The sighting: Superstar Rihanna was spotted in Las Vegas wearing a very sparkly watch in an unexpected way.

The jewels: Rihanna is wearing a custom watch anklet by Jacob & Co. The watch is valued at $400,000 and is covered in emerald and round cut white diamonds.

I think she may also be wearing some pearls under that jacket , but it’s hard to tell.

The trends: If Rihanna keeps wearing watches everywhere but on her wrist, other people are going to start getting more creative with their watch-wearing, too – it’s inevitable. Rihanna is just too influential for her style to not spread.

What do we think? When Rihanna wore a Jacob & Co watch as a choker, I appreciated the creativity but wasn’t overly excited about the look. It felt a little forced, more gimmicky than natural.

The ankle watch styling works much better for me. I’m not even entirely sure why: maybe the cleverness of switching extremities appeals to me more than just slapping a watch on a random body part? But this feels spontaneous and fresh and chic, much more than the watch choker ever did. It’s not any more practical than the watch choker, but I find it much cooler.

Judgement: 16/10 for super fun, creative styling.

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The sighting: Actress Michelle Williams attended the recent Gotham Awards in a black Schiaparelli gown with Belperron jewelry. Let’s take a look!

The jewels: Williams is wearing one necklace and one large cocktail ring. The necklace is Belperron’s Spiral Torque Necklace in virgin gold with South Sea cultured pearls. It’s an extremely sophisticated piece featuring a double row of creamy white pearls suspended from two swirls of gold.

The spiral motif is an iconic Belperron signature, one that the designer first experimented with in 1918.

I bet the ring is fantastic too, but you can’t get a clear look at it in any of the photos so we’ll just have to imagine.

The trends: Wearing fewer, bigger pieces of jewelry is absolutely a red carpet trend right now, and this Belperron necklace with single statement ring combo nails both the pearl trend and the quiet luxury trend perfectly.

What do we think? Normally I’d complain about Williams’ naked earlobes (honestly, I would add earrings if it were up to me) but the necklace is so good that I’ll allow it, just this once. Pairing this understated, impactful necklace with the actress’s ethereal pixie cut and sculptural, minimalist black gown is just perfection. This could not be more chic.

Judgement: 1,000/10 because Belperron on the red carpet makes me so so happy.

 

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IT WAS A regal event: the state banquet for the first official visit to the U.K. by South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee. And two legendary tiaras appeared at the event, pieces that date back to Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother.

I am a huge fan of tiaras, so seeing these awe-inspiring royal ones out and about again was a real treat.

Let’s start with the one worn by Queen Camilla, a tiara that I wrote about in my book If These Jewels Could Talk: The Legends Behind Celebrity Gems (ACC Artbooks, 2015). It was the Burmese Ruby Tiara from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection. The story goes like this: In 1973, Queen Elizabeth II wanted a tiara designed with rubies, so the palace approached the oldest jewelry house in the world, crown jewelers Garrard. The use of rubies and the fact that the queen commissioned, rather than inherited, the piece rendered it distinct from the other tiaras in her collection, which were been passed down to her from Queen Mary and Queen Victoria. The tiara’s motif is a wreath of red roses; the roses are made up of 96 Burmese rubies and gold, and the petals, crafted of diamonds, are set into silver. The cache of gems was originally a wedding gift from the people of Burma to then-Princess Elizabeth in November 1947, with the number of stones representing the number of diseases that, according to Burmese tradition, can afflict the human body. The rubies were meant to protect against illness and evil. Camilla wore the tiara with a red velvet dress by Fiona Clare.

Kate Middleton’s choice of tiara was even more compelling, as it had not been worn for nearly a century. Named the Strathmore Rose Tiara, it was originally gifted to the Queen Mother when she was still Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, in 1923. It bears its name due to the fact that she was the daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. And the tiara was a gift from her parents before she married the Duke of York.

The piece, created with five diamond flowers stretching across a vine-inspired design, is convertible and can be worn low on the forehead as a bandeau as well as a traditional tiara. The Queen Mother wore it as a bandeau several times in the early years after receiving it, and it also has fittings so the flowers can be worn as brooches. Middleton chose to wear it upright with a Jenny Packman white gown with intricate gold details.

Both tiaras are head turners that will live on as part of the royal family’s history.

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The jewels: Gladys Russell, played by actress Taissa Farmiga, wore Hayley Elise Jewellery’s Amaryllis earrings in Season Two, Episode One of The Gilded Age. This floral-inspired style features marquis-cut green tourmaline and diamonds in 14K yellow gold and is listed on the brand’s website for $3,275.

