More Carats than Couture: Isha Ambani’s Look Worth Rs 1400 cr

Heiress Isha Ambani did not merely accessorise for the MET Gala, she arrived wearing what looked like a private treasury – according to social media her entire look estimated to be around 150 million dollars (Rs 1,418.56 crore INR). Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and dressed in custom Gaurav Gupta couture, Isha’s look centred around a jewellery-encrusted blouse carrying more than 1,800 carats of diamonds and precious stones. The piece reportedly incorporated over 1,000 diamonds, heirloom old mine stones, emeralds, polki, and kundan elements sourced from Nita Ambani’s personal collection.

Then came the historical flex with a Mughal-era sarpech once linked to the Nizams of Hyderabad, dating back centuries and reportedly valued at Rs 200 crore. Massive old mine-cut diamond necklaces totaling over 250 carats sat around her neck, while a Lorraine Schwartz choker featuring a 50-carat Colombian emerald anchored the entire composition in unapologetic grandeur.

Even her hair ornament was excessive by design — a jasmine-inspired metallic sculpture crafted over 150 hours using more than 600 handmade floral elements. By the time she climbed the Met steps carrying a 20-year-old sculptural mango by Subodh Gupta (which reportedly values at approx 1 crore INR), Ambani’s appearance resembled portable dynasty wealth.

Sudha Reddy’s necklace alone is Rs 142 cr

When Hyderabad’s Sudha Reddy arrived at the carpet wearing custom Manish Malhotra couture inspired by Kalamkari art and titled ‘The Tree of Life,’ she delivered the most expensive jewellery moment of the gala. She wore “Queen of Merelani,” a 550-carat tanzanite stone valued at approximately $15 million (Rs 142 crore) paired with a 30-carat polki diamond ring and 40-carat Colombian emeralds, which could easily range from tens of lakhs to several crores of rupees. Her overall look for the night could be easily estimated between Rs 250 crore-300 crore.

Gauravi Kumari’s quiet luxury worth a fortune

While others leaned into overt spectacle, Jaipur’s Gauravi Kumari arrived wrapped in a different kind of wealth and royal provenance. Designed by Prabal Gurung, Kumari’s gown was created from an original chiffon sari once worn by her great grandmother Gayatri Devi.

In couture circles, archival royal textiles are often considered rarer than freshly commissioned haute couture because they carry historical and emotional value that cannot be replicated. She layered her look with original pearl strands from The Gem Palace, heritage kundan jewellery, rubies, uncut diamonds, and traditional bangles for an opulent aristocratic look. Unlike the diamond-heavy maximalism elsewhere, Kumari’s ensemble whispered generational privilege and made it a priceless debut look.

Natasha Poonawalla’s classy diamonds

If there is anyone who consistently treats the MET Gala like an avant-garde fashion laboratory, it is Natasha Poonawalla. This year, she arrived wearing a dramatic orchid sculpture by British designer Marc Quinn layered over a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda gown. But it was her jewellery from her private collection — specifically the asymmetrical diamond earrings cascading from one ear in round, emerald-cut, pear-shaped, and heart-shaped diamonds that were the talk of the town. The diamonds alone are estimated to be in 100+ carats, and according to experts such rare diamonds can go up to 30 to forty lakhs per carat which could be approximately 30 crores worth.

Ananya Birla’s artistic armour

For her debut appearance, billionaire Ananya Birla embraced the Met’s theatricality with billionaire precision. Dressed in architectural black couture by Robert Wun (a single custom look by him is roughly estimated to be over Rs 1.6 – 2 crore INR) and styled by Rhea Kapoor. Birla paired her sharply tailored silhouette with statement diamond jewellery from Mehta & Sons, and personal pieces that quietly reinforced the scale of her wealth.

Yet it was the stainless-steel mask by Subodh Gupta (price undisclosed) that transformed the ensemble into performance art. The structure reflected camera flashes almost like armour, while her diamond choker injected old-school glamour into the futuristic aesthetic. Among the evening’s heavily embellished gowns and oversized jewels, Birla’s look stood apart for its calculated coolness with a hefty price tag.

The outfits too are worth crores of rupees

“For the outfits alone, excluding jewellery, the Met Gala 2026 Indian celebrity looks were in the $100,000 to $400,000 (INR 1 to 3.5 crore) range per ensemble from what I understand. This is based on craft hours and designer tier that we typically see for such custom outfits. Sudha Reddy’s Manish Malhotra Kalamkari gown with 3,400+ hours could likely cost between $200,000–$400,000 (INR 1.8 to 3.5 crore) to produce.

Isha Ambani’s hand-painted Gaurav Gupta saree at 1,200+ hours by 25 artisans probably sits around $150,000–$300,000 (INR 1.5 to 2.85 crore).

Karan Johar’s 6-foot hand-painted cape — 5,600 hours, 86 days, 80+ karigars — could run up to $180,000 – $350,000 (INR 1.69 – 3.33 crore).

Sawai Padmanabh Singh’s royal velvet coat with 600+ hours of aari/zardozi work is easily $75,000 – $150,000 (INR 75 lakhs to 1.5 crore), and Manish Malhotra’s own architectural cape with 960+ hours comes in at $100,000 – $250,000 (INR 95 lakhs to 2.3 crore).

These are production-value wise estimates and we need to acknowledge here that most MET gala pieces are custom commissions lent by designers, not retailed, with the cost reflecting thousands of artisan hours, rare textiles, and handwork rather than a store price tag.”

Designer Rohan Pariyar

‘Jaipur siblings, were my favourite’

“From a jeweller’s perspective, this year’s Indian presence at the Met Gala reflected a remarkable shift toward statement styling, heritage-inspired luxury and storytelling through craftsmanship. Isha Ambani wearing a historic piece once owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad was one of the most memorable jewellery moments of the evening. Personally, one of my favourite style moments was the Jaipur royal sibling duo — Gauravi Kumari and Padmanabh Singh.

Designer Sapna Mehta

“Among the standout accessories and jewellery details this year, the piece that immediately caught our attention was the Nizam’s sarpech incorporated into Isha Ambani’s blouse. Another detail that stood out was the sculptural mask created by artist Subodh Gupta for Ananya Birla.”

Designer Ritika and Prerna

“The Indian contingent at the 2026 Met Gala was one of the strongest in recent years — not just in couture, but in heritage storytelling, archival craftsmanship, and high-jewellery spectacle.”

— Liza Varma