Why the Maharajas Are Considered the Original Kings of Bling

In 18th and 19th Century India, male rulers wore sparkling #jewelry to show off their wealth and power. The large jewels included #diamonds, #rubies and #emeralds worn almost exclusively by men - specifically, the kings and princes known as "maharajas."
NBC Bay Area Digital Video Journalist Jonathan Bloom takes you to San Francisco's Legion of Honor, where an exhibition of Indian royal jewels is being held.
Check out more coverage on the #Maharajas here: nbcbay.com/u33OBp0
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[@John081590]

What I like about the traditional wear, especially in South Asia is their use of embellishments that may seem feminine in western standards. They use rich embroidery, jewels, mirrors, feathers, etc, for the male attire, and they look stunning and regal.

[@gihankanishka]

Indeed they did. Just like the peacock

[@John081590]

@@gihankanishka Yes. So beautiful.

[@bperez8656]

Old European culture didn’t see it as feminine and then something made it change

[@haileeraestout5567]

In Hindu Mythology Ma Laxmi Is Known As The Goddess Of Wealth And She's Married To Sri Vishnu

[@Jenvlogs404]

personally think it’s because dharma believes in all, therefore more celebratory or colorful

[@r.22r]

Well it wasnt just men. In India, everyone wore jewellery like that. Men ,women and children.you can look up images for this ... everyone from royalty to tribals and farmers is loaded in jewellery of one kind or another. Its been a huge part of our culture, and continues to be so.

[@faizsk864]

Its not east meets west , it should be West looted East .

[@imperatoraurelian3410]

West meets east, knocks out east, Rob's it and runs away

[@davidsimonyan5794]

*Britain. Others were saints compared with it

[@jessiejoseph1093]

The ruling family of Qatar owned all these pieces, not a westerner...as it happens.

[@madhuchoudhary9655]

Someone would have looted them eventually, we have no dearth of corporate or political criminals in east . At least in western culture , some of these end up in museums for the common folks to see .

[@royalbloodedledgend]

Boohoo snowflake

[@benfrankdalist2709]

Damn those thieves . And they said that Sapphire and all these diamonds and rubies and pearls came from the heavens......

[@judahbiauniceva9553]

🤣🤣🤣👊🏾

[@alokeshkachari2628]

You are absolutely truth

[@n2lentertainmentn2l76]

India has the most valuable stories and most precious stones plentiful rich from Hindu goddess draped in jewels to the factual stories of forbidden doors holding mounds of gold

[@khanpak7607]

Bro it was Muslim India they took the wealth not hindu India before British came it was Muslim used to rule India and when British they distroy muslim empire give power to hindu whitch they never rule India it was Muslim for 1000 years rule the problem is when people mention India they think it hindu history that’s how hindu lie to world they don’t say Muslim empire even tajmahal was build by Muslim empire but because British came give power to hindu now hindu show to the world all the Muslim arts and culture from diamond to stone they say India so people will say its hindu read the history India never exited them say it’s British made india in to one India they have diffrent culture with diffrent language

[@anshulmishra5633]

@@khanpak7607 you're a religious bigot... May you spiral out of your petty thinking

[@aloksharma4912]

@@khanpak7607 and yes asshole india aur hindustan never existed it only existed after muslims and brits bcus It was bharat it is bharat and will be akahand bharat always...padhai karle sahi se bhek ki jamin aur roti pe palne walo..aaj zinda ho aur rehre ho just bcus of bharat..barbad kar diya tha tumhare converted porwajo ne bc desh ko. Sale fattu converted chutiye!

[@My360passion]

@@khanpak7607 you idiot don't know nothing about india because you just read kuran not history of bharat

[@syedmedia3573]

@@My360passion bro don't say anything thing anyone's religion, he is a Pakistani first then muslim understand that first 👍

[@TJ-sc1pm]

Then the British came and brutally stole them of it.....

[@biplav32]

They didn't steal them. They won it.