This isn’t pictured in the above Instagram post, but Hayley Elise Jewellery let me know that Gladys Russell wears several more of their pieces later in Season Two, including the Venus Drop Earrings (rhodolite garnet and diamonds in 14K, listed for $2,800) and the Dark Opal Cuore Wand Pendant (opal rhodolite, and diamonds in 14, listed for $3,100).

The trends: The biggest two trends here are green gems (very popular right now) and textured, touchable-looking gold. They may be featured on a character from the past, but these beauties are perfect for the current moment.

What do we think? This delights me. When I featured Hayley Elise Jewellery’s Amaryllis earrings in Instore Magazine in early 2021, it was the brand’s very first appearance in the press. Now they’re on a popular HBO show, in multiple episodes! I love to see it.

There are two ways for any period costume drama to go when it comes to jewelry: they can use period-appropriate antiques and reproductions, or they can ignore anachronism and use new jewelry that has the right vibe. I haven’t followed along as some of my jewelry friends have, but it is my understanding that The Gilded Age has chosen to alternate between the two approaches, mixing period-appropriate pieces with both modern designs and vintage finds from other eras.

In general, I’d prefer for the show to pick a lane and stay there: I like it when a costume drama either uses interestingly curated modern pieces or period appropriate styles, rather than switching between the two and mixing in other vintage eras. But I love that they chose Hayley Elise Jewellery as one of their modern designers to feature!

Judgement: 14/10 for gorgeous earrings getting the attention they deserve.

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TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET, an ambassador for Cartier, has been spotted in some iconic pieces from the brand, including a vintage diamond and ruby clip brooch at the 2020 Academy Awards and a panther necklace at the 2022 event, along with Juste un Clou bracelets and vintage tank watches. But the necklace he wore to the Wonka world premiere in London was perhaps the most distinctive. As Cartier’s official press release stated, “The white gold with rotating precious stones piece was created by the Cartier Jewelry ateliers with Timothée’s creative input.” While no other details were given, myriad gemstones seemed to echo the candy theme of the film and popped from the vibrant pink Tom Ford suit that Chalamet wore. While trying to get more scoop on the one-of-a-kind necklace, I stumbled onto a Vogue article that described the necklace as having  964 gemstones, including emeralds, rubellites, pink tourmalines and blue opals. Chalamet reportedly spent hours combing through archive Cartier imagery before traveling to Paris to meet with Marie-Laure Cérède, creative director of jewelry and watchmaking, at the atelier months before the premiere.

CREDIT: CARTIER © MATTHIEU LAVANCHY

Chalamet has set the style for genderless dressing for some time. He has also worn a variety of jewelry styles, from classic to edgy, both in everyday life and to red carpet events. The Wonka necklace will become part of the Cartier Collection and will go on display at jewelry exhibitions around the globe.

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The jewels: Oprah is wearing Katherine Jetter’s emerald and pearl hoop earrings, a design that features an outer half-hoop of freshwater pearls backed by an inner half-hoop of vivid green emeralds (7.70 TCW) set in darkened 18K white gold.

The style is currently listed on Katherine Jetter’s website for $14,800.

The trends: Green jewels of all kinds have dominated color trends recently and pairing them with the also popular pearl in white metal, a material that has just started regaining ground against the ubiquitous yellow gold, makes these earrings at least a triple trend threat.

What do we think? What I think about this is YES. I love a fun hoop, and the fact that these have both a hidden pop of emerald color inside and the luscious texture and luster of pearls outside makes them truly special.

The fact that Oprah paired these babies with an all-purple ensemble just makes me love them more! That hint of green from the emeralds is so good against that monochromatic amethyst outfit.

On a personal note: I’d wear these earrings any day, anywhere. They’re fantastic.

Judgement: 16/10 for gorgeous earrings styled well.

 

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LENNY KRAVITZ, JARED LETO and Justin Timberlake prove that it’s not all about the man brooch when it comes to celebrities wearing jewelry. These icons of music and film have their distinct styles, and they have appeared at recent events wearing various necklaces, with Kravitz and Timberlake  also wearing watches.

Kravitz continues to get better as the years go on. He is the ultimate cool guy — edgy and with sex appeal to burn. He turned up at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Film+Art Gala decked out in a black Gucci Vest, no shirt, and black trousers. The outfit was the perfect backdrop for a diamond fringe necklace by the house of Kantour — which not many other guys could pull off with such nonchalance — along with his Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso watch and a pinky ring. The look rocked and was inspirational for the more fluid approach to jewelry and fashion that is on trend now.

