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

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De Beers CEO Talks Up Forevermark

Diamond drop earrings by Slane with 9.24 round brilliant "exceptional" diamond and 8.14 round brilliant "exceptional" diamond set in platinum.

Diamond brands are not new and in the past decade the number of brands has grown substantially. The effectiveness of diamond branding has been debated in the jewelry industry for just as long. As opposed to an LVMH handbag or Gucci shoes where the workmanship and logos are easy to see; a diamond’s attributes are extremely difficult to see with the naked eye.

The recent announcement that the Hearts on Fire diamond brand is being acquired by the Hong Kong-based retail giant, Chow Tai Fook, for $150 million, shows that at least some brands have real value. The “world’s largest pure-play jeweler” said it will sell the diamond brand through its retail network of more than 2,000 points-of-sale in the Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China markets.

"Center of My Universe" fancy yellow diamond earrings by Premier Gem set in 18k white gold, 10.05 ctw.

Needless to say Philippe Mellier, De Beers Group CEO, is a believer in brands. Of course part of his job is to promote De Beers diamond brand, Forevermark. To do this he made a rare appearance in the US during Las Vegas jewelry week to help promote a new Forevermark marketing and advertising campaign for the US market.

“There is a demand for branded diamonds and discerning customers are looking for the very best with the name of De Beers behind it to certify that they are the shiniest, the best and what is very, very important is that they are responsibly sourced,” he said.

"PURE Collection" by Precision Set six prong solitaire ring set in platinum, 1.50 ctw.

Each Forevermark diamond has a unique identification number and the Forevermark icon inscribed on the diamond. The inscription is 1/5000th the depth of a human hair. Obviously it cannot be seen by the naked eye. All diamonds over a half-carat also comes with a Forevermark grading report.

“A discerning customer knows that the diamond he or she bought has been inscribed with the Forevermark and logo and the number that makes that diamond very unique and traceable,” he said.

All of the diamonds comes from nine De Beers mines (seven in southern Africa and two in Canada). De Beers’ hold over the diamond industry from mining to market isn’t what it used to be, but it still sells its diamonds through what are known as sights. Sightholders (diamond manufacturers and dealers) are approved by De Beers and are invited to buy diamond rough from its mines. The sightholders have the option of purchasing a box of rough without knowing what is inside based on a price set by De Beers.

"Center of My Universe" double cushion halo fancy yellow diamond ring by H.J. Namdar set in 18k white gold 4.27 ctw.

Among the sightholders are diamond companies that are approved to receive boxes with what Mellier described as containing the top five percent of rough diamonds from De Beers in terms of quality. The 30 diamond companies can do what they want with the rough, including the 5 percent gems. However, if they wish to sell them as Forevermark diamonds, either lose or in jewelry, they will need to return them to De Beers to have them inscribed.

“They are buying these boxes because they are suitable for Forevermark but they don’t always cut and polish them for Forevermark. They can do it for all of their applications,” he said. When they are cut and polished they send them to us for engraving and inscription and they all come with a Forevermark certificate.”

Diamond riviera necklace by Rahaminov set in platinum, 55.26 ctw.

The Forevermark brand was first launched in Hong Kong, China and Japan in 2008. It is now in 1,350 retail doors in 29 countries. Forevermark came to the US in 2011 and now is available at 400 doors. Mellier speaks with pride of the brand’s market reach and its recent milestone of inscribing its one millionth diamond. But sales are something that he didn’t discuss.

Mellier’s rare presence in the US was part of a big push by Forevermark during the annual tradeshows in Las Vegas. It included the first look of its latest US multi-media advertising campaign (“Promise”) that will launch in September and bringing in Waris Ahluwalia, a successful jewelry designer who is perhaps better known as an actor in Wes Anderson films. He designed a jewelry collection with Forevermark diamonds. In addition, throughout the Las Vegas jewelry trade fairs there were displays of Forevermark diamond jewelry created by the brand’s 30 or so diamond manufacturing partners. Mellier said Forevermark is looking for more partners.

Bridal jewelry will account for a little more than half of all Forevermark product, which I found surprising because De Beers pretty much invented the modern bridal jewelry industry in the US. Mellier said romance and emotion will continue to be the focus of the campaign and the jewelry but it will include milepost events throughout one’s life.

“We have all sorts of other jewelry because a lot of customers are repeats,” he said. “You only have one bridal but there are birthdays, wedding anniversaries and for this repeat purchase it’s obviously not bridal.”

The marketing and advertising campaign is designed to hit the target customer seven times, Mellier said. However, he admits that it will never be as prolific as its “A Diamond is Forever” campaign.

“We are unfortunately smaller than before,” he said. “At one time we had 80 percent of the world market. We are still by value the biggest company in the world with slightly more than a third of the world market so we spend according to our need and our volume. Forevermark is what we really want to focus on.”

