Super Styling: The Best High Jewellery of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

Welcome to the French Riviera, where the weather is warm, and the jewels are exceptional! Now that we’ve had a chance to digest this year’s Cannes Film Festival, it’s time for our in-depth run-down of the most fabulous creations on display. Something that really stood out this year was a fascination with necklaces, especially large statement pieces, chokers, and layered tennis-style rows of diamonds that envelop the décolletage. Of course, there was a smattering of coloured stones, too, in addition to pearls worn romantically across the shoulders (here’s looking at you, Cate Blanchett) and another ‘Elsa Jin Moment’ courtesy of model Isabeli Fontana. Let’s take a closer look at one of the world’s most iconic high jewellery playgrounds.

This year’s Cannes Film Festival took place from May 14-25, which means there are nearly two whole weeks of jewellery to trawl through. And it’s not just the official red carpet looks, but the many after-parties, premieres and charity galas that happen during the Festival that add to the fashion spectacle. 

Larger than Life Necklaces

This year’s biggest trend was undoubtedly neckwear – and we specifically say ‘neckwear’ rather than ‘necklaces’! These are massive-scale, chest-covering blankets of diamonds in all shapes and sizes, often accompanied by earrings in a way that defies the less-is-more rule. Someone who really stood out is Thai actress Araya Hargate, who opted for the Boucheron Flocon Impérial necklace with a 5.20-carat cushion-cut diamond and ice shards of rock crystal paved with diamonds, all set in white gold. This piece, which hails from the Hiver Impérial High Jewellery collection from 2017, was worn alongside a matching pair of earrings. In fact, the two pieces were so large they knocked against each other as the model walked the red carpet! 

Next, supermodel Taylor Hill wore a boldly proportioned bib necklace from Messika’s Beyond The Light High Jewellery collection. Dubbed the Imperial Move necklace, the piece really accentuated her long, slender proportions (supported by a pixie-cropped haircut) and worked well with a series of modestly proportioned ear clips and rings. We also adored the look worn by Saudi entrepreneur Yara Alnamlah, who showcased the Déferlante earrings, L’Épi de Blé de Chaumet ring, and the Blé (Wheat) High Jewellery necklace from the Le Jardin de Chaumet High Jewellery collection, set with a 10.25-carat emerald-cut diamond. 

And the looks just kept on coming, with Swedish model Elsa Hosk looking sensational in a Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Leaves necklace, crafted in platinum and 18k yellow gold with 1,250 round brilliant cut diamonds totalling over 43 carats. We were also impressed with actress Selena Gomez and her three-dimensional Diamond Swan necklace by Bulgari. Where the two white and pink diamond swans meet, there’s a 20.08-carat diamond drop! Speaking of Bulgari, the brand used the timing of the Cannes Film Festival to unveil its new Aeterna High Jewellery collection in Rome, led by the likes of Anne Hathaway and Priyanka Chopra. This offering includes a plethora of large, statement necklaces, which only cements this trend as ‘one to watch’. 

Diamonds and Pearls

Many celebs stepped out at the Cannes Film Festival wearing fabulous, albeit smaller, arrays of diamonds and pearls. We appreciated the refreshingly girly approach taken by Margaret Qualley, who wore a Chanel High Jewellery diamond headband and diamond earrings. Actress and director Greta Gerwig, who was this year’s Cannes Jury President, wore a host of Chopard creations from start to finish, notably chandelier and drop earrings. It’s also worth remembering that Chopard has been an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival since 1998! The brand’s Instagram is awash with sensational jewellery looks from this year’s event… we’d never be able to cover them all! However, if we had to pick one, it would be actress Marina Ruy Barbosa in a green gold ballgown by Miss Sohee and a suite of pear-shaped light yellow diamonds and colourless diamonds. 

Elsewhere, Bridgerton star Simone Ashley looked sensational in the Chaumet Soir de Fête necklace, paired with earrings in white gold and yellow diamonds. If we had to pick a micro-trend from this year’s Festival, it would be yellow diamond earrings (especially emerald cuts), which were seen on Bella Hadid, Chinese actress Liya Tong, and Uma Thurman, among others. We also saw some great diamond-and-pearl looks, including Michelle Yeoh wearing the Mikimoto ‘Half & Half’ collection necklace and a matching cocktail ring, quickly followed by a second Mikimoto look that is likely from the new High Jewellery collection… although we will have to wait to find out!

Singer Kelly Rowland turned to Tasaki for her Cannes looks, including the Corset necklace and ring, Aurora earrings and Balance earrings and rings. The Corset necklace is crafted in 18k white gold, diamonds and Akoya pearls in a way that laces up at the front and adds a lovely feminine touch. More great Tasaki looks emerged on French actress Bérénice Bejo and model Coco Rocha, who wore a sensational calla lily dress by Cheney Chan. 

