London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Oct 17, 2026

The Blingiest and Boldest Oscar Jewelry Moments of All Time

The Blingiest and Boldest Oscar Jewelry Moments of All Time

Diamonds-and rubies, emeralds, or pearls-are an Academy Awards attendee’s best friend.

Diamonds-and rubies, emeralds, or pearls-are an Academy Awards attendee’s best friend. Nothing completes a look like the right jewelry, and on Oscar night, celebrities have always found unique ways to shine. Ninety years of history have meant countless impressive gems, each with stories of their own-here, a look back at the most daring, expensive, innovative, and influential stones to ever grace the ceremony that display all the magic of exceptional jewelry.



1940, Vivien Leigh in Van Cleef & Arpels


When Vivien Leigh collected her Best Actress statuette in 1940, she did it in true old Hollywood fashion. Dressed in a custom dress by Irene Lentz Gibbons, MGM’s costume supervisor whose private salon at legendary Wilshire Boulevard department store, Bullocks, was a favorite of the era’s stars, Leigh accessorized with a good luck charm from then-husband Laurence Olivier. Her Van Cleef & Arpel’s aquamarine pendant had been a gift from Olivier after she’d wrapped production on Gone with the Wind. Though it could also be worn as a brooch, Leigh kept the oversized statement piece on a long gold chain during the ceremony.



1970, Elizabeth Taylor in the Taylor-Burton Diamond


No discussion of iconic Hollywood jewelry would be complete without a nod to Elizabeth Taylor. The cinema icon’s collection of baubles was expansive, but her most impressive piece was the Taylor-Burton diamond, a 68-carat stone purchased by Taylor and then husband Richard Burton in 1969. Formerly a ring, the oversized diamond was refashioned into a dazzling necklace that the actress wore to the 42nd Academy Awards.



1982, Liberace in the Barron Hilton Piano Ring


Most celebrities borrow the jewels they wear to the Oscars, but Liberace wasn’t most celebrities. As he was preparing to appear at 1982’s telecast, the pianist needed only to look through his expansive collection of faux and fine jewelry and pull out a few baubles. The best among them was the outsized grand piano ring given to him by hotel heir Barron Hilton. The grandfather of Paris and Nicky, Hilton ran his family’s hotel chain during Liberace’s residency at the Las Vegas Hilton in the 1970s. To honor the star and the success of their partnership, Hilton gifted Liberace with an 18K gold miniature piano detailed with 260 diamonds. Accurate down to its moveable piano lid, it was a fitting tribute to the entertainer and his aesthetic.



1986, Audrey Hepburn


On hand to present the awards for achievement in costume design, Audrey Hepburn dazzled into a custom pink gown by Hubert de Givenchy. The bold color was complemented by a pair of chandelier earrings featuring a mix of precious stones set in gold.



1991, Madonna in Harry Winston


Madonna was in Marilyn Monroe mode when she made a special appearance at the 1991 Oscars with Michael Jackson. Pop’s king and queen both accessorized with massive diamonds-his brooch as bolero moment is iconic in itself—but Madonna’s outsize bling proved record-breaking. With more than $20 million worth of Harry Winston jewels on her person, she brought the “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” theme to life.



1997, Salma Hayek in Cartier


It just takes one person to start a trend, and when Salma Hayek arrived at the Oscars in a diamond tiara, it kick-started a revival in hair jewelry. “Everybody told me that I was crazy and ridiculous, and it was going to be pretentious,” Hayek told Vogue earlier this year. “I wore the tiara anyway, and you know what happened? Everybody started wearing a tiara after that.”



1998, Celine Dion in Asprey & Garrard


Anyone who has seen Titanic knows the film’s pricey Heart of the Ocean necklace is a major plot point. The onscreen prop was a fake created with cubic zirconias, but for the 1998 Oscars, Celine Dion wore a re-creation by London jewelers Asprey & Garrard. Set in platinum with a 171-carat Ceylon sapphire and 103 diamonds, it eventually wound up in a private collection, instead of at the bottom of the ocean.



1999, Gwyneth Paltrow in Harry Winston


Most Oscar night jewelry is returned to the respective house after it’s loaned out. But the piece Gwyneth Paltrow wore to pick up her Academy Award for Shakespeare in Love proved so meaningful that the actress’s father, Bruce, bought it for her as a keepsake.



2000, Cate Blanchett in Cynthia Bach


Even in 2000, Cate Blanchett was ahead of the curve. The actress arrived in the perfect combination of dress and jewels, with a Jean Paul Gaultier black gown accented by Cynthia Bach’s bangles and body chain. Inspired by traditional jewelry from the Indian subcontinent, Bach created an impressive array of golden accents.



