By Deborah Yonick, jewelry style expert
Hollywood's leading ladies made their fashion statements in color at the 68th Golden Globe Awards Jan. 16 in Beverly Hills. Two extremes of the spectrum reigned in fashion, with sherbet shades of pink and coral and jewel tones of emerald green and ruby red most popular in gowns favoring long-sleeves or strapless, backless or slit, with sparkles and sequins still trending. American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) members outfitted many celebs in a spectrum of colored gemstone jewelry.
Bold statement earrings and rings rocked the red carpet set with a range of color gemstones, including emerald, sapphire, tanzanite, tourmaline, topaz, turquoise, and quartz. Chandelier and teardrop style earrings, and big rings, often covering several fingers at a time, prevailed in designs with either multiple gems intertwined or a single luscious stone as the focal point.
Emeralds have become a red carpet favorite for Hollywood's elite like Angelina Jolie and Julianne Moore, who've flaunted large emerald earrings and rings at recent awards shows. Jolie blended emerald jewelry with an emerald Armani gown from a collection she designed with Los Angeles-based jeweler, Robert Procop, to benefit her charity, The Education Partnership for Children of Conflict.
Moore, too, sported emerald rings, side-by-side, from Bulgari's High Jewelry collection, a striking contrast next to her pink Lanvin gown. Emeralds also graced the lobes of Jennifer Lawrence, nominated for her star-making role in Winter's Bone, in pear and round cut drop earrings totaling 23 carats by Chopard.
Perhaps most prevalent were sapphires, adorning such stars as Jessalyn Gilsig of Glee, who shined in earrings made with 53 carats of multi-colored sapphire and a floral bracelet with 282-carats pink sapphires by Chopard. Several notables wore blue sapphire jewels from the American Gem Trade Association Collection, including Kate Flannery of The Office in earrings by Dallas Prince; Gale Anne Hurd, Golden Globe nominee and executive producer for The Walking Dead, a necklace from Shaftel Diamond Company and earrings from Michael C. Fina; and Mary Hart, host of Entertainment Tonight, a bracelet from Omi Gems, which nabbed Best Use of Platinum in the 2011 AGTA Spectrum Awards™.
Color Options
Preferences for shades of green and blue also drew divas to turquoise. A standout in this dreamy gem was the steamy Sofia Vergara of Modern Family, in a hot pink Vera Wang and David Webb jewelry including a Persian turquoise ring in yellow gold, platinum and diamonds. In Fred Leighton jewels, Nicole Kidman also rocked turquoise with black enamel in a stunning 1920s brooch.
Nancy Carell, wife of Steve Carell of The Office, embraced green in tourmaline earrings by Adeler Jewelers for the American Gem Trade Association Collection and a tsavorite garnet butterfly brooch by AGTA member Dena Kemp. While alternative blue hues were spied on Ghost Whisperer Jennifer Love Hewitt, who flashed three Chocolate Diamond and topaz rings from AGTA member Le Vian; and Bonnie Arnold, nominee and producer of How To Train Your Dragon, in tanzanite earrings by Yael Designs for the American Gem Trade Association Collection.
Several actresses also wore black onyx including Melissa Leo, Best Supporting Actress for the film, The Fighter in Neil Lane bracelets; and Nurse Jackie's Edie Falco in 1930s Fred Leighton earrings.
Gem jewels ran the gamut to include interesting colors like actress Kelly Osbourne wore dangling earrings and big ring of drusy-sprinkled geodes by Kimberley McDonald; Glee's Jenna Ushkowitz in kunzite chandelier earrings by Neil Lane; and Deborah Norville, host of Inside Edition, in morganite and rubellite earrings from Yael Designs for the American Gem Trade Association Collection and a yellow diamond cuff by Dena Kemp.
Rocking some quartz gems were Tron actress Olivia Wilde in yellow citrine ring and stud earrings by a Tiffany & Co., and Access Hollywood's Maria Menounos in smoky and pink quartz ring by the Brazilian brand, Brumani, as well as South Sea baroque pearl earrings by Adeler.
Pearls, too, adorned several actresses, including Michelle Williams in a 1920's natural pearl and diamond ring by Fred Leighton; and Sarah Hyland in golden pearl and diamond necklace by Mikimoto. Male stars also wore pearl stud sets and cufflinks like Mark Wahlberg and John Hamm, both in Neil Lane.
Color diamonds continue to captivate celebrity attention, with fancy yellow and pinks — as worn by such stars as Mandy Moore in Chopard jewels, Laurie Holden and Jane Fonda in Neil Lane, and Kathleen Robertson by Dena Kemp; and black diamonds as spied on Shaun Robinson of Access Hollywood in earrings by Bavna.
The fun continued long past the awards show as stars flocked to dozens of after parties awash in color like actresses Emma Roberts in a hexagon labradorite ring, and Busy Phillips in rainbow moonstone chandelier earrings, both by Irene Neuwirth. Partygoers Paris Hilton flashed Brumani quartz and diamond earrings; and teen sensation Selena Gomez rocked Trésor earrings with smoky quartz and golden rutile briolettes, and wild orchid fire opal ring by Arunashi.
The great thing about color gemstones is that there really is something for everyone, a smorgasbord of options to create your perfect red carpet style!