[@johnmichaelperey7806]

Yes they looted it.

[@aloksharma4912]

@@biplav32 you're a crazy lunatic who doesn't know the difference btwn winning, stealing and cheating...get lost!

[@biplav32]

@@aloksharma4912 British won whole India.

[@tingidol7275]

indian rulers are brutal to its people, thats why british punish them and get what they deserve.

[@brotherfromanothermother4168]

I am Maratha from Maharashtra.. India I just want my great king CHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJA'S BHAVANI SWORD... Keep the Diamonds but pls return sword.

[@naeemmohd818]

KYO BAAKI NAHI CHAHIE .........GADHA

[@Yours_agrwl_099]

Bhai fikr mt kro ek din so lenge 🇮🇳

[@user-ov8ei2ep8o]

are u crazy we want all the looted wealth and jewelry from brits

[@hrishikaverma3431]

No return it with diamonds of legend sword of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

[@pravinjadgeri6980]

It's not the way to ask for our own things. But we have to take it with sence of authority and ownership.

[@mstelios4259]

Damn, even the eagles were blinged out

[@henrylivingstone2800]

They’re hawks not eagles

[@parveztirandaz9291]

Million or billions rs value daimon jewelry & gold looted england from India & show in museums shem on

[@mikhael7221]

It's actually trillions

[@ordieloved]

@@mikhael7221 It's actually not, it's billions. Which is nothing. The moste valuable of gems in the world are only in the millions, so Indian gems etc wouldn't bring more than a few billion.

[@naveendhak8039]

​@@ordieloved actually it is 75 Trillion 😊

[@marcusrattray1158]

Traders, pay for an army? Stop twisting the truth. Britian raided India. Maharajas where fighting the British military Invaders. They ended up losing thought putting up a good fight. They where then forced to fork over their wealth to the crown and dramatically scale down their armies. All the crown jewels and most of the British crown gemstone jewelry where recuts of stolen or extorted Indian gemstone. I like that they're giving India some spotlight but don't fudge the truth in your favor.

[@Joker1rulervids]

History is written by winners whether you like it or not

[@Marko-od7eb]

@@Joker1rulervids And the truth is written by historians.

[@muhammadzulfikar8860]

@@Marko-od7eb of which is very rare and some got locked up for writing the truth..... Better more, why don't you write a true history and spend your life in research and only to see the end for yourself is very likely bitter......

[@Speedy300]

marcus rattray I know they took and rape but today, they are the civilized and fathers of the civil right activists😂😂😂

[@karthiksanthosh9385]

main cuz of mahrajas fail cuz of betrayers inside

[@othmanelmalki1317]

THE WAY THE DIAMONDS ARE CUTTED SHOWS THE BEST CLARITY OF STONES IN THE WORLD. BRILLIANT WORK FROM BRILLIANT HOLY JEWELRY HANDS. AMAZING

[@globalcitizenn]

Thank you for mentioning the British Royals appropriated the Indian style of Royal jewelry

[@jeromelombardo6053]

Then the Brits came and stole mostly everything. I had much respect for the British Royal family at one point.....but then I saw the film Victoria and Abdul and what they did to him after The Queen well was just mean. I think they should return every piece of jewelry back to India.

[@FatBellyChemist1234]

I used to have respect to the earthly British royals, until Diana's case of divorce and death.

[@leifruckwardt9990]

It would be nice to watch a longer and well made documentary about this topic, there is nearly no such thing to find here on KZbin. It could be a devided into several parts, starting with the history of the Maharajas, their wealth which gave them the possibility to create those treasures, and last but least the happy cooperation between the Maharajas and jewelry houses like Cartier. So even if the jewels were symbols of great power, they are a national heritage and pieces of art on a very high level as well. And my last wish for a documentary about the Indian jewels and or Maharajas - ONLY in HD quality please.

[@umai21]

Will all this wealth... return to india?

[@caligulalonghbottom2629]

These Maharajahs were complicit and most of the diamonds and gems that made their way to the British royals etc were gifts fromthem...

