Did a memo circulate on some secret celebs-only list serve? Because nearly every female actor to walk the Oscar’s 2020 red carpet last night was clad in auction-caliber jewels set almost exclusively with colorless diamonds.
Colored stones were flitting about, but were usually the extras, not the superstars (see the red spinels playing a supporting role in Saoirse Ronan’s diamond Gucci earrings, below).
High-carat diamond statement necklaces abounded: Mindy Kaling wore a mega-diamond Chopard necklace, and both best actress nominee Charlize Theron and Gal Gadot rocked weighty diamond Tiffany & Co. necklaces. Earrings were more often than not diamond-only, too: Scarlett Johansson wore stunning diamond Anita Ko X Forevermark drops, and Laura Dern (who took home the best supporting actress statue) accessorized with graduated Niwaka diamond drops, to name just two examples.
The few who didn’t wear colorless diamonds set in white metal cottoned to yellow gold. Rebel Wilson, Sandra Oh, and a few others opted for yellow gold Pomellato pieces. And Natalie Portman looked perfect in yellow gold Cartier hoops and royal-feeling ring.
But the most interesting jewels were the ones that recalled pieces of armor, however subtly.
America Ferrera, who’s visibly pregnant, channeled the warrior power of her Honduran ancestors with a custom Jennifer Behr brass headband that felt like a perfect, elegant response to the complicated times we’re living in (see details on the creation and inspiration, below). Janelle Monáe, meanwhile, seemed to be channeling one of history’s greatest warriors, Joan of Arc, in her silver chain mail hooded gown, worn with a custom Forevermark necklace that complemented the weave of the dress. And actor Anthony Ramos walked the carpet in a massive white metal-and-gemstone necklace that might have hung around the neck of an ancient Incan warrior.
See all three looks—and seven more!—in our rundown of favorite jewelry looks from the 2020 Academy Awards.
Saoirse Ronan in Gucci
The best actress nominee for Little Women added shine to her peplum Gucci dress with gorgeous Gucci high jewelry chandelier earrings with white gold, spinel, and diamonds; rings with white gold, rubellite, pink sapphires, diamonds, and a pink tourmaline; and a white gold brooch featuring tsavorite and diamonds.
Regina King in Harry Winston
The Watchmen star brought silver-screen glamour to the red carpet in nearly 60 combined carats of diamonds in her Harry Winston pieces, which included the jaw-dropping Draperie diamond bracelet and some very extra diamond rings.
Anthony Ramos
The Hamilton star’s gigantic, medieval-looking necklace has a message—letters are dripping from it, but we were never treated to a glimpse of the whole thing. Still, we love the daring, knight-like piece and how it was styled with his sleek Dolce & Gabbana suit.
Salma Hayek in Boucheron
I’m always keenly interested in what Hayek is wearing, because she’s married to Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault, so I always imagine she has the pick of the litter when it comes to clothes and jewelry (just conjecture, but come on). Last night she wore a glam Gucci gown with even more opulent diamond jewels, all from French atelier Boucheron.
Janelle Monáe in Forevermark
Monáe, who opened the show (with some help from Billy Porter), was an icy dream last night in a silver hooded gown, festooned Forevermark pieces: The fantastic 18k white gold Lace of Light diamond choker boasts 36.54 cts. t.w. diamonds; diamond studs (6.36 cts. t.w.); and rings set with nearly 20 cts. t.w. of diamonds.
America Ferrera in Lisa Eisner and Lisa Behr
A pregnant Ferrera channeled Mother Earth in a custom Alberta Ferretti red chiffon gown accessorized with sculptural Lisa Eisner rings and a brass halo/headpiece created by Jennifer Behr (in collaboration with stylist Karla Welch) that was “inspired by Honduras’s most famous warrior, who is memorialized on the country’s currency,” wrote Behr on her Instagram. Ferrera wrote on her own IG, “Tonight, I bring my own warrior ancestors with me, the indigenous Lenca tribe of Honduras.”
Gal Gadot in Tiffany & Co.
Ah, the old diamonds on top of the gown trick! It’s a dramatic and lovely one when it’s done well—and Gal Gadot and her team certainly pulled it off last night. The Tiffany & Co. Clara platinum necklace (set with more than 65 carats of diamonds and priced at more than $2 million) hugged her flared lace mock-turtleneck sublimely. Gadot also wore platinum Tiffany diamond earrings with more than 6 cts. t.w. of diamonds and a platinum ring with a rectangular modified brilliant diamond weighing more than 9 carats.
Scarlett Johansson in Forevermark
Double nominee (for both best actress and best supporting actress) Johansson, looking every bit the bombshell last night, wore several pieces from Forevermark—including a pair of glittering drop diamond earrings by Anita Ko for Forevermark, which were designed and created for the occasion.
Natalie Portman in Cartier
All attention was focused on the daintily embroidered names inside Natalie Portman’s cape/coat, which listed names of 2019’s female directors (none of them nominated). And cheers to that subtle subversion! But we also loved Portman’s gorgeous yellow gold Cartier hoops, which felt tailor-made for her incredible Dior gown.
Idina Menzel in Harry Winston
A big, bold diamond necklace at the Oscars can feel like a foregone conclusion, but we love Menzel in this Harry Winston necklace because it’s not too-too big but gives that lotta-necklace look. And the cut of her gown gives it lots of room to shine.
Top: Gal Gadot in Tiffany & Co. jewelry (photo: InStar Images)
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