TIME100 Gala 2026, held in New York City, America, saw such a confluence of India’s cultural heritage and royal style, which caught the attention of the whole world. Nita Ambani not only made her presence felt on this special occasion, but also beautifully presented Indian tradition, art and history on the global stage through her look.
Her entry was not just a fashion statement, but a vibrant reflection of India’s age-old artisanal, weaving and jewelery heritage. From the Banarasi silk saree to the age-old Nizami diamonds, everything reflected the story, heritage and royal chic.
The most talked about thing about Nita Ambani’s entire look was her 101-carat extremely rare pink-brown Old Mine rose-cut pear-shaped diamond. This diamond is associated with Nizami heritage, that is, it was once a part of the royal treasury of the Nizams of Hyderabad.
The Nizams were considered among the richest rulers in the world in history and had one of the most magnificent jewelery collections in the world. In such a situation, the importance of this diamond is not only its price but also its historical heritage.
According to experts, this diamond is extremely rare due to its size and cut. Rose-cut diamonds are usually seen in smaller sizes, but this scale of 101 carats makes it “one of a kind”. Its specialty is its transparency and the depth reflected from within, which gives it a different lively feeling. This is the reason why it is considered almost impossible to recreate it.
This precious diamond was set in a six-layered natural Basra pearl necklace, which gave a royal touch to her entire look. She also wore a pink pear solitaire diamond ring surrounded by pavé diamonds. Additionally, pearl and diamond drop earrings made this look even more elegant.
On this special occasion, Nita Ambani wore a Banarasi silk saree, which was made in Varanasi. It took about 5 months to make this saree. The design of the saree was inspired by the traditional poppy motif, presented in a modern and abstract style. This saree was made under her own initiative Swadesh, whose aim is to give global recognition to Indian artisans and handicrafts.
Nita Ambani’s style was also in discussion at the TIME100 Summit a day before the gala. She wore the indigenous Jamdani saree, which took 24 months to prepare. During this conversation with Jessica Sibley, he said that ‘India’s time has come. The world no longer needs ‘hard power’, but ‘soft power’ and this is the real identity of India. Vikas Khanna, who has been included in the TIME100 list this year, was gifted a special peacock design brooch by Nita Ambani.
Many big names like Hailey Bieber, Dakota Johnson, MrBeast and David Beckham attended this high-profile event. This look of Nita Ambani was not just fashion but a message. India’s tradition, workmanship and cultural heritage can still shine on the biggest stages of the world. This is an example where history, heritage and modernity were presented together through fashion and that is what makes it memorable.