[@Sajjatayaan]

You should visit Nizam's jewellery collection in Hyderabad, you will be shocked! I've been!

[@marcos455ferro3]

nop

[@YourGraceMyLady]

TuTOk I wish the US government would give the Lakota Sioux their gold back. They broke the Ft Laramie treaty after gold was found on sacred land and thousands of white settlers moved onto Indian land, illegally. Sad, a lot of the Sioux were killed for gold

[@Reflectionsization]

A lot of hate on this post. From a non-bias oppinion

[@bitTorrenter]

There was no Queen Alexandra. There was King Edward VII. Alexandra was the Queen Consort. Just as there no King Philip. He is a Prince Consort.

[@m.andersonnicholls1734]

Technically he isn't incorrent and indeed there was a Queen Alexandra as she was Queen. He never specifically said or implied she was Queen Regnant. A Queen Consort and a Queen Regnant are BOTH Queens - though by different means.

[@normasouthwood3182]

She was Queen Consort.

[@nijiranarzary9066]

I'm proud to be an indian ... Jai bharat mata ki 🙏🔥

[@ex_muslimapostate3676]

Have you ever wondered if britsh looted India than how come these kings live such luxurious life ... There is nothing to be proud of when Common people suffered and these britsh collaborators enjoy there levish life .... And you are proud of that😏😏😏

[@calistafalcontail]

One of the most unsafe (and dirty) countries for women...no thank you, this r*pe culture is out of control.

[@MohamedHassan-ni6un]

Divide and conquer tactics. The Englishman's way of rags to riches.

[@zephyr1327]

Mohamed Hassan it’s because of how divided and severed each provinces bonds were. Which allowed them to conquer us. If we were more unified they would have no chance against the country which owned 25% of the whole worlds wealth

[@PapaThanos96]

Well men had wore high heels before women back then so it's no surprised that men wore jewelry too..

[@calistafalcontail]

Men wore jewellery all over the world, just in different amounts.

[@ricksonsoram4554]

British: Look...what we've looted from India. Indian: How much is the ticket, Sir?

[@dylantoytebe8244]

that jewelries supposed to be in india

[@arungowda6033]

my India 🇮🇳❤️

[@ashucool603]

Correction..!! Hmare Maharajao ne jewelery di nhi Britishers ko display k liye , balki britishers ne chura li.. #AngrejChor.

[@sradhandas5174]

thief😠😠😠😠

[@smartbaba1321]

India overtake UK in Economical ranking. no need to say anything.

[@jays5186]

As an Indian, it is painful for me to see..really really painful

[@PyramidSquare]

We were rich, we will be rich ❤

[@Bubbles-od2tv]

Unlikely. All those jewel mines in India are now empty. Only some ruby mines in Burma and diamond mines in Africa are left.

[@naveendhak8039]

​@@Bubbles-od2tv oh theirs alot in that ground still. India is such a rich piece of land 😊

[@calistafalcontail]

Not with this ovepropulation you have going on.

[@dhanushkj1419]

India 🇮🇳

[@ericowensnyc]

When is this coming to NYC???????? 👍🏽

[@Atribak]

20% of comments are people amazed by the jewels, 10% of comments are people angry for mughals being Muslim, 70% of comments are of how the british stole the jems.

[@gouthamnj8123]

Soo true TJ, England still survive with the interest of the loots from India..

[@sams5177]

how about giving it BACK!!!!

[@ordieloved]

I'm curious why no one in India has asked these gems back, it's almost like they were not stolen... All of them combined are only worth a few billion anyway, that's nothing.

[@kushal4956]

@@ordieloved it's not about the money, it's about the principle and the prestige that comes with it. also it's our heritage not urs

[@raghavendravaspula7536]

Ohh shit this video colonized my computer..

[@kaceobrwa7039]

nobody in the world know about diamond until they meet india

[@808mauna]

Commoner or King Your Heart is the Real Bling.

