Chopard and de Grisogono Rock the Red Carpet at Cannes Film Festival

Julianne Moore in Chopard

Switzerland is known for its world renowned watch industry but there are a few companies that produce world class luxury jewelry as well. Two brands, Chopard and de Grisogono, sparkled during Tuesday’s opening night Red Carpet ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Chopard’s partnership with what is arguably the world’s most glamorous film festival has marked its 60th year, which includes creating the Palme d’Or trophy, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. The High Jewelry Red Carpet Collection, developed each year for the opening red carpet event, consists of 68 unique pieces this year. They were unveiled Tuesday, worn by world renowned actresses and models as well as Cannes officials. The jewels are designed by Caroline Scheufele, co-president of Chopard.

Meanwhile, de Grisogono and its highly charismatic founder and creative director, Fawaz Gruosi, always makes a mark at this event showcasing its highly creative designs. This year the company displayed white gold and diamonds accented by warm hues. 

The two brands best examples of its high jewelry pieces on the red carpet include: 

2015 Academy Award winner Julianne Moore in pear-shaped emerald earrings (52 carats) set with white diamonds in platinum from Chopard’s Red Carpet Collection and an octagonal step-cut emerald ring (13 carats) set in white diamond pavé‎ in 18k white gold (top photo).

2014 Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o wore Chopard pink quartz earrings (13 carats) with rubellites and white diamond set in 18-karat white gold, an amethyst ring with tanzanite, tsavorites and white diamonds set in 18k white gold; an aquamarine ring (5 carats) with amethyst, tanzanites; and white diamonds set in 18k white gold, all from Chopard’s Temptations Collection. She also wore a white diamond bead necklace (41 carats) set in 18k rose gold and a marquise-cut white diamond ring set in 18k white gold.

Fashion model Bar Refaeli wore de Grisogono cabochon-cut India earrings, Sensuale ring and the brand's iconic Allegra ring in gold, brown and creamy warm hues. She is pictured with Fawaz Gruosi, founder and creative director of the luxury jewelry brand.

Chopard ambassadress, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing in a pair of Chopard earrings featuring pear-shaped emeralds (25 carats) and white diamonds (24 carats) set in 18k yellow gold, a white diamond bracelet (29 carats) set in 18k white gold, an emerald-cut emerald ring (30 carats) set with white diamond pave in platinum and a round-cut white diamond ring set in 18k white gold.

Actress Natalie Portman wore de Grisogono diamonds, pairing the teardrop shape of Gocce earrings with the fan-shaped Jane ring and the Tubetto bangle 


French Actress Emmanuelle Beart wore a pair of Chopard white diamond hoop earrings (13 carats) set in 18k white gold, a white diamond bracelet (44 carats) set in 18k white gold and two ashoka-cut white diamond rings set in platinum.

Chinese actress Zhao Tao wore Chopard marquise-cut white diamond chandelier earrings (30 carats) set in 18k white gold.

Victoria’s secret Supermodel Karlie Kloss wore de Grisogono Sole earrings and a sculptural Onde ring

Model Doutzen Kroes wore a Chopard marquise-cut white diamond bracelet (8 carats) set in 18k Fairmined white gold and a marquise-cut white diamond ring set in 18k Fairmined white gold, both from Chopard’s Green Carpet Collection.

Indian actress Katrina Kaif wore Chopard white diamond drop earrings (8 carats) set in 18k white gold and a pear-shaped white diamond bracelet (37 carats) set in 18k white gold. 

Actress and model Liya Kebede adorned her Louis Vuitton silver dress with the de Grisogono Allegra ring and 1-metrer long sautoir necklace.

Member of the Jury, French actress Sophie Marceau wore three Chopard white diamond bead necklaces (totaling 270 carats) set in 18k white gold, a white diamond bracelet (33 carats) set in 18k white gold and a pair of white diamond stud earrings.

Member of the Jury, Spanish actress Rossy de Palma sparkled in a white diamond necklace, earring and ring suite (totaling 100 carats) set in 18k white gold.

Italian actress Isabella Rossellini wore Chopard ruby earrings (57 carats) set in 18k rose gold and a ruby ring (24 carats) set in 18k rose gold. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

The Best of The Best Jewelry At Baselworld 2015

Fabergé Secret Garden necklace

Baselworld is known as a watch show but it is also one of the best places in the world to see the newest and best in jewelry from around the world, particularly at the luxury end. 

Among the brands that really made an impression this year was Fabergé. Not only with its first Imperial style jeweled egg in nearly a century. I already featured its Pearl Egg but the company exhibited several high jewelry collections reminiscent of the Fabergé of old, including a candy-colored collection of jewels called “Secret Garden (top photo).” Natalia Shugaeva, Fabergé’s head designer, said she wanted to create a collection of jewels that are opulent and refined. She succeeded.

