May 2, 2023—There was an ocean of pearls on the red carpet for the Met Gala celebrating the exhibition “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” It was to be expected with all the pearls the designer used in his Chanel collections. Others tapped into Karl’s personal sense of style wearing sunglasses at night, fingerless gloves and a clutch of rings.
There were also those who went further in their study of Lagerfeld’s jewelry sensibility. As anyone deep in the jewelry woods knows, Lagerfeld collected bold Belperron baubles and would have loved Julia Garner’s jewels. Rihanna, who walked the carpet long after others had gone inside, tossed on a Maltese Cross cuff by Fulco di Verdura who originally made the signature item for Coco Chanel. Variations on the jewel appeared in countless Lagerfeld for Chanel collections over the years.
A few elevated their attire to extraordinary heights with very important and impressive diamonds reflecting a Lagerfeldian level of luxury. And there were those who chose jewels that were so pitch perfect—in a way you just know Karl would approve—they had to be included here.
Find out more about the best jewels at the Met Gala in the roundup below.
I was hoping someone would turn up in the new setting for the 128-carat historic yellow Tiffany Diamond, but Dua Lipa did the next best thing.
She wore the 200-carat white diamond Tiffany had cut in the proportions of the Tiffany Diamond.
The gem is set in a platinum and diamond necklace in the style of the diamond necklace made for The Tiffany Diamond in 2012 in honor of the firm’s 175th anniversary.
If you had any question about the Met Gala’s importance, the Bulgari jewel Priyanka Chopra Jonas wore certainly proved it is recognized internationally in some ways more so than even the Oscars.
The custom High Jewelry diamond and platinum laurel wreath-style necklace featured the 11.16-carat Fancy Vivid Blue Bulgari Laguna Blu Diamond which is going to be sold at Sotheby’s in Geneva this month and is expected to achieve an excess of $25-million.
Sotheby’s proclaims, “The Bulgari Laguna Blu diamond, at the center of the necklace, is a gemstone like no other, boasting an exceptional color saturation and a vibrant oceanic blue.
Initially mounted by Bulgari as a ring in 1970, the 11.6-carat Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond is the largest blue diamond by Bulgari to be offered for sale.”
Lily Collins wore the Claustra Voyage Recommencé High Jewelry necklace by Cartier.
The jewel is composed of platinum, onyx, diamonds.
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna know how to make an entrance. Long after the red carpet seemed over at around 10pm local time, they turned up and shut it down. Both wore fingerless gloves à la Karl.
Rocky acknowledged Lagerfeld’s love of Scotland and the one time he wore a long kilt on the runway in 2004. He had on an array of diamonds from Boucheron. And a statement pin in his tie which was right on point.
Rihanna accessorized her Valentino creation covered in camellias and a Bulgari’s High Jewelry necklace in platinum, diamonds and Akoya cultured pearls.
On her wrist Rihanna sported a Maltese cross cuff from Verdura’s 80th anniversary collection. The jewelry design is an icon of the history of Chanel and something Karl clearly loved.
No one does their homework like Riri and Rocky.
Julia Garner accessorized her Gucci gown that echoed Karl’s crisp high collared white shirts with bold Belperron Couronne cuffs accented with emeralds.
The actress also had on Belperron Corne Earclips.
Among all the pearl looks at the Met Gala, Lizzo stood out as perfection. It was a custom ensemble from Chanel.
The layers of costume jewelry felt just right. It was neither too much nor too little.
Salma Hayek accessorized her Gucci red patent leather gown with costume pearl shoulder details with real pearl statement jewels by Lorraine Schwartz on her lobes.
The earrings featured 20-carat diamonds and South Sea pearls. On her hand she wore a 35-carat diamond ring.
Serena Williams, who is pregnant with her second child, walked the red carpet with her husband Alexis Ohanian and wore Tiffany Paloma Picasso and Ziegfeld Collection pearl necklaces and Victoria earrings.
Cara Delevingne did a little Karl cosplay in a powdered hairdo, white shirt dress and fingerless black leather gloves.
Her jewels seem to be silver designs from Chrome Hearts, another favorite jewelry destination for Mr. Lagerfeld.
Model Irina Shayk acknowledge Karl’s love of Japanese designers in a Yohji Yamamoto gown with a camellia at the center of the neckline.
His appreciation of diamonds and chains was expressed in a stunning Ana Kouri triple strand custom necklace.
Everything Everywhere All At Once star Ke Huy Quan was also in the dress-like-Karl camp.
The jewels he wore to create the look came from Fred Leighton.
Naomi Campbell looked stylish and serene in a sari inspired Chanel gown and diamond jewelry from the Chanel collection.
Amanda Seyfried wore a tiered Oscar de la Renta gown and a Cartier Agrafe rose gold and diamond necklace that echoed the draping.
Jodie Comer wore a pair of vintage blue enamel snake bracelets from Fred Leighton with a beaded Burberry gown.
Florence Pugh made a dramatic entrance with a buzzcut and feather headdress and black and white Valentino gown that paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld’s work at Chanel. Her stacks of diamond bracelets are Tiffany.
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