[@AnamikaSisodiyaa]

Love your video sir ❤

[@kamalmaheshwarisaboo8125]

India is great

[@bulldogbruce2683]

I'm British, I can honestly say I would steal diamonds from Indians.......

[@user-io1om7jz2y]

One day.......wait for it

[@pritilagnadas]

Hey u come india... look @ those Rajasthan's royalty.. where u can find everything that's relating to your video...

[@markmcarthy596]

Why do we love rocks so much? I collect all kinds, as does My wife in jewelry, the stone of scone, etc....

[@francispereira9836]

I ❤u

[@dayangmarikit6860]

Because they're shiny and sparkly ✨😍✨... Humans evolved to appreciate sparkle because we associate it with water.

[@pranav..4767]

"James " bond Falling proud.

[@music_by_carlos]

AWESOME

[@justmeonthebeach]

Very interesting.

[@krishnaparamdhamabburi4379]

Great video

[@rajajana9842]

Whose collection is this??

[@heretwoexpose4255]

The Rothchild are like🤔😲 I got it. WAR!!

[@bperez8656]

Fabulous history. May the tables turn again

[@naveendhak8039]

Women wore precious gems as well, also The Hindu Goddesses were adorned in higher quality diamonds and gems 😊

[@ex_muslimapostate3676]

Funny Hindusim talk about detachment from materialistic desire , where your gods got secret vaults in temples and godes adorned jewellery

[@dayangmarikit6860]

​@@ex_muslimapostate3676Not Hinduism but Buddhism.

[@consultanthuma]

🔥

[@pedraspreciosasdoBrasil]

Like yes good man gemms 🇧🇷💎🙇🙏✌👍l fron Brasil

[@1pasupaty]

It is hurting cos it should be on my neck

[@sayaankhan3484]

It's sad now, if I wear a traditonal henna design as a brown guy. Other South Asian people will ridicule me and say its only for women.

[@surajpattanayak7731]

We Indians should ask British govt to return all the precious things that their thief monarch had taken

[@naveendhak8039]

British looted 75 Trillion in wealth from ancient India and that is in fact.

[@Bangkok-ik1fp]

Appropriating style? Bloody hell, she appropriated the stones!

[@user-co4si3cb8h]

He look like nipsey hustle

[@THE_EXAM_TIME]

very nice story

[@user-ku3zy7nt2b]

昔々、質のいいダイヤモンドと言えばインド産だったらしいですね。川でカラーダイヤモンドが採れたとか

[@lesmonde4361]

Women too wear jewellery in India

[@singhsurmey1713]

Sher Punjab maharaja Ranjit Singh Kohinoor diamond 💎💎💎💎daleep Singh

[@syedmedia3573]

Sad truth is that it has lost its all Beauty 😭

[@Yours_agrwl_099]

@@syedmedia3573 bro one day we will keep them all

[@Yours_agrwl_099]

@@syedmedia3573 back

[@ChromeMan04]

Kohinoor belongs to Afghanistan

[@abhishekdas66]

Even if these precious jewels would have been in India still, would that have changed the plight of our country?...We have so much wealth stashed in our temples, but we are still struggling as a poor nation...So the debate over Kohinoor being returned to India is of absolutely no value for an average Indian...A square meal a day makes more sense.

[@Bubbles-od2tv]

It's because the upper castes make sure the lower castes in India are downtrodden and poor. India is inherently evil.

[@charleswalker1185]

I have worn big jewels, for Mardis Gras, and Halloween..I got a headache...

[@noorhooshmand8067]

It's work of Iran! It's even written on the rubby

[@akhleshfaujdar192]

Persia had relation with india

[@Indusxstan]

At 2:06 he tells a big lie. HINDU rajah’s did not kill their brothers to get the throne, normally. This was problem was Islamic and it started in India with them. In turkey for example, every single time the prince grabbed power, he killed his brothers even if there were 50 in the harem!

[@SharonCreamer671956]

Oh, here we go, again.

