See 10 Show-Stopping Jewelry Looks from the Met Gala

Lots of Lorraine Schwartz, mega diamonds, and a timepiece were among the most impactful baubles.

Ashley Davis Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

The 2021 Met Gala’s most compelling jewelry and watch looks ranged from demure to bold. From left to right: Kate Hudson in Lorraine Schwartz diamond and pink sapphire jewels; Normani in Lorraine Schwartz diamond, black opal and Paraiba tourmaline jewels; and Kaia Gerber in an Omega watch.

After a pandemic hiatus last year, the annual Met Gala benefitting the Metropolitan Museum of New York’s Costume Institute reconvened in person Monday night to celebrate its new exhibition, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.”

As in most years, the theme was widely interpreted, with some celebrities scantily clad (Zoe Kravitz, Julia Gardner, Nia Dennis, Anja Rubik, and Kendall Jenner, to name a few) others showing not an inch of skin (Kim Kardashian West), and everything in between.

Across the board, the fashion was bold, and so were plenty of the jewels.

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One of the evening’s biggest stars was Rihanna who, along with boyfriend A$AP Rocky, sported Balenciaga Couture.

The pop and fashion star wore lots of jewelry to balance her gown’s yards and yards of fabric, more than 267 carats of diamonds from Bulgari alone.

The no-last-name-needed icon wore a platinum and diamond high jewelry necklace weighing 56.93 carats, a Bulgari convertible heritage necklace circa 1959 in platinum with 81.9 carats of diamonds, two Bulgari heritage platinum and diamond bracelets circa 1955 (weighing 59.5 and 60 carats), and a single high jewelry earring in platinum with approximately 9.23 carats of diamonds.

Though not visible in these red carpet shots, a special ring Rihanna wore was particularly timely.

The star donned a stunning black ceramic and 5-carat pear-shaped diamond ring from designer Thelma West, which will soon be on display at Sotheby’s as part of the “Brilliant & Black: A Jewelry Renaissance” sale.

At the opposite end of the sartorial spectrum was model Kaia Gerber.

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She also wore a voluminous black gown, this one from Oscar de la Renta and inspired by a Dior gown Bianca Jagger wore to the Met Gala in 1981, but stayed deliberately minimal with her accessories.

The Omega ambassador wore an Omega De Ville Prestige Dewdrop timepiece with in steel with diamonds on the bezel and marking the hours on the black dial, with a black leather strap ($8,500).

The dainty timepiece was all the more noticeable for Gerber’s bare neckline and absence of necklaces or bracelets. She paired the timepiece with an Omega “Dewdrop” ring featuring a pear-shaped diamond solitaire ($14,700), and diamond Omega “Aqua Swing” earrings ($2,810).

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All hail Normani.

My favorite jewelry look of the night was this pop star’s abundance of Lorraine Schwartz.

One could be forgiven for neglecting to notice Normani’s Valentino gown, eyes beelining for Schwartz’s exquisite black 25-carat Australian opal and 10-carat diamond drop necklace with an additional 45 carats of diamonds, plus Paraiba tourmaline, on the settings and chain.

The blinding bling was topped off with pear-shaped diamond studs, and Paraiba tourmaline and diamond rings.

Of all the celebs in Tiffany & Co.—and there were lots, such as Hailey Bieber, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laura Harrier, and Emma Raducanu fresh off her U.S. Open win—one was by far the most colorful and the most eye-catching.

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“Gossip Girl” actress Jordan Alexander amplified her colorful Christopher John Rogers gown with Tiffany colored gemstones.

The centerpiece was a Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger “Daisy” necklace in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold with sapphire, peridot, tourmaline, and diamonds, and matching peridot and diamond earrings.

Alexander also wore a bracelet in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold with an orange sapphire and diamonds, and a Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger “Ailsa” ring in 18-karat yellow gold and platinum with diamonds.

Tiffany’s diamonds made an impact as well, especially on Eileen Gu.

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The freestyle skier, model and Tiffany & Co. ambassador accessorized with a jaw-dropping diamond pendant. Set in platinum, the center stone weighed more than 12 carats.

Gu also wore platinum and 18-karat white gold rings with diamonds to top off her look.

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Speaking of long, glamorous pendants, in Lorraine Schwartz’s world, two are better than one.

Kate Hudson was the beneficiary of this high jewelry fairy godmother’s guidance, in a layered look comprising a 20-carat pear-shaped diamond pendant with 20 additional carats of diamonds on the chain and 49-carat natural pink sapphire pendant with 20 carats of diamonds on the chain.

She also wore diamond drop earrings totaling 23 carats.

Oscars 2022, take note. This is how you do glamour.

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Dramatic pendants are one way to don diamonds for maximum impact. Another is a high-wattage choker.

Brazilian singer Anitta chose the latter. Her simple black Dundas gown was the perfect backdrop for a showstopping Lorraine Schwartz multi-row diamond choker with a large pear-shaped diamond drop.

She also sported an unexpected and super-sexy diamond hand chain that perfectly pulled together her night-out vibe.

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Gigi Hadid had some diamonds of her own to get excited about, which were on full display with the model’s Mid-century-esque Prada Barbie look.

She wore a platinum and diamond necklace by Jaocb & Co. featuring multiple round diamonds in collet-style settings, with a 54-carat round diamond drop.

The one-of-a-kind masterpiece is valued at $12 million. Hadid wore matching stud earrings.

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Sartorial gender standards have relaxed in recent years, and men seemed to enjoy pushing the fashion envelope at this year’s Met Gala.

One would be hard pressed to find a man or woman better dressed than Met Gala Co-Chair and red carpet darling Timothée Chalamet, who more a mix of designers to achieve his dapper suiting-meets-streetwear look, replete with a pair of tried-and-true Converse.

His jewels weren’t the flashiest, but they were the coolest.

On his trousers he pinned a vintage Cartier “New York Cliquet” pin in platinum with diamonds, and a vintage Cartier “New York Star” brooch in platinum with diamonds, both circa 1929.

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Poet Amanda Gorman catapulted into the national spotlight after performing her original work at the presidential inauguration last January.

Nine months later she was a Met Gala co-host. A tiara was the perfect accessory to top off a whirlwind fairy tale of a year. Gorman's was from Chaumet.

“In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” opens to the public Sept. 17.