren’t Valentine’s Day proposals, but they embody the same sentiment the day celebrates: publicly promising a lifetime of love with a private circle of gold and diamonds.

5. When Valentine’s Day is about jewellery - star husbands and their lavish gifts

Indian media has documented several instances where Valentine’s Day itself became the occasion for big jewellery surprises, especially in celebrity marriages.

A Hindi feature on extravagant Valentine’s gifts highlights a few such gestures: ndtv

• Hrithik Roshan for Sussanne Khan - During the peak of their relationship, Hrithik is said to have gifted Sussanne a “beshkimti heere ki angoothi” (priceless diamond ring) on Valentine’s Day. The exact price was never disclosed, but given their lifestyle and her taste in jewellery, it was clearly not a small trinket.
• Virat Kohli for Anushka Sharma - Virat reportedly surprised Anushka with a beautiful ruby necklace to make Valentine’s Day special. Rubies, often called the “king of gemstones”, have long been associated with passion and love in Indian tradition.
• Nick Jonas for Priyanka Chopra Jonas - Priyanka has received a luxury branded necklace set from Nick as a Valentine’s gift, adding to her already iconic jewellery wardrobe.
• Saif Ali Khan for Kareena Kapoor Khan - Beyond her engagement ring, Saif is said to have gifted Kareena a luxury solitaire diamond ring specifically as a Valentine’s Day present, reinforcing his “Nawab of Romance” image.

In all these cases, the stories focus less on exact carat weights and more on the gesture: successful partners using jewellery to say,

“You matter enough to me to mark this day with something timeless.”

6. Love, auctions and Mughal jewels - when history meets the hammer

Beyond modern celebrities, many of India’s most precious love‑linked jewels have eventually landed under the auctioneer’s hammer.

A Times of India feature on Mughal jewels highlights several pieces with staggering price tags: timesofindia.indiatimes

• The Taj Mahal necklace (the Indian diamond and jade pendant on a ruby and gold chain) sold for around 8.8 million US dollars in 2011 at Christie’s New York, after spending years in Elizabeth Taylor’s collection.
• A spectacular spinel necklace engraved with the names of emperors Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb sold for about 2.5 million US dollars at Christie’s in Geneva. While not a documented “gift” in the Valentine’s sense, such pieces often originated as royal presentations and tokens of favour.

These sales show how jewellery born in Indian courts, often as expressions of love, power or allegiance, continues to command premium prices centuries later. The romance lives on not just in museums, but in modern collectors’ vaults.

"Big love stories make the headlines. Small, thoughtful pieces stay closest to the heart."

7. What all this means for your Valentine’s Day

Reading about ₹451‑crore necklaces and ₹6‑crore rings, it’s easy to feel like Valentine’s jewellery is only for billionaires. In reality, the emotion behind the gift matters far more than the number of zeros.

The same country that produces the world’s most extravagant necklaces also has a booming market for affordable, thoughtfully designed Valentine’s jewellery.

If you want to discover many such designs from multiple brands in one place, you can explore Valentine‑ready earrings or romantic jewellery sets on Eternz and compare styles, metals and price points side by side.

So while billionaires use jewellery to say “I can move mountains for you”, ordinary couples use it to say, “I chose this just for you” and that intimacy is its own kind of luxury.

8. How to choose a meaningful (but realistic) Valentine’s jewellery gift

Taking inspiration from these legendary pieces does not mean copying their budgets. Instead, borrow the ideas, not the invoices:

• Tell a story: The Taj Mahal diamond carries the words “Love is Everlasting”. You can echo that by engraving initials, a date, or a short phrase inside a ring or on the back of a pendant.
• Pick a signature stone: Virat’s reported ruby necklace for Anushka reflects passion and strength. Choose a gemstone that matches your partner’s personality, ruby for fiery, emerald for calm, sapphire for depth.
• Think heirloom, not hype: The Ambani pieces work as symbols because they’re designed to be passed down. Even on a modest budget, a classic gold chain, solitaire‑style ring or mangalsutra bracelet can become a family story.
• Match their lifestyle: Anushka’s real‑life engagement ring is simple enough to wear daily despite its crore‑level price. Similarly, pick something your partner can actually live in, comfortable, durable and in their preferred metal and colour.