[@Dharanews1987]

Very nice

[@vinayakdevduttsamiranmajum3180]

At least we Indians never gone to other countries to steal anyone's property!!! Like other countries#

[@patriciamorton1068]

That last statement was totally not necessary.

[@LalitKumar-cu5iu]

he was trying to make a point

[@nancyhobson9710]

NOW wouldn't it be nice if the gents started discreetly wearing a diamond necklace that goes under the the tie?

[@manuharidas7933]

Nice

[@Omar_Rifland]

I have a room of Diamond in which 1000 grams

[@Thithiksha]

They should return it to INDIA With a sorry note.

[@jorgesantos2445]

Muito bom o vidio

[@tudormiller887]

Wowsers! What happened to the diamond industry in Africa ? 😮

[@ramcesgaston5319]

I love my jewels simply because I am royalty.

[@castafioreomg]

In 20th century 40% of Indians were living under Maharajas not under colonial rule.The Princely States were very prominent.

[@lordgawain]

Can’t compete with the patiala necklace

[@jimmyle7926]

Ya'll must not know my boy Johnny dang... #kingahbling

[@swargadroy]

Don't forget where the diamonds come from.

[@sanjaydas-lw8op]

India have millions times of diamonds in mandirs , than you looted in British period . 😃

[@nirajlama5325]

Kindly return please.

[@SeachGateINDIA]

a polite lama

[@rahulm2827]

If you factually and truly are situated in Dharma, you will get rich. Bhog and Moksh (Material Wellbeing and Salvation) is the truth of Sanaatan Dharam (Hinduism). And we Sanaatanis dont care who stole from us. Karma will take care of thieves. Theft is a serious sin and will not be spared. Instead of getting miserable about theft, we'll create bigger wealth. The universe has much more to offer than what has been seen. God is infinite.

[@zeffimassoud761]

Green is not sacred to muslims. He is a fool.

[@jumpinjohosafatz5724]

It really is a tragic double edged sword, admiring these priceless, magnificent jewels... while there is no denying their beauty and the exceptional skill required to create them, one simply cannot forget that for hundreds of years, millions of exploited and starving people slaved away in absolute squallor and died tragic deaths, just so that a select few people could swish around all day, every day, surrounded by an obscene display of wealth and dripping in a decadant collection of priceless jewels (that could have fed, clothed, sheltered and educated thousands of people, for years!

[@vinoduikey1339]

Good 🎉🎉🎉

[@clizark1]

They have nothing on Mansamusa!

[@victoryyolandaantiga454]

I need to know if anyone person kmows what kind of rock i have

[@yasinjamal7517]

they had no armies so they wore costly jewels, well thats not what i call warrior

[@zigprof]

I already think that I am the richest person in the world because I do not care about jewelry at all. lol

[@zigprof]

@Taps fan No honey, I live in a country where you can not wear jewelry without being mugged. 😂😂😂

[@goonseb6456]

Taps fan your some weirdo

[@aritradutta9715]

Yes India is the world's best country

[@calistafalcontail]

Nope, its the most unsafe nation for women and filth is such an issue. Everything is chaos. Loud, dirty, dangerous...if you arent rich, your life there isnt good and thats why so many indians flee abroad.

[@aavashneupane1282]

rappers aint got shit compared to them

[@saifalshamisi4079]

The. Why u took them ?

[@dwijgurram5490]

Nothing shocking when queen wore jewels meant for men?

[@manecbasumatary1898]

Give it back.. its ours😂

[@faruqhossain5314]

RIP the kohinoor

[@charleswalker1185]

Women in drag!! Hahaha...I made jewelry from huge crystals, garnets, pearls, etc...I wore them for Mardis gras and got a headache from the weight...

[@nurabdi3600]

Lol color green is sacred in Islam I don't know where that came from

[@carminarosariolizarragapar4626]

Beautifuls yewellrys

[@sk-kh9369]

How much stone did he dropped during his life 😂?