The Cannes Film Festival: Jewellery I Would Love to See on the Red Carpet

May 15, 2020

By Katerina Perez

14 min read

One of the events that I look forward to every year is the two weeks of wonder and glamour that is the Cannes Film Festival. I find myself looking not just at the jewellery, but also paying close attention to how it works in combination with the outfits worn by the celebrities on the red carpet, looking always for new ways to wear jewellery as well as the emergence of new trends. Yes, 2020 is rapidly passing without this major annual event, but this is no reason to ignore the jewellery masterpieces that I would have at least liked to have seen on the red carpet.

Starting more than ten years ago at the 60th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, Chopard became the official Festival partner and since then has been annually preparing its Red Carpet collection of high jewellery – and believe me when I say that it is a collection worthy of adorning the world’s most famous movie stars. Last year, the theme was love. For 2020, the brand’s Co-President & Artistic Director – Caroline Scheufele – has decided to devote novelties to the theme of nature. The first to leave the workshop were the Owl jewellery watch with two dials instead of eyes surrounded by multi-colored sapphires. In addition, one can find a new version of Orchid earrings with sapphires and tsavorites, and also Ginkgo earrings adorned with pear-shaped emeralds, tsavorites and yellow sapphires. As if this all wasn’t enough, we also find gorgeous diamond Polar Bear and Seal rings in the collection.

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Owl watch with diamonds and multi-colour sapphires in white gold

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Owl watch with diamonds and multi-colour sapphires in white gold

 Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Orchid earrings with opals, sapphires, tourmalines and tsavorites in titanium

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Orchid earrings with opals, sapphires, tourmalines and tsavorites in titanium

 Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Polar Bear ring with diamonds, onyx and sapphires in white gold

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Polar Bear ring with diamonds, onyx and sapphires in white gold

 Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Ginkgo ring with emeralds, tsavorites and yellow sapphires in titanium

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Ginkgo ring with emeralds, tsavorites and yellow sapphires in titanium

 Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Seal ring with diamonds, onyx and sapphires in white gold

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Seal ring with diamonds, onyx and sapphires in white gold

 Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Ginkgo earrings with emeralds, tsavorites and yellow sapphires in titanium

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Ginkgo earrings with emeralds, tsavorites and yellow sapphires in titanium

 Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Polar Bear ring with diamonds, onyx and sapphires in white gold

Chopard Red Carpet 2020 collection Polar Bear ring with diamonds, onyx and sapphires in white gold

The famous brands on show never cease to amaze with their spectacular creations, which, without question, earn their place on the beautiful celebrities in attendance. But I would personally love to see more masterpieces created by very talented designers and brands that don’t often get the spotlight on the page of glossy magazines. I am sure you agree that many niche designers are able to offer pieces that are truly amazing feats of creative ingenuity and are able to cause furor on any red carpet.

Mike Joseph necklace with feathers, pearls and diamonds in white gold

Mike Joseph necklace with feathers, pearls and diamonds in white gold

Imagine how spectacular a Palmiero bird brooch with a pavé of brightly coloured sapphires, rubies, spinels and diamonds would look, or perhaps a luscious Feng J. flower with coloured precious stones set in the brand’s unique ‘Floating Set’ technique. Stenzhorn‘s Ovidio necklace is reminiscent of precious sparkling fabric thanks to the use of an invisible stone setting. Decorated with pink feathers, pearls and diamonds, the Flamingo choker by Mike Joseph is the perfect example of how to make an indelible impression by wearing just one precious jewel.

The Cannes red carpet

The Cannes red carpet

Dreamboule‘s cocktail rings – which hide floating specks of gold as well as scenes in miniature beneath a sapphire dome – would no doubt have attracted the attention of not only the press, but also the other stars in attendance. The opening rings by Alessio Boschi would surely have been much the same; the designer’s work allows one to take out a separate pendant or discover another stunning surprise inside a ring.

Margot McKinney jewellery photographed by Simon Martner

Margot McKinney jewellery photographed by Simon Martner

No red carpet is complete without sumptuous earrings, which work to frame the face of the wearer as well as being visually striking in their own right. Generally speaking, statement mismatched earrings look very dramatic on the ears, and there are many of those among unique creations by Margot McKinney. Another more unconventional approach to jewellery for the ears is using slices of precious stones, which take the form of thin plates surrounded by gems. This is what the American designer Nina Runsdorf has done, and it works quite brilliantly. Ear cuffs, solo earrings, and earrings that drop below the shoulders – all of the types of enchanting and ultra-stylish earrings can be found in the collection of the Japanese brand Tasaki. Season after season, it presents truly innovative designs with what has always been considered a classic – pearls.

