9 February 2024
Awards season sees an explosion of colour on the carpet
Coloured gemstones stepped into the limelight this year – at the Golden Globes, Emmys and Critics’ Choice Awards – with A-listers complementing their sumptuous gowns with candy-coloured jewels for a vibrant look.
Awards season is underway, and carrying on last year’s strong showing for rubies, emeralds and sapphires, the “Big Three” are once again sparkling on the red carpet. In stark contrast to the minimalist pure-white-diamond looks on display, there was an embrace of kaleidoscopic coloured gems, also including the likes of amethysts, topaz and coloured diamonds.
The season kicked off in style with the Golden Globes, held in Los Angeles in January. Here, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence made a splash in feather-shaped earrings by Tiffany & Co., featuring diamonds with unenhanced sapphires to complement her dark-blue Dior gown. Also at the Globes, and opting for Tiffany & Co., was singer Dua Lipa, whose gold and platinum necklace featured yellow beryl and topaz quartz alongside diamonds – an archive piece from 1962, showing the timeless appeal of coloured gems and a perfect match for her strapless dress by Schiaparelli. Meanwhile, Barry Keoghan, also donning Tiffany & Co., embellished his suit by Louis Vuitton with a circular gold brooch, and matched his ruby, pearl and gold chain necklace to his solo earring.
The most colourful statement of all at the Globes came from none other than daytime television queen Oprah Winfrey. The veteran presenter was resplendent in a purple Louis Vuitton column dress with colour-coordinated jewellery by Chopard, popping with amethysts and pink sapphires, alongside traditional diamonds.
At the Critics’ Choice Awards, also held in Los Angeles in January, Dua Lipa opted for colour again. This time, the edgy singer-songwriter matched her dress to her hair with an elegant blood-red Prada gown, accessorised again with Tiffany & Co. jewels. She dazzled in the label’s iconic Jean Schlumberger ‘Seven Leaves’ earrings featuring diamonds and rubellites, alongside a diamond ring, for a dramatic look. Flying the flag for emeralds at the Critics’ Choice Awards was actress Ali Wong, who wore jade-green Givenchy with a stunning diamond and emerald necklace from the Jared Atelier x Shy Dayan collaboration.
At the Emmys, colour once again reigned supreme. There was nominee Selena Gomez, glowing in a necklace from Tiffany & Co. boasting a whopping 35-carat morganite gem, as well as flame-haired beauty Jessica Chastain, who offset her yellow gown with a ring and earrings featuring Reza emeralds and yellow diamonds. Christina Ricci also went for emeralds – wearing a striking, plunging emerald and diamond tassel necklace and earrings by Martin Katz.
Coloured gemstones are on the march on this year’s red carpets. Let’s see what the Baftas and Oscars bring…