Awards Season and Red-Carpet Trends
With the film industry’s awards season on the way, many of us are trying to keep up and watch all major top picks. These events give us plenty of topics for discussion long ahead and after they happen, from How nominated films reflect societal issues or trends to Best-dressed and worst-dressed celebrities. The parades of spectacular jewelry and custom necklaces shape trends and inspire industry experts and jewelry worshipers. Renowned fine jewelry houses work hard and strategically to secure their place on the red carpet.
Red-Carpet Jewelry Partnerships: From Glamorous Beginnings to Legal Dramas
When it comes to setting precedents, it’s always about those who think outside the box and dare to try. In 1944, Harry Winston, thought “Why not?” and loaned out pieces from his collection to Jennifer Jones, who was named the Best Actress that night. This moment is considered the starting point for jewelry houses partnering with celebrities during award shows and red-carpet events. And for The House of Harry Winston, creating red carpet looks became a part of its DNA.
Jennifer Jones at the 1944 Oscars
However, 92 years of existence is quite a long term not to have any mishaps, and one of them is connected exactly with loaning precious accessories. The lawsuit between Sharon Stone and the House of Harry Winston was making headlines in the early 1990s. What started as a jewelry lend-lease turned into an unintended misunderstanding or a planned operation. Sharon, who was at the peak of popularity after Basic Instinct’s success, should have worn $500,000 worth of earrings and a custom diamond necklace for her appearance on Larry King Live and mentioned the brand’s name. Ronald Winston himself delivered the jewelry items to her hotel room. However, the diva said the $400,000 necklace was “enough.” The son of the diamond king was so charmed by Sharon Stone that he forgot to sign “anything acknowledging receipt of the jewels.” To cut a long story short, the star did appear in a custom-designed necklace on the show but said no word about where it came from. After a while, Harry Winston’s New York Hills office started getting requests to provide GIA authentication certificates for the gems in the necklace that had been loaned to Sharon. The reason for it shocked everyone: the Basic Instinct star wanted to purchase insurance for the necklace. It turned out she wasn’t going to return the piece. That is the point when the story moved into the legal field. Miss Stone had to return the personalized necklace at the end, but she added a $12 million lawsuit against Harry Winston for breach of contract and assorted related atrocities. It was settled by a donation to Stone’s favorite charity, AmFar. This case changed the way jewelry brands approached the process of lending exclusive accessories to A-list celebrities. However, any cooperation of this kind offers mutual benefits: the jewelry house receives high-level promotion, while stars get dazzling looks.
Iconic Custom Necklaces And Their Stories
All major events on the Hollywood calendar always deliver the best red-carpet jewelry fashion and attract millions of viewers. Let’s look back at some iconic custom necklaces that were loaned to Hollywood legends and women who made an impact. But why borrow if you can create a fascinating piece of your dreams? The Olertis Custom Jewelry team is ready to help you build up an enviable collection where each piece is filled with meaning and beauty. So, what stunning pieces caught our eye:
- It may seem strange, but princesses do loan jewelry, too. Princess Diana wore the King Faisal of Saudi Arabia fringe necklace of drop diamonds, lended by Queen Elizabeth II. During her 1983 Australia State Visit, the Queen of Hearts boldly combined the personalized necklace with pearl earrings and a ruffled pale blue dress.
Princess Diana Necklace
- A legendary 128.54-carat Tiffany Yellow Diamond, reportedly worth over $30 million, was donned by Lady Gaga in 2019 at the Oscars. It is the same gemstone that Audrey Hepburn wore for Breakfast at Tiffany’s promotional photos. However, it was reset in a different design to create a more modern, single diamond-focused custom necklace.
Lady Gaga Necklace
- Kim Kardashian paid homage to Princess Diana’s bold and iconic style by wearing a 1920s piece set with square-cut amethysts and diamonds lent to her by Garrard. It was one of Lady Di’s most unusual accessories. She wore it to several events, and it hasn’t been seen in public since she died, until in 2023, Kim Kardashian gave it a second life.
Kim Kardashian Cross Necklace
- For the 2015 Oscars, Margot Robbie chose a $1,5 million natural sapphire necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels. Its design was inspired by the Duchess of Windsor and features a zipper motif adorned with diamonds. The Zip Antique can also serve as a bracelet if you zip it up, and the famous jewelry house spent more than a decade to fulfill this idea.
Margot Robbie Custom Necklace
Jewelry with Meaning and Legacy
Stones like these can make anyone feel like a star. However, would they be so significant without the stories and personalities behind them? As we celebrate these unforgettable moments, take inspiration from the red carpet for your own collection, create your heirloom pieces and fill them with your unique story and family traditions.