Tasaki jewelley suite with pearls and diamonds in white gold

Tasaki jewelley suite with pearls and diamonds in white gold

Bracelets are another precious accessory without which I simply cannot envisage not only the Cannes Film Festival, but really any star-studded event. Readers, do you think a 93 carat moonstone surrounded by emeralds, diamonds and quartz beads on a Boghossian cuff would attract much attention? Absolutely! What about a delicate combination of opals, pearls and white enamel that can be found in Sarah Ho’s Selene stunning luxury bracelet? Certainly! Another masterpiece worn about the wrist that I would like to see on the red carpet is the NUUN bracelet from the Tuwaiq collection, which is decorated with diamonds and a rare stone – howlite – with an intriguing marble effect.

The Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival

 The Cannes Film Festival

The Cannes Film Festival

The creation of jewellery that can make a lasting impression on only the most sophisticated audience has long ceased to be the prerogative of the eminent brands. What’s more, jewellery is no longer solely a status symbol. It is instead increasingly a means by which one can express oneself and demonstrate one’s own style. Therefore, I would like to conclude this article by urging all stylists to emphasise the individuality of their famous clients not only with spectacular outfits, but also with more unconventional approaches to jewellery.

Palmiero

Palmiero

Bird of Paradise brooch with multi-colour sapphires, rubies, spinels and diamonds in white gold

Messika

Messika

Equalizer necklace with 17ct pear diamond and accenting diamonds in white gold

Margot McKinney

Margot McKinney

Earrings with spinels and diamonds in white gold

Ara Vartanian

Ara Vartanian

Earrings with diamonds and tourmalines in white gold

Boghossian

Boghossian

Cuff with 93ct moonstone, emeralds, diamonds and quartz beads in white gold

Alessio Boschi

Alessio Boschi

The Golestan Palace secret ring with multi-gems, turquoise and enamel in white and rose gold

Harakh

Harakh

Peacock grand earrings with diamonds in white gold

Amrapali

Amrapali

Earrings with Paraiba tourmaline, diamonds and agate in white gold

Alessio Boschi

Alessio Boschi

Del Fiore necklace with brown diamonds in rose gold

Feng J.

Feng J.

Icy Green Dahlia brooch with Colombian emeralds, double rose-cut purple and yellow sapphires, tanzanites, tsavorites, and diamonds in white gold

Tasaki

Tasaki

Earring with Akoya pearls and diamonds in white gold

Tasaki

Tasaki

Bracelet with pearls in yellow gold

Dreamboule

Dreamboule

Ring with rubies and diamonds in yellow gold, mother of pearl and sapphire glass

Margot McKinney

Margot McKinney

Bow earrings with diamonds, rubellite and green tourmalines in yellow and white gold

Dickson Yewn

Dickson Yewn

Ring with diamonds in yellow and white gold

VMAR

VMAR

Orion &Auriga earrings with fancy cut pink tourmalines of 17.50ct and 17.60ct, and diamonds in pink gold and titanium

Sarah Ho

Sarah Ho

Selene cuff with opals, diamonds and white enamel in antique yellow gold

Jewellery Theatre

Jewellery Theatre

Magnolia necklace with pearls, diamonds, pink sapphires and tsavorites in yellow gold

Vhernier

Vhernier

Pirouette ring with diamonds in black toned white gold

Theo Fennell

Theo Fennell

Ring with green beryl , sapphires and diamonds in yellow, white and rose gold

Neha Dani

Neha Dani

Aialik cuff with moonstones and diamonds in white gold

Rubeus

Rubeus

Imperial earrings with 18.55ct and 11.31ct alexandrites, accenting alexandrites, spinels, diamonds and rock crystal in white gold and titanium

NUUN

NUUN

Tuwaiq cuff with howlite and diamonds in rose gold

Nina Runsdorf

Nina Runsdorf

Earrings with diamonds slices in enamel and white gold

Rosior

Rosior

Clutch with multi-gemstones and diamonds in yellow gold and silver

Stenzhorn

Stenzhorn

Ovidio necklace with sapphires and diamonds in white gold

Feng J.

Feng J.

Icy Pink Dahlia brooch with 16.28ct moonstone, double rose cut pink sapphires, blue sapphires and diamonds in white gold

Tasaki

Tasaki

Earrings with pearls in gold

Miseno

Miseno

Cuff with sapphires and diamonds in white gold

Rosior

Rosior

Cuff with black diamonds and multi-gems in yellow gold

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