From friends to those who actually work for the brand the word most used to describe the work of Fawaz Gruosi and his high jewelry brand, De Grisogono, is “crazy.” It is meant in the best possible sense. His singular creative designs have won the brand fame throughout the world and this year at Baselworld there were several ultra-imaginative masterpieces on displays. It’s almost become typical to expect the wonderfully unexpected from De Grisogono. Yhe De Grisogono High Jewelry necklace picture is a perfect example in 18k white and rose gold, 12 briolette-cut emeralds, 19 round-cut rubies (approximately 12.66 cts.), 29 marquise-cut white diamonds (approximately 11.01 cts.), 1,366 emeralds (approx. 60.20 ct s ) and 2603 white diamonds (approximately 137.54 cts.).

Chopard unveiled its High Jewelry Collection at Baselworld and even among the selection of jewelry destined for Red Carpet events one piece stood out. An ocean blue ring featuring a 41.57-carat oval shaped paraíba tourmaline from Mozambique and 8.8-carats of diamonds set in a lace-work of 18k white gold.

Georg Jensen and its managing director of jewelry, Meeling Wong, created several collections of refined jewelry that reinterpret the traditional designs of the famed silversmith brand. Among the items that stood out was a collection of pieces in collaboration with colored gemstone mining company, Gemfields.

Graff Diamonds also provided an exceptional jewelry not only in terms of size but in nuanced ways, showcasing several pieces that can be worn in a variety of ways or with clever use of material. The latter could be seen in the diamond tassel necklace pictured above.

Antonini, introduced a number of new collections with what it calls “natural” white gold, which is more like white mixed with a grey or yellow tint. It is used in a matte finished. Meanwhile more traditional rhodium-finished white and black gold is creatively used as a background for rough-textured pavé settings.

Pasquale Bruni introduced a number of colorful items led by Fiori in Fiore (Flowers in Bloom), featuring diamonds mixed with pink sapphires and morganite. 

Roberto Coin made a statement with its steely-eyed Falco (hawk or falcon, take your pick) ring and bracelet.  

Brumani was again as always a great designer of multi-colored stones that reflect the vibrancy of its home country Brazil and this year was no different as with these pastel colored earrings show. 

Like few other brands, Sutra brought color to the party with exceptional gemstones and creative designs as with these turquoise, diamond and gold earrings. 

More color was provided by Yoko London through its pearl-centric designs. 

Spanish brand Carrera y Carrera celebrated its 140th year anniversary with a collection of delicate, hand-made gold pieces. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

Statement Necklaces, Earrings Sparkled At Oscars 2015

Scarlett Johansson wears a Swarovski crystal embroidered collar
 necklace with a Piaget Mediterranean Garden ear cuff set

It was the year of the statement necklace as major stars strolled the red carpet wearing large pieces in a variety of styles and materials. 

One of the most stunning necklaces of the evening wasn't even precious. It was a Swarovski crystal embroidered collar necklace worn by Scarlett Johansson. She matched the necklace with Piaget Mediterranean Garden ear cuff set in 18k pink gold with five pear-shaped emeralds, 278 brilliant-cut diamonds, four pear-shaped aquamarines and two pear-shaped green tourmalines.

Margot Robbie made a great statement wearing a Van Cleef & Arpels “Zip Antique Colombine” emerald necklace featuring diamonds and sapphires set in 18k yellow gold. It is a contemporary creation using the same techniques and similar design to the original that was created for the Duchess of Windsor in 1951. The piece is set with more than 150 diamonds and more than 300 sapphires. The zipper is fully functional.

Lupita Nyong'o may have out-done everybody with a white Calvin Klein gown adorned with approximately 6,000 white pearls, which were reportedly a mix of fake and real, that appeared to be part of the fabric of the dress. 

Anna Kendrick wore a diamond collar of five rows matched with marquis and pear-shaped diamond cluster earrings totaling 13 carats, reportedly by Norman Silverman. The necklace was tucked into the neckline of her gown. 

Cate Blanchett wore a multi-row turquoise necklace by Tiffany & Co. 

Jessica Chastain went another direction in a delicate and refined diamond necklace by Piaget. The actress was recently named a brand ambassador for the luxury jewelry and watch brand. 

It wouldn’t be an Oscars without Nicole Kidman making a red carpet jewelry statement. This year she wore more than $7 million worth of Harry Winston Diamonds, including 7-carat emerald-cut diamond earstuds, an 82-carat Caftan diamond bracelet, a 16.5-carat emerald-cut diamond solitaire ring and a 5.3-carat bezel-set diamond band ring.

Also, Dakota Johnson was adorned in a 100 carats of Forevermark Diamonds valued at $2.2 million.

Felcity Jones carried The Minaudière precious case (1947) from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection, crafted in styptor, yellow gold, and diamonds; and wore the “Dans les Étoiles” earrings featuring white and yellow diamonds and briolette-cut champagne diamond drops set in 18K white gold and “Snowflake” bracelet featuring diamonds set in platinum

Earring were the other big statement for the evening. Gwyneth Paltrow who wore Fire Phoenix Earrings and Pétales d'Amour Ring by Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie.

