On the Oscars red carpet, celebrities dazzled in colored gemstones, like Cynthia Erivo, pictured here in tsavorite, diamond and pearl earrings from Roberto Coin.
Award show season is at its peak, and when it comes to celebrity jewelry, it always feels impossible to pick a favorite.
Though diamonds and white metals were in the spotlight at the Grammys last month, colored gems, gold and metallic styles shone at the 96th annual Academy Awards Sunday night.
A few familiar faces at the Oscars went for diamond high jewelry from brands like Boucheron, Bucherer, Tiffany & Co., and De Beers, but colorful pendant necklaces also dazzled at every turn, and many actors donned playful brooches.
Actress Charlize Theron arrived at the 2024 Oscars dripping in diamonds from Boucheron’s “Quatre” and “Vendôme Liseré” collections. (Photo courtesy of Boucheron)
Numerous celebrities arrived styled in pieces featuring gemstones beloved in our jewelry community but perhaps less often used on the red carpet.
In an attempt to extend their time in the limelight, I would like to highlight my favorite gem-forward pieces of the night.
Since it is March, it only seems right to start this list with the Tiffany & Co. high jewelry necklace Gabrielle Union wore featuring more than 59 carats of diamonds and an emerald-cut aquamarine weighing more than 31 carats.
Union was supporting her husband, Dwyane Wade, producer of “The Barber of Little Rock,” which was nominated for Best Documentary Short.
Also in Tiffany & Co. high jewelry, Ariana Grande channels her inner Glinda the Good Witch, whom she plays in the coming movie adaptation of the musical “Wicked,” with a matching pendant and dangle earring set featuring diamonds and more than 48 total carats of morganite.
Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo (pictured at the top of the story), who will play Elphaba in Wicked, also nods to her character, pairing her green leather Louis Vuitton gown with jewels from Roberto Coin featuring emeralds and tsavorites.
A noted jewelry lover and collector, the British actress and singer took home a Gem Award on Friday evening for her jewelry style.
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The “Wicked” actresses weren’t alone in embracing an on-screen personality in their Oscars night style.
America Ferrera, a Best Supporting Actress nominee for her role in “Barbie,” paired her rosy metallic dress by Atelier Versace with pink jewels from Pomellato.
Barbie star America Ferrera wore a rubellite and diamond necklace from Pomellato. (Photo courtesy of Pomellato)
Ferrera wore the rubellite and diamond “Ode to Milan Castello” necklace and the “Ode to Milan Castello” ring featuring a rhodolite garnet and diamonds.
“Barbie” director Greta Gerwig also opted for pink gems, pairing a Boucheron high jewelry diamond necklace with the brand’s “Vendôme Liseré” ring, set with diamonds and an emerald-cut morganite.
“Dune Part Two” star Zendaya, who presented at the awards, donned showstopping Bulgari high jewelry earrings in pink gold with two triangular morganites paired with a high jewelry bracelet in pink gold with diamonds and a high jewelry ring with turquoise.
In a departure from the rosy hues, actress Brittany Snow of “Red, White and Blue,” which was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film, paired her tanzanite and brown diamond Pomellato “Catene” necklace with a bold custom yellow dress by Mônot.
Singer and actress Hailee Steinfeld, Best Actress winner Emma Stone and actress Vanessa Hudgens—who debuted her baby bump on the Oscars red carpet—shone in yellow gemstone jewelry for the big night.
As for the brooches, storytelling was the theme, from several celebrities wearing red pins calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and Israel as well to the custom brooch that Switzerland-based watchmaker Kari Voutilainen made for Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy, the lead in “Oppenheimer.”
Voutilainen told The Hollywood Reporter that the 18-karat yellow gold brooch’s sunburst design mimics the “shape of interior components in Oppenheimer’s history altering invention.”
Teo Yoo, the star of “Past Lives,” which was nominated for Best Picture, wore a Cartier collection turtle brooch he told Variety he chose to honor his tortoise Momo, who passed away last year.
As for this editor’s top men’s look of the night, the Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany “Four Leaves” brooch worn by actor Ncuti Gatwa, who played one of the Kens in “Barbie,” takes the cake.
The piece is set in 18-karat gold and platinum with diamonds and a tanzanite weighing more than 41 carats.
As this publication’s associate editor covering colored gemstones, I’m not sure I could have asked for a better or more challenging mix of pieces from which to choose.
Seeing such a variety of gemstones on the red carpet getting the love they deserve, much like the talented stars they adorn, is encouraging and I certainly hope the trend doesn’t stop here.