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De Beers Uses Augmented Reality to Promote Forevermark

De Beers is allowing people all over the world to “virtually try on” a new jewelry collection that features its Forevermark diamond brand.

The mining giant has turned to augmented reality (AR) to make this possible. AR is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input. In this case people using their computers are able to see rings, earrings and pendants from the new Forevermark Millemoi collection sparkle in the light and to see how the jewelry will move as they virtually wear it in a seemingly live 3D environment. Those who wish to experience this can go to the “My Forevermark Fitting” website, see a demonstration of how it works and then download the software. Below is a video of the demonstration.

With a Webcam and a printer, users go to the website, print a page that has seemingly generic images (“symbols”) and cut the images as directed. On the computer screen the paper is transformed into a piece of jewelry. It’s as if the person is looking at a mirror and wearing the product.

“Not only does the experience reflect all the beauty of a Forevermark diamond; it is also a remarkable digital achievement to have jewelry moving with the wearer in real time.” says Stephen Lussier, Forevermark CEO.

My Forevermark Fitting is the first deployment of a 3D virtual try-on for Forevermark diamonds, the branded diamond in which De Beers say is the product of beauty, rarity and responsibly sourcing. The company says only one percent of its diamonds earn the Forevermark brand. Each diamond receives a microscopic inscription of the Forevermark icon and an individual number.

Forevermark worked with creative agency AKQA and 3D augmented reality company, Holition, to create the experience.

Jonathan Chippindale, Holition CEO, says this particular application of its AI technology is the first time the jewelry actually moves when worn.

“Not only is the user able to see real time light move throughout the Forevermark diamond, they are additionally able to imagine the way in which the unique articulated design will flow with their movement; a true reflection of the actual item of jewelry which comes to life when worn,” he said.

Of course, regular readers of this website will be familiar with Holition through its work with jewelry and watch companies Tacori, Boucheron, Tissot and, yes, De Beers.

The Forevermark Millemoi collection is currently available in China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Singapore and Malaysia.

The Oscars Red Carpet Jewelry Fashion

Amy Adams wins the “Red Carpet Bling” award wearing $1.35 million worth of emerald and diamond jewelry from Cartier, including a platinum and diamond emerald haute joaillerie secret watch bracelet worth $1.025 million. The bracelet features a 30.75 carat carved emerald and 575 diamonds (15.38 cts.). It’s matched with platinum and diamond ct. stud earrings worth $35,000.

An inability to sign into Twitter yesterday combined with wanting to actually watch the Oscars led to this listing of red carpet jewelry to appear a bit late. There was much blogging and tweeting last night and from my reading the vast majority of experts and passionate enthusiasts were happy with the selection of jewelry at last night’s event. I hope you enjoy this rundown of Oscar jewelry looks as much as you no doubt enjoyed the other excellent coverage on the Web.

Best Actress winner Natalie Portman accessorizes with Tiffany's jewelry, including a Tiffany rubellite tassel earrings set with rose-cut diamonds, an Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the yard bracelet. In addition, she wore diamond earrings as hair accessories and a diamond ring by Jean Schlumberger.

Portman's Black Swan co-star Mila Kunis wears Neil Lane diamond and platinum cocktail ring, line bracelet, bangle and earrings totaling 30 carats.

Supporting actress winner Melissa Leo in a Forevermark 2.05-ct. diamond drop earrings paired with a 10-ct. Forevermark diamond flower ring.

Anne Hathaway, in a $10 million, 94-ct. Tiffany Lucida Star Diamond necklace. The necklace was paired with 10-ct. diamond earrings from Tiffany, and a 5-ct. diamond ring.

Dame Helen Mirren on the red carpet in a vintage platinum necklace from 1907 set with diamonds and pearls and a large diamond and platinum bracelet from Cartier’s Archive Museum Collection.

Nicole Kidman in a 150-ct. 19th Century Riviere diamond necklace by Fred Leighton.

True Grit star Hailee Steinfeld wears platinum and 10-ct. diamond headband, and a platinum and diamond ring by Fred Leighton.

Sandra Bullock in diamond and platinum stud earrings with vintage platinum and diamond bangles by Harry Winston.

Gwyneth Paltrow in earrings, a brooch, and a ring from Louis Vuitton’s jewelry collection, L’Ame du Voyage.

Cate Blanchett in Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

Presenter Hilary Swank in Anna Hu jewels on the red carpet.

Best Actress nominee Michelle Williams wearing Harry Winston earrings.

Penelope Cruz in a 10-ct. pink sapphire ring with two carat diamonds by Chopard.

Reese Witherspoon in 35-ct. emerald drop earrings by Neil Lane.

Celine Dion in Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.

Marisa Tomei in Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire, diamond and emerald earrings.

Kate Winslet accessorizes wears Tiffany.