2021 Met Gala Jewelry: Bring On the Diamonds!

By Melissa Rose Bernardo | September 14, 2021

After a very jewelry-light New York Fashion Week and a highly disappointing VMAs red carpet, we’ll admit we weren’t waiting with bated breath for the bling at the Sept. 13 Met Gala.

Turns out we should have been, because these folks pulled out all the stops jewelry-wise. (So. Many. Diamonds.) Here are just a few of our favorites. And be sure to tell us yours in the comments!

Rita Ora

The singer-songwriter’s entire look—a crystal crop top and pencil skirt and voluminous black satin cape by Prada, plus diamonds by De Beers Jewellers—was a dazzling exercise in excess. In fact, she wore so many pieces from De Beers that we can’t even picture them all here. (Seriously.)

De Beers eternity line necklace and swan lake earrings — *De Beers DB Classic eternity line necklace in 18k white gold with 20.62 cts. t.w. round brilliant diamonds; De Beers Swan Lake five diamond earrings with 3.96 cts. t.w. diamond beads in 18k white gold*

De Beers Battersea Light and Swan Lake necklaces — *From left: De Beers London by De Beers Battersea Light necklace in 18k white gold with 37.47 cts. t.w. diamonds; De Beers Swan Lake necklace in 18k white gold with 23.95 cts. t.w. diamonds*

*De Beers Assana necklace in 18k white gold with 37.47 cts. t.w. diamonds*

De Beers Arpeggia Three Line Bracelet — *De Beers Arpeggia three-line bracelet in 18k white gold with 9.5 cts. t.w. diamonds*

De Beers three row and dew drop bangles — *From left: De Beers DB Classic three-row bangle in 18k white gold with 1.99 cts. t.w. diamonds; De Beers Dewdrop one-line full pavé bangle in 18k white gold with 1.07 cts. t.w. diamonds*

De Beers five line band stud earring oval ring — Clockwise from top: De Beers DB Classic studs in platinum with 4.04 cts. t.w. round brilliant diamonds; De Beers DB Classic 5.01 ct. oval-shape diamond ring in platinum; De Beers DB Classic five-line band in 18k white gold with 1.73 cts. t.w. diamonds

De Beers Aria cuff bracelets — *From left: De Beers Aria Unique bracelet in 18k white gold with 59.1 cts. t.w. diamonds; De Beers Aria Prestige cuff in 18k white gold with 4.08 cts. t.w. diamonds*

Timothée Chalamet

Timothee Chalamet 2021 Met Gala — *Timothée Chalamet (photo: John Shearer/WireImage)*

One of the cochairs of the evening’s gala—along with Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, and Naomi Osaka—Chalamet caused quite a commotion on the Upper East Side by walking to the event. (Well, he was wearing Chuck Taylors, so why not, right?) FYI: The chic all-white ensemble and satin tuxedo jacket was created by Chalamet’s go-to designer, Haider Ackermann. And yes, those are sweats. Super-fancy sweats, mind you—especially once he pinned on those vintage diamond Cartier brooches. Diamonds and sweatpants. If that isn’t the most pandemic-era fashion statement ever, I don’t know what is.

Vintage Cartier New York Star brooch 1928 — *Vintage Cartier New York Star brooch in platinum and diamonds, 1928*

Vintage Cartier New York Cliquet pin 1928 — *Vintage Cartier New York Cliquet pin in platinum and diamonds, 1928*

Iman

Someone always breaks the internet on Met Gala night, and this year it was golden goddess Iman. She said the chandelier-effect, feather-topped cage skirt, gold jumpsuit, and halo headpiece—the result of a collab between Dolce & Gabbana and up-and-coming British-American designer Harris Reed—felt “hopeful.” The ensemble itself would almost have been enough on its own, but thankfully the legendary model knew enough not to skimp on accessories, turning to Fred Leighton and Kwiat for a few terrific vintage statement pieces—plus a pair of earrings designed specifically for her Met gown.

Leighton diamond gold Boivin twist cuff — *Fred Leighton diamond and yellow gold twist cuff bracelet by Boivin, circa 1930*

Leighton citrine diamond earrings — *Fred Leighton multicolored citrine and diamond pendant earrings in 18k yellow gold*

Leighton oval peridot cocktail ring — *Oval peridot and diamond cocktail ring, signed Fred Leighton*

Leighton Trabert Hoeffer Mauboussin citrine amethyst cuff — *Fred Leighton citrine, amethyst, and diamond Reflections cuff bracelet by Trabert & Hoeffer Mauboussin, circa 1935*

Jordan Roth

If you don’t know couture-loving Broadway producer and Jujamcyn Theaters president Jordan Roth by now, you should: His risk-taking, inimitable style has been a fixture on Broadway red carpets and events like the Met Gala for years. We knew his look would be major, and Roth—in a collaboration with fiber artist Michael Sylvan Robinson—did not disappoint. For jewels, he added an amethyst Boivin strand from A La Vieille Russie and two major pieces from Lydia Courteille’s Caravan collection, including a 37.5 ct. gobstopper of an aquamarine ring. Roth’s husband, producer and author Richie Jackson, also wore a Courteille brooch.

Lydia Courteille enamel caravan necklace — *Caravan necklace in 18k black rhodium gold with enamel, laguna agate, lapis, sapphires, and tsavorite, price on request; Lydia Courteille*

Lydia Courteille caravan aquamarine ring — *Caravan 4 Faces ring with 37.5 ct. aquamarine, sapphires, and diamonds, price on request; Lydia Courteille*

Rihanna

She took her time arriving, but when she did, my goodness was it ever worth the wait! Swathed in a massive Balenciaga overcoat and dripping in diamonds—more than 267 carats’ worth from Bulgari, including two incredible necklaces (one new, one heritage), two bracelets, and a single (yes, just a single) earring—Rihanna shut it down, as the kids say. She also added a spiky black ceramic diamond ring by Thelma West, which is coming up for sale at Sotheby’s “Brilliant & Black” exhibition, opening Friday, Sept. 17.

Bulgari high jewelry necklace pear round pave diamonds — *High Jewelry necklace in platinum with 14.55 cts. t.w. pear-cut diamonds, 35.84 cts. t.w. round brilliant-cut diamonds, and 6.54 cts. t.w. pavé-set diamonds; Bulgari*

Bulgari 1959 heritage diamond necklace convertible — *Heritage necklace convertible into bracelets in platinum with 81.9 cts. t.w. round, brilliant, baguette, and tapered diamonds, circa 1959; Bulgari*

Bulgari 1955 heritage diamond bracelet — *Heritage bracelet in platinum with 60 cts. t.w. round, brilliant, oval, and baguette diamonds, circa 1955; Bulgari*

Bulgari high jewelry pear shape diamond earrings — *High Jewelry earrings in platinum with 18.45 cts. t.w. pear-shape radiant-cut diamonds and two baguette diamonds; Bulgari*

Thelma West Rebel Black Ring — *Black ceramic and gold 5 ct. diamond Rebel Black ring; Thelma West*

Lupita Nyong’o

JCK Summer 2021 We definitely saved the best for last here. Yes, that is a denim couture gown, designed by Atelier Versace and inspired— Nyong’o’s stylist, Micaela Erlanger, revealed—by Versace Jeans. The gala theme was “America: A Lexicon of Fashion”—and what is more American than blue jeans? Also: denim and diamonds. (In this case: De Beers diamonds—and again, like Rita Ora’s, so many that we can’t even include every photo!) Is there anything better? There might be a reason we’re partial to that combo: May we turn your attention to our summer 2021 cover?