Gorgeous Colours

Coloured gemstones managed to hold their own among a sea of diamonds at the Cannes Film Festival. French actress Noémie Merlant wore a playful pair of Cartier earrings bursting with grape-like meads of turquoise and amethyst; Emma Stone wore a delightful chunky cuff bracelet that we presume is new season Louis Vuitton; Indonesian actress Raline Shah wore gorgeous Chopard emeralds about her neck; Lily Gladstone wowed in an emerald-rich Boucheron Lierre de Paris question mark necklace, and Eva Longoria looked sensational in the Ghirlanda collection necklace by Pasquale Bruni with white and grey diamonds and rose-coloured morganite drops. 

However, we must come back to Chopard yet again because it really did knock others out of the park with its creative use of colour this year! Actress Bella Thorne wore a Chopard necklace set with a 123.24-carat pear-shaped rubellite and 65.24 carats of diamonds, set in platinum, which was last worn by Jane Fonda to the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. Eva Green looked fantastic in a pair of earrings with pink, purple and deep red gems from the new Contes de Fées collection; Yasmine Sabri was elegant in rubies and diamonds, and Diane Kruger excelled in diamonds. Finally, who can forget Demi Moore (ageing backwards at 61 years old) in the Chopard Precious Lace Paraiba tourmaline necklace with a central mineral weighing 34.63 carats? She later wore the Chopard Orchid earrings in pink titanium, pink sapphires, opals, and white ceramic, and she was accessorised with one of the smallest dogs we have ever seen! 

Vintage Beauty 

Dipping into the archives for red carpet events is nothing new for big brands, but we wanted to mention two vintage looks in particular, especially those worn by 57-year-old Salma Hayek and 62-year-old Julianne Moore. The former opted for a Serpent long necklace in coral, onyx and yellow gold by Boucheron (1974), as well as the Tortue necklace in yellow gold, coral, wood and diamonds (1987). In contrast, Julianne Moore dipped into the Cartier vault for a Panthère necklace in yellow gold, featuring delicate chains suspended between two three-dimensional big cat heads. Both have a 1970s flair, so perhaps we are about to see a revival! 

The Beauty of Age

Perhaps you’re wondering why we specifically mentioned the ages of Salma Hayek, Julianne Moore and Demi Moore. Well, this year’s Cannes Film Festival’s best-dressed and best-accessorised list was dominated by women who are over 50. We’ve never needed proof that age is just a number, but it would have been remiss of us not to spotlight the women who have had long and illustrious careers and still draw all the attention on the red carpet. Case in point is 55-year-old Cate Blanchett, who continued her stellar high jewellery styling streak from the 2024 BAFTAs in a string of repurposed metals, pearls and precious stones by Louis Vuitton draped across her shoulders. We are told the continuous loop was crafted from 49 white Akoya pearls, 33 grey Tahitian pearls, and 633 diamonds, all removed from previous high jewellery creations and recycled. 

Next, there’s 86-year-old Jane Fonda, who previewed the latest High Jewellery collection by Pomellato on the red carpet. Forged in 18k rose gold, the necklace is set with 2,924 diamonds, the bracelet in 1,139 diamonds, and the earrings sparkle with 500 diamonds. Fifty-five-year-old Supermodel Helena Christensen also previewed a necklace from the same collection, this time set with a 10-carat rectangular-cut indicolite, 270 further indicolites, and 1,928 diamonds. Another highlight was Meryl Streep, who will turn 78 in a few weeks’ time, wearing a pair of rock crystal and diamond pendant earrings by Hanut Singh and a 20th-century gold and diamond ring, both provided by Fred Leighton. 

And has anyone looked cooler (or perhaps that should be warmer?) than 71-year-old French actress Isabelle Huppert in a white fluffy Balenciaga gown, black sunglasses and a cacophony of De Beers diamonds, including three DB Classic Eternity Line necklaces with a total weight of 79.78 carats, the Arpeggia Three Lines necklace with 19.09 carats, and the Snow Dance necklace with 8.92 carats. She also wore seven De Beers rings, with a carat weight teetering around 36 carats!

The Elsa Jin Moment

Last but not least, would it be Cannes without a collaboration between Brazilian model Isabeli Fontana and high jewellery artist Elsa Jin!? The former wore the Mozi brooch with a Tahitian peacock green-black pearl of 34.99 carats on her lapel, bursting with 221.07 carats of black diamonds, 7.07 carats of grey diamonds, and 1.8 carats of emeralds, in addition to the Beauty brooch in her hair. This latter piece orbits around a 63.86-carat Melo pearl in a beautiful orange hue, combined with 85.09 carats of sapphires, 103.76 carats of pink sapphires, and 77.39 total carats of white and yellow diamonds. What a way to WOW the closing ceremony! 

So, what did you make of the Cannes Film Festival this year? In our view, it was a strong year for noticeable high jewellery – pieces that are boldly proportioned, stand out in photographs, and form the basis of a look rather than being last-minute additions. We are looking forward to seeing some of the new collections that were teased on the red carpet, too, and as soon as we have the details, we will share them with you, too.