Also in Anna Hu was Naomi Watts, who wore the Wallis Simpson Bracelet and Modern Art Deco sapphires earrings.

Model Dorith Mous wore approximately $70,000.00 in ethically sourced Donna Distefano jewelry including the ruby “Savannah” ring along with a rose cut diamond cushion halo ring called “Lizzie."

Other highlights included: 

Julianne Moore in Chopard earrings

Jamie Chung in Leticia Linton diamond cluster earrings with a tanzanite center stone.

Marion Cotillard chic in Chopard earrings

Giuliana Rancic in Forevermark Diamonds

America Ferrera Irene Neuwirth opal earrings

Recording artist Rita Ora in Lorraine Schwartz earrings

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

Jewelry and Watches Sparkle at Cannes

Cate Blanchett wears wears 18k white gold and sapphire drop earrings from Chopard's Red Carpet Collection.

Chopard’s longtime association with the Cannes Film Festival has been fruitful. The glamorous event provides the luxury jewelry and watch brand with high-level international stage for its jewelry and watches.

Julianne Moore in 18k white gold set with round shaped emeralds of 22.11 carats and 21.66 carats each, 2 pear shaped rubies of 2.05 carats and 2.11 carats each and multicolored sapphires, rubies, emeralds, amethysts and tsavorites from Chopard's Red Carpet Collection. Photo credit: David M. Benett/Getty Images for Lionsgate

Each year Chopard creates the Palme d’Or, the trophy given to the best film of the international festival, as well as other awards. The company also uses the world’s most glamorous film festival to unveil its “Red Carpet Collection” of high jewels, which are worn by actresses and models on the festival red carpet and events hosted by the luxury brand.

Karlie Kloss unveils a new addition to Chopard's Green Carpet high jewelry collection, earrings with a lacework of Fairmined white gold and 13.49 carats of pear-cut diamonds with brilliant-cut and marquise-cut diamonds.

Chopard also scored on another level by partnering with Oscar winning actress Cate Blanchett. Her beauty and rgace have proven to be perfect fir for the Swiss luxury jewelry and watch brand. At Cannes, she played a starring role for Chopard wearing white gold earrings with 62 amethysts on the Red Carpet, and presenting the Trophée Chopard, also created by the brand, for best young actors, to French actress Adèle Exarchopoulos and American actor Logan Lerman.

The Palme d'Or award given to the best film at Cannes was for the first time created with Fairmined gold, which guarantees strict respect for the rules of economic, social and environmental development in the mining process.

Chopard also did its part in turning the red carpet green. The brand partners with Livia Firth, founder and creative director of Eco-Age, created a program named “The Journey to Sustainable Luxury” using “Fairmined” gold—extracted by artisanal and small-scale miners certified under the standard created by the Alliance for Responsible Mining. This label guarantees strict respect for the rules of economic, social and environmental development in the mining process.

Rosario Dawson wears the Montblanc Princess Grace de Monaco Pétales de Rose earrings and bracelet on the Red Carpet at "The Captive" Film Premiere. 

This year’s Palme d’Or was made in Fairminded gold. In addition, the luxury brand used American fashion model, Karlie Kloss to unveil a new addition to its Green Carpet high jewelry collection, launched a year ago using Fairminded gold. Kloss wore earrings that feature a lacework of Fairmined white gold and 13.49 carats of pear-cut diamonds, with brilliant-cut and marquise-cut diamonds.

Zoe Saldana in de Grisogono rose gold Catene earrings set with white diamonds and a rose gold ring featuring white diamonds from the Onde Collection.

The company explained the program in great detail during the Baselworld watch and jewelry show in March where it unveiled the L.U.C Tourbillon QF Fairmined watch, the first watch in the world made of Fairmined gold.

Sonia Rolland in Montblanc Princess Grace de Monaco Collection Pétales de Rose motif earrings, bracelet and six petals ring.

While Chopard held center stage at the 11-day festival, it was not alone. German luxury brand Montblanc dressed several European and American actors and models in its new Meisterstück Heritage Collection timepieces and Montblanc Princesse Grace de Monaco fine jewelry collection.

Arnold Schwarzenegger in U-1942 watch by U-Boat by Italo Fontana.

Another company long associated with Cannes, de Grisogono, the Swiss luxury jewelry and watch brand, adorned actress Zoe Saldana with a pair of rose gold Catene earrings set with white diamonds and a rose gold ring featuring white diamonds from the Onde Collection.

Antonio Banderas with Schwarzenegger wearing the Montblanc TimeWalker Chronograph steel and red gold.

Other jewelry and watch brands making their mark at Cannes included Carla Amorim, Jack Vartanian and U-Boat by Italo Fontana.

Rosario Dawson is seen again at Cannes, this time in red sapphire and black gold earrings by the Brazilian jewelry designer, Carla Amorim.

One of the most visible actors at Cannes was Rosario Dawson who was seen throughout the event wearing Montblanc, Carla Amorim and Jack Vartanian.

Christina Hendricks in Jack Vartanian Universe diamond ear climbers.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.