Ready to find the perfect piece for him? Check out gifts for him. Or surprise her with something special from gifts for her.

Most importantly, don’t compare your gift to celebrity headlines.

Those stories make for great Valentine’s Day content, but the most memorable gift is usually the one that quietly fits your relationship, not the one that breaks the internet.

"The right piece of jewellery does not change who you are. It simply lets your love shine louder."

Why choose Eternz?

Once you are inspired by these iconic stories, the next step is finding a piece that actually fits your life, budget and style. That is where Eternz comes in.

Wide Selection: Eternz is a jewelry marketplace bringing together 250+ trusted jewelry brands, offering a wide range of styles to explore in one place. Whether you are browsing delicate studs, bold hoops or complete jewellery sets, you can discover everything under one roof.

100% Authentic: Every piece available on the platform comes with proper certification, so you know exactly what you’re buying. From BIS‑hallmarked gold to 925‑stamped silver and certified diamonds, the focus is on trust and transparency.

Try Before You Buy: With Eternz’s Virtual Try‑On feature, you can see how earrings look on you using your phone camera before placing an order. It is especially handy when you are choosing a surprise gift from the earrings collection and want to be sure of the size and vibe.

Fast Delivery: Need a last‑minute Valentine’s gift? Same‑day delivery is available in major cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Noida, Mumbai, and more, so you can still pull off a thoughtful gesture even if you ordered late.

If you are hunting for something more specific, like certified silver earrings under a certain budget or a particular metal colour, Eternz’s filters make it easy to narrow down hundreds of pieces into a short, gift‑ready shortlist.

If you need guidance on style, size, occasion, material, or any other query, reach out to the support team via the contact us page (email: [email protected] or phone: +91 6364923100, 10am-7pm).

In the end, love > carats

From Mughal empresses and Hollywood legends to Ambani bahus and Bollywood brides, India’s jewellery stories prove one thing: when people are in love and have the means, they often turn to jewels to say what words can’t.

For a few, that means necklaces worth hundreds of crores. For most, it might be a slim gold band or a tiny diamond stud. In both cases, the metal and stones are just a medium. The real luxury is the feeling behind it, and that, thankfully, is still priceless.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of jewelry are considered high-value gifts in the Indian luxury market?
High-value jewelry gifts in India typically include high-end diamond pieces, rare colored gemstones such as Colombian emeralds, Burmese rubies, and Kashmir sapphires, as well as intricate bespoke creations crafted by renowned Indian and international jewelers.

2. Why is it difficult to identify the single “most expensive” jewelry gift given in India?
Pinpointing the single most expensive jewelry gift is challenging because ultra-luxury purchases are usually private transactions. High-net-worth individuals and luxury houses maintain strict confidentiality, and most deals are never publicly disclosed.

3. What defines an “expensive” jewelry gift for Valentine’s Day in India?
An expensive Valentine’s jewelry gift in India can range from a multi-carat diamond necklace to an antique bridal set or a custom-designed bracelet set with rare gemstones. Prices often reach tens of millions of rupees and may go significantly higher for exceptional, investment-grade pieces.

4. Do luxury jewelry gifts in India hold investment value?
Yes. Many affluent buyers view fine jewelry as both an emotional and financial asset. Investment-grade Golconda diamonds, heritage Polki and Kundan sets, rare colored stones, and ethically sourced branded pieces are often chosen for their long-term value retention and appreciation potential.

5. How does India’s historical appreciation for jewels influence modern luxury gifting?
India’s royal legacy of commissioning extraordinary jewels continues to shape modern luxury trends. The historical patronage of diamonds and gemstones has created a cultural association between rare jewelry and prestige, making bespoke, rare, and heritage-inspired pieces powerful symbols of status and affection today.

6. Are luxury jewelry gifts in India usually custom-made or ready-to-buy?
In the ultra-luxury segment, bespoke jewelry is highly preferred. Custom-designed pieces allow personalization through gemstone selection, design elements, and symbolic details, enhancing exclusivity and emotional value.

7. Which gemstones are considered the rarest and most valuable in India’s luxury segment?
Golconda diamonds, untreated Burmese rubies, vivid Colombian emeralds, and authentic Kashmir sapphires are among the rarest and most sought-after gemstones, often commanding premium prices due to limited supply and historical prestige.