Leto also stayed true to his style, wearing a diamond and blackened gold wide link Sydney Evan curb chain necklace during his appearance on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. It was just enough for the chameleon actor, who also went shirtless with a black jacket.

Timberlake, whom we’ve seen in jewelry many times before, showed up at the screening of Universal Pictures’ Trolls: Band Together in a toned-down Cartier necklace and watch. He wore the Cartier Love necklace in 18K white gold as well as the Cartier Santos-Dumont large model watch in steel and 18K yellow gold with alligator-skin strap.

The three men took different approaches while staying true to their style and without overdoing it. At the same time, they all made a case for men opening their minds to being more creative with jewelry

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WHEN WE THINK about the 1980s and the big names of that decade, supermodel Christy Turlington and actress Demi Moore are high on the list. They are still stunning women who don’t need jewelry to make them shine, but like most woman, they look radiant while wearing diamonds around the face. Such was the case with Turlington at the Kering Foundation’s Caring for Women Dinner, for which she wore bold diamond ear cuffs with a black off-the-shoulder gown and her hair pulled back. She went low-key with other jewelry, but she did wear a wide diamond bracelet that complemented the ear cuff. The elegant look was in line with Turlington’s style from when she shot to stardom.

Moore went for a similar effect at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards when she wore Ana Khouri’s 18K Fairmined gold and white diamond Dephine earpiece with her Carolina Herrera silver strapless gown. It was a total look that worked perfectly for the occasion and for her.

She completed the look with delicate and subtle rings by Khouri, including and 18K Fairmined gold white diamond swirling open ring and another next to it; they looked like they were designed for her. This was quite a difference from the fashion faux pas that were indicative of her youthful style in the ’80s. They say you get better with age, and in the case of Moore’s style, this is definitely true.

PHOTO OF DEMI MOORE COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK

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The sighting: Actress Diane Kruger recently attended a Diwali celebration in a draped red gown and wonderfully dramatic statement earrings. Let’s take a look!

The jewels: Kruger is wearing a gorgeous pair of peacock earrings by Chopard. (Scroll to the second photo in the Instagram slideshow for a better look). The actress also appears to be wearing a simple diamond tennis necklace and several statement rings that look like sapphires or amethysts with diamonds.

The earrings are the undisputed star of the show here. Instagrammer @Wwwjewels identified these birdie beauties as being from Chopard’s 150th Anniversary Animal World Collection.

You can get a closer look at these precious peacock here, in the Sotheby’s listing from when this design was sold at the auction house in 2020. According to Sotheby’s, the earrings are “set with cabochon amethysts and sapphires, enhanced throughout with circular-cut sapphires and garnets, highlighted with diamond briolettes of yellow tint and cabochon orange sapphires, terminating on an emerald bead.”

The trends: Statement earrings and statement rings are the red carpet trends of the moment. Kruger went outside the box a little by wearing an necklace, but it’s so understated compared to the rest of the jewelry that it hardly counts.

I also saw a whole lot of animal-inspired colored gemstone jewelry at the AGTA Spectrum 2023 Editor’s Preview last month, so we may have another trend growing for fantastic colored gem fauna.

What do we think? This is so fun and perfect for a Diwali event! It’s exuberant, colorful, and joyful. I do wish that Diane Kruger had taken more photos with her ears facing the camera, but I guess she thought the paparazzi wanted to see her face.

Judgement: 12/10 for magnificent earrings that I wish I could see better.

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SALMA HAYEK SHOWED off her curves in a form-fitting Gucci gown at The 2023 LACMA Art+Fim Gala. She complemented the sparkler of a gown with Boucheron’s Lierre de Paris asymmetrical flower pendant earrings, set with diamonds in pink gold. They were a refreshing change from her usual statement diamond looks, as was her ring with the gemstone center stone. But let’s stick with the earrings. They are on trend with the jewelry and fashion we saw on the spring 2024 international ready-to-wear runway shows. I know what you are thinking: The line Meryl Streep delivers as her character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” But botanicals have long been a source of inspiration for some of the most breathtaking jewels, and they continue to be desired by jewelry enthusiasts. And Boucheron knows how to create pieces that entice and enchant. They hit all the right marks: ear climbers, asymmetry and rose gold — all current directions, yet still designed to be lasting.

And the renowned brand isn’t the only company that is planting more unexpected takes on flowers for the ears. We are seeing them in a variety of unexpected incarnations in the studios of independent and emerging talents as the ear party continues to capture jewelry designers and consumers alike.

Boucheron pink gold floral earrings courtesy of Boucheron.

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