Making a Statement: Striking Jewels of the Cannes Film Festival 2023

Let’s celebrate because this year’s Cannes Film Festival was awash with incredible statement jewellery creations from Boucheron, Chopard, Chaumet, Bulgari, and so many more! As always, we’ve seen some extra-large diamonds, colourful gemstones and a surprisingly avant-garde concoction of experimental pieces, from ear-climbing creations to eye-catching neckwear. Here are some of the best-dressed celebs making the world of jewellery very proud indeed…

The 76th annual Cannes Film Festival took place from May 16-27, 2023, and it didn’t disappoint on the high jewellery front! Guests appeared to have fun with jewels, injecting colour and charisma, after extraordinarily diamond-centric showings at the Met Gala and the Academy Awards. Four key trends emerged in the South of France: statement necklaces, collarbone skimming diamond necklaces, unusual earpieces and striking coloured stone earrings. So, let’s look at the best examples of each… 

Statement Necklaces

Rarely stepping a toe out of place is actress Michelle Yeoh, who wowed in a Balenciaga haute couture gown accessorised with the Grosgrain necklace from the Boucheron Paris Vu Du 26 High Jewellery Collection of 2019. The piece is crafted from mobile ‘tassels’ of malachite and onyx, dipped in diamonds and completed with 18k white gold. And speaking of Boucheron, what would the Cannes Film Festival be without a tantalising sneaky peek at the upcoming High Jewellery collection… a kind of hidden-in-plain-sight preview for the team at KaterinaPerez.com! Alexa Chung wore a futuristic necklace with bubble-like elements accentuated with diamonds, while Saudi actress Mila Al Zahrani wore a floral-inspired ‘question mark’ shaped necklace that has long been a signature of the Maison. French actress Virginie Ledoyen also wore this same style – the Swan Question Mark necklace – set with a 3.59-carat Colombian emerald. You can look to the 2020 Signature High Jewellery collection for more examples. 

Further examples of statement necklaces were visible every day of the Festival, including Sofia Carson, who created her Damiani Sophia necklace in collaboration with the brand. It is made in 18k white gold with around 80 carats of white diamonds. In addition, German model Lorena Rae wowed in the Chaumet Sous le Soleil necklace from the Ondes et Merveilles High Jewellery collection, set with an 18.26-carat pear-shaped green tourmaline, plus a matching Chaumet ring.

Messika enjoyed many moments in the spotlight this year, notably with Spanish actress Paz Vega (wearing the Messika Move Imperial High Jewellery bib necklace) and Lebanese actress Laila Abdallah. The latter wore the Divine Enigma High Jewellery necklace, ring and earrings, the Golden Shield lip jewel and the Move Iconica hand bracelet, all from the Beyond the Light High Jewellery collection. If we had to pick a favourite Messika look, though, it would be model Irina Shayk in a leather gown topped with the Akh-Ba-Ka necklace and its 33-carat diamond centre. This piece is set with 15 D-flawless diamonds, cut from a 110-carat rough stone purchased by Messika in March 2020.