Everyone has their favorite Red Carpet moments. At Secrete Fine Jewelry in Washington, DC, and Bethesda, MD, we remember the jewelry best of all. Here is our all time ranking of the 15 best moments in Academy Awards jewelry.
- Kiera Knightley at the 2006 Academy Awards
Kiera Knightley wore a 1960s Bvlgari necklace in diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds to the 2006 Oscars. Reminiscent of a similar necklace once worn by Sofia Loren at an Oscar Party, this piece actually has royal heritage, once belonging to Princess Soraya of Iran.
- Angelica Houston at the 1986 Academy Awards
Angelica Houston wore beautiful vintage Art Deco era jewelry when she won the Oscar for Prizzi’s Honor in 1986. While these are hardly the most extravagant gems we’ve seen at the Oscars, they represent a classic, bold style that stands the test of time.
- Madonna at the 1991 Academy Awards
Madonna glammed it up for the 1991 Oscars in over $20 million in diamonds from Harry Winston. Winston’s inspiration for the design came from Christmas lights and decorations, so the wreath of diamonds around her neck makes total sense. Matched with over-the-top bracelets and earrings, she was pure Old Hollywood glamor for this show.
- Spike Lee at the 2019 Academy Awards
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: Director-writer Spike Lee, winner of Best Adapted Screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman,” poses in the press room during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Ladies don’t have a monopoly on beautiful red carpet jewelry! Director Spike Lee won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman in 2019, dressed in a playful purple tribute to Prince. The best part of the ensemble, to us, was the gold, diamond and opal Prince love-sign pendant.
- Salma Hayek at the 1997 Academy Awards
Salma Hayek looked sleek and modern in her Gucci tank-style dress and turquoise eyeshadow at the 1997 Oscars, and the royal-looking diamond tiara was a perfect (and perfectly unexpected) topper to the look. At first she was criticized that it would look too pretentious, but this style-setter knew better. Her stylish mix of modern and traditional influences was cooler than cool. This iconic look started a trend that sent ripples through Hollywood to this day.
- Joan Crawford at the 1963 Academy Awards
Joan Crawford’s 1963 Academy Awards appearance was noted when her infamous rivalry with Whatever Happened to Baby Jane co-star Bette Davis took center stage, but her jewelry was extravagant. These pieces, like the retro-era platinum and diamond necklace with detachable platinum and diamond brooch/pendant, were special among the red carpet set, because Joan Crawford actually owned these gems. Most starlets borrow their exquisite jewelry for award shows, but Joan Crawford was an exception to the rule. Her jewelry collection was one of the largest and most valuable in Hollywood.
- Celine Dion at the 1998 Oscars
Celine Dion is perfectly sentimental, so genuine and warm it’s impossible not to love this Canadian beauty. The year “My Heart Will Go On” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Dion wore a recreation of Titanic’s iconic necklace. While the movie prop was made from cubic zirconias, Dion’s necklace by Asprey & Garrard featured a 171ct ceylon sapphire and over 100 diamonds. Sentimental? Yes. Perfect? Also yes.
- Beyonce at the 2005 Academy Awards
Beyonce’s Lorraine Schwartz diamond mesh earrings moved and caught the light at every angle at the 2005 Oscars. These amazing chandelier earrings were perfect to frame Queen Bey’s stunning face on the red carpet.
- Fan Bingbing at the 2013 Academy Awards
Fan Bingbing’s fuschia gown was paired perfectly with a suite of rubellite tourmaline. The attention grabbing earrings by Chopard featured the perfect hue of saturated, juicy pink that makes tourmalines some of our favorite gems.
- Lady Gaga at the 2019 Academy Awards
We all remember when Lady Gaga’s red carpet appearances were more about avant garde performance-art than glamor, but this beautiful singer has grown up beautifully, and so has her wardrobe. At the 2019 Oscars, she wore a128.54ct fancy yellow diamond by Tiffany set in an classic white diamond necklace with matching earrings. The necklace is valued at $30 million. We love this on Lady Gaga because it’s classic and elegant but full of joy in its rare color.
- Gloria Stuart at the 1998 Academy Awards
Gloria Stuart was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at age 86 for her role in Titanic. She wore a 15ct Harry Winston blue diamond to celebrate, winking at the famous “heart of the ocean” necklace from the movie. This incredibly rare gem makes this arguably the most expensive piece of jewelry ever worn at the Academy Awards.
- Nicole Kidman at the 2008 Oscars
HOLLYWOOD – FEBRUARY 24: Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the 80th Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 24, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Nicole Kidman wore this over the top diamond necklace to the 2008 Academy Awards. With 7645 diamonds, rough and polished, totalling almost 1400cts, this L’Wren Scott sautoir took more than 6200 man hours to craft. This porcelain skinned beauty kept the rest of her look simple to let this stunning necklace shine. This was a great moment for maximalism.
- Sacheen Littlefeather at the 1973 Academy Awards
In a controversial move, Marlan Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist, to refuse his Academy Award in 1973 based on the Academy’s poor treatment of Native Americans in the film industry. She appeared at the awards show in an Apache buckskin dress that was so beautifully beaded that it was literally wearable jewelry that jingled like music as she moved. She also wore glamorous hair ornaments and statement turquoise rings and bracelets. She made history with her strong words, and we think her style deserves praise, too.
- Angelina Jolie at the 2009 Academy Awards
Angelina Jolie’s emerald earrings were the real stars of the red carpet at the 2009 Oscars. These amazingly matched gems, totalling 115ct, were designed by Lorraine Schwartz and valued at over $2.5 million. These iconic emerald earrings, paired with a simple black dress, stand the test of time as one of the most memorable red carpet jewelry moments in history.
- Elizabeth Taylor at the 1970 Oscars
Elizabeth Taylor showed off the Taylor-Burton 69.42ct pear shape diamond at the 1970 Academy Awards. Richard Burton had outbid Cartier to purchase the diamond for a record-setting $1.1million at the time. The couple had it converted from its original setting in a ring to this spectacular necklace that covered a tracheotomy scar on Elizabeth Taylor’s neck. The Taylor-Burton diamond wins our count-down, and it’s no surprise: Elizabeth Taylor is and will always be the queen of movie-star jewelry.
