Why luxury jewellery brand refused Diljit Dosanjh its Patiala Necklace for Met Gala 2025: Snub to Punjabi pop royalty or misstep

When Diljit Dosanjh showed up at the Met Gala 2025 in New York City dressed in a regal kurta [tunic], tehmat [sarong], and a bejewelled turban, he didn’t just attend fashion’s biggest night—he owned it.

Dripping in diamonds and Punjabi swagger, the singer-actor delivered a look that was as powerful as it was personal. Inspired by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, it was a cultural mic drop on the steps of the Met.

But while the visuals screamed royalty, one glittering detail was missing: the Cartier Patiala necklace. According to The New York Times, Diljit’s team asked to borrow the legendary 1,000-carat diamond piece—originally commissioned by the very same Maharaja in 1928—but were told, “No, it’s sealed in a museum.”

Fair enough, right? Except… Cartier did manage to collaborate with a YouTube influencer that same night. So now we’re wondering: Was Diljit Dosanjh—global music star, Coachella headliner, film icon—not famous enough? Or was this a serious fashion faux pas from a luxury house that should’ve known better?

This wasn’t just about a necklace. This was about who gets celebrated, which stories get told, and whose culture is deemed couture-worthy. Cartier had a chance to honour its own legacy and perhaps spotlight a South Asian icon in a moment of cultural pride. Instead, they gave it a pass.

But despite being denied the iconic Patiala necklace, Diljit Dosanjh still incorporated Cartier pieces into his Met Gala 2025 ensemble. Plus, Indian jeweller Golecha also swooped in with a royal Plan B—a stunning turban brooch and diamond necklace inspired by the Maharaja’s collection. The result? Diljit still turned heads and turned up, serving regal looks.

Truth be told, this Punjabi pop royalty who mingled with the likes of Shakira didn’t need Cartier’s approval to be iconic. He is the moment.

Denied Cartier’s crown jewel? No problem— he proved you can’t dim royalty with red tape.

But here’s the thing: when a global pop star representing centuries of culture is denied access to a jewel that honours his roots—while a YouTuber waltzes in dripping in borrowed bling—it begs the question: has the sheen worn off these so-called gatekeepers of fashion?

Remember how Shah Rukh Khan had to introduce himself on the Met Gala carpet to clueless journalists? Diljit’s Cartier snub feels like déjà vu. Cultural icons being treated like afterthoughts? That’s not fashion-forward, that’s just fashion-fatigued.

This might be just the surface, but if luxury labels want to stay golden, they better dig where it counts.