Bookended by Billy Porter and Lady Gaga – both in black evening gowns highlighted by yellow and white diamond jewelry (from Oscar Heyman and Tiffany & Co., respectively) – those assembled for the 2019 Academy Awards were telling all sorts of stories with their jewelry.  Here are my favorites.

Since I’ve already arranged them into a cohesive slideshow (see above); I’m going to give you fully expanded captions, below, by slide (with links to each jeweler’s website).

SLIDE 1:  Julia Roberts presents the Academy Award for “Best Picture” in a custom design by Elie Saab, with jewelry by Cindy Chao – The Art Jewel, including Chao’s Architectural Earrings (featuring 16 Conch Pearls and 20.28cts of Diamonds) and the Branch Bangle (featuring 58.00cts of Diamonds) from Chao’s “Four Seasons” collection

SLIDE 2:  This was Regina King’s year to shine, and to do so, she paired her custom Oscar de La Renta gown with oodles of diamond and white gold jewelry from Chopard’s “Haute Jaoillerie” collection; highlighted by this sensational cuff (featuring 53.4cts of Diamonds)

SLIDE 3:  Statement earrings were all the rage, on the red carpet, as witnessed on Maya Rudolph offsetting Giambattista Valli’s ruffled floral gown and cape, with Irene Neuwirth’s one-of-a-kind Mixed-Stone Earrings (featuring South Sea Pearls, Akoya Pearls, Green Opals, carved flowers of Pink Opal, Blue Chalcedony, Tourmaline, and Turquoise, hearts of Fancy Colored Sapphires, full-cut Diamonds, and Diamond Pavé, set in 18K Gold and 18K White Gold); Charlize Theron wearing a boatload of pieces from Bulgari’s “Serpenti” collection to make her ice-blue Dior Haute Couture gown pop, topped by the exquisite Gemme Straordiarie Earrings from Bulgari’s “Le Magnifiche Creazioni” collection (featuring 2 Sapphires, 6 Emeralds, and 4 Diamonds); Lisa Bonet crowning her Fendi dress with Clarity Earrings from Fernando Jorge’s award-winning “Brilliant” collection (featuring 7.55cts of Diamonds set in 18K Gold); and “Best Actress” Olivia Colman who fiercely accessorized her Prada gown and shorn locks with Chopard’s Ice Cube Diamond Earclip (part of the high jewelry “Rihanna♥Chopard” capsule collection, it features 21.10cts of Diamonds set in Fairmined ethical 18K White Gold) in her left ear, and the coordinating Ice Cube Diamond Earring in her right.

SLIDE 4:  Anyone who doesn’t think that Billy Porter ruled the red carpet at Oscars 2019 needs to get Lasik.   To add just the right amount of sparkle to his custom tuxedo gown by Cristian Siriano, Porter again teamed with the esteemed Oscar Heyman for the suite of jewels he wore throughout the evening.  He featured Oscar Heyman’s 20ct Yellow Diamond Entourage Ring, throughout; and added the Yellow Diamond Gardenia Brooch (featuring 3.90cts of Diamonds, and 6.64cts of Fancy Color Diamonds) while hosting ABC’s Pre-OSCARS Show.

SLIDE 5:  Lady Gaga was a bright, shining presence on every carpet she walked, this Award Season; but she really threw-down the Movie Star gauntlet at Oscars 2019; wearing a black Alexander McQueen gown and opera-length black gloves with the historic Tiffany Diamond – the 128.54 carat Fancy Yellow Diamond that’s only been worn twice, previously (in 1957, by Mrs. Sheldon Whitehouse, for a Tiffany Ball; and in 1961, by Audrey Hepburn, in publicity shots for Breakfast at Tiffany’s) in the 140 years since it was purchased by Charles Lewis Tiffany.  Worn as the centerpiece of the Platinum and Diamond necklace into which it was set in 2012 (as it’s been displayed, ever since, in a vitrine at the jeweler’s famed Fifth Avenue flagship), with Tiffany & Co.’s Fancy Yellow and White Diamond and Platinum Earrings.

SLIDE 6:  I wish I had images for the jewelry looks featured by this trio of regally stunning actresses, but figured I’d make do with these red carpet images.  (Left to right), Danai Gurira in one of my very favorite jewelry stories of the night – a curation of Victorian finery à la Fred Leighton, including a headband, a gold-and-diamond bracelet, drop-earrings, and diamond-and-gold rings – with a golden gown by Brock Collection; Michelle Yeoh wore Elie Saab Haute Couture with pieces from Chopard’s “Haute Joaillerie” collection, including a pair of linear Diamond drop-earrings, and a floral multi-wrap bracelet (featuring 47.37cts of Diamonds in 18K White Gold); and Angela Bassett looking oh-so pretty-in-pink thanks to a fabulous fuchsia Reem Acra gown and sophisticated pieces from Sutra Jewels, including this pair of “Anniversary Collection” earrings (featuring 75.83cts of Kunzite, and 14.65cts of Diamonds, set in 18K Rose Gold).

Favorite Jewelry Stories
Oscars 2019

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