2006, Keira Knightley in Bulgari


Great vintage always has a story, and the ’60s-era Bulgari necklace that Keira Knightley chose for her first trip to the Oscars came with a royal pedigree. Owned initially by Princess Soraya of Iran, the intricate 18-carat yellow-gold choker detailed with sapphires, emeralds, and rubies is among the most striking to ever grace the ceremony.



2008, Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott


Repeat attendee Nicole Kidman has worn more than her share of great jewels at the Oscars, but the sautoir-style necklace she wore to the 2008 ceremony takes the cake. Designed by Kidman’s then stylist, the late L’Wren Scott, the handcrafted chains with their drip effect required 7,500 diamonds and 6,200 hours of labor.



2010, Kate Winslet in Tiffany and Co.


The Art Deco lines of Kate Winslet’s stunning pendant reference Tiffany and Co.’s history, but the Oscar winner’s bling was created especially for her. Anchored by a unique set of yellow diamonds, the piece was later valued at $2.5 million.



2017, Ruth Negga in Irene Neuwirth


The ruby-flecked tiara, earrings, and ring worn by Ruth Negga on Oscar night may have had an old-world flair, but they were created especially for the occasion. Designed after conversations between Irene Neuwirth and Negga’s stylist, Karla Welch, the pieces were meant to echo the regal feel of royal jewels while adding a few modern twists. Case in point: The epic headband featured 146 carats worth of Mozambican rubies of different shapes and sizes, set in blackened white gold for contrast instead of the traditional platinum or yellow gold.



2018, Gal Gadot in Tiffany and Co.


Worthy of Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot’s astonishing Tiffany Blue Book collection necklace featured 61 carats worth of aquamarines and more than a thousand diamonds to boot. The Art Deco–inspired piece brought added color and vibrancy to Gadot’s silver Givenchy look and proved instantly iconic.



2019, Lady Gaga in Tiffany and Co.


The Oscars ended the decade on a high note with Lady Gaga’s revival of the Tiffany diamond. Only worn by three people-Gaga, Audrey Hepburn, and socialite Mrs. Mary Whitehouse-the 128-carat piece is valued at more than $30 million. Dollar signs aside, the fantastic yellow diamond was the cherry on top of a stellar night that saw the star take home her first Academy Award.



2019, Rachel Weisz in Cartier


The best fashion moments seamlessly merge old and new. In 2019 Rachel Weisz complimented the futurism of the Givenchy Haute Couture gown with vintage Cartier pieces from 1903. Two matching diamond and platinum brooches were combined to create Weisz’s headband, creating an arresting final touch that elevated her entire look.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Russell Brand Trial Begins at Southwark Crown Court
UK Parliament to Debate Climate Risks and Council Tax Following Public Petitions
Department for Transport Demands Safety Audits Following Regional Rail Disruptions
House of Lords Scrutinizes Amendments to Armed Forces Bill
Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales Criticize Post-Brexit Funding Framework
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Middle East Military Support Under Parliamentary Scrutiny
NHS Leaders Warn of Severe Pressure on Hospitals from Winter Virus Outbreaks
Retailers and Business Groups Lobby Chancellor for Relief from Rising Employment Taxes
City of London Taskforce Urges Radical Reform to Prevent UK From Becoming "Incubator Nation"
Bank of England Officials Signal Potential November Interest Rate Hike
Institute for Fiscal Studies Warns of £35 Billion Funding Gap in Upcoming Autumn Budget
IMF Upgrades UK Growth Forecast to 1.3% for 2026
Former UUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex offences
UK ministers adopt independent commission blueprint to fast-track AI in the NHS
Labour leadership orders local councillors to end power-sharing deals with Green Party
UK government considers regulatory intervention in proposed Sky and ITV merger
Environment Agency declares severe drought across six English regions as reservoirs hit critical lows
NHS England issues new guidance prohibiting transgender women from female-only wards
Norwegian teenager sentenced to 20 years for part of Iran-backed assassination plot in Britain
UK government threatens complete visa ban on Eritrea over refusal to accept deportees
UK Treasury lobbies UBS to move global headquarters to London amid banking sector tax threats
MI5 Warns of Growing Russian Sabotage and Espionage Threats Across Britain
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Plans Brussels Talks to Renegotiate Post-Brexit Trade Deal
MI5 Warns of Rising Russian and Iranian Sabotage Threats to British Military Facilities
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties as MI5 Reveals Russian Brexit Interference
UK Orders Security Review Following Reported Killing of Former Politician Ann Widdecombe
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets German Chancellor Merz to Strengthen European Security Ties
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
×