10 Movies Where Jewelry Stole the Show

A little bit of screen bling is what actors (and viewers) love more than anything. For those who have an eye for jewellery they will know some film sparkles more than others. From the Old Hollywood starlets decked out in diamonds to the modern movie icons sporting the jewels, we feature them in this list. Who was the actress to show off her real, diamond engagement ring? What famous necklace was actually a fake of the real thing?

10 Movies Where Jewelry Stole the Show

Below are the 10 most iconic jewellery moments ever in movie history.

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Stefano Canturi's Australian jeweller 1800's Paris inspired stunning diamond choker-style necklace given to Satine (Nicole Kidman) by the Duke of Monroth (Richard Roxbrough) in the opulent and extravagant 2001 film Moulin Rouge. 

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At 5 carats, the largest stone of the diamond choker in the distinctive lace design was an emerald cut diamond that’s handcrafted in 18k white gold and set with a total of 1308 diamonds. The piece is one of the most expensive ever made for a film and is worth between £1 million.   

The Great Gatsby (2013)

We’re so in love with Daisy’s (Carey Mulligan’s) headpiece in The Great Gatsby as far as headpieces go. This piece wasn’t created solely for the film — it had already been part of the Tiffany & Co archives and loaned to the production for one of the film’s most famous scenes — at Gatsby’s party house.

Choosing this piece was great because the high quality diamonds and pearls used to make the headpiece totally covered the 1920s jazz age.

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Hollywood starlet, Grace Kelly did not disappoint audiences with a stunning tiered diamond necklace for the 1955 Hitchcock classic, To Catch a Thief.  Surprisingly enough, the necklace impacts the plot of the movie when it is exposed as being fake and used to pull former jewel thief John Robie (Cary Grant). The real necklace, legend has it, was also an imitation and was loaned for filming for $75. 

Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, also known as Boys Will Be Boys, was a 1953 film.

Ashes and Diamonds was worn by Marilyn Monroe as she sang the classic Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend in the 1955 hit Gentleman Prefer Blonds. The plot goes much like the necklace found in To Catch a Thief, the necklace is revealed to be a fake. But for promotional use alone, the filmmakers went with the original, yellow diamond necklace. Once belonging to Marie Antoinette, it was first found in the mines of Golconda, India and is pear shaped. 

Cleopatra (1963)

Elizabeth Taylor couldn’t be left off of this list.  In her 1963 movie Cleopatra, Taylor was seen throughout adorned in massive, gold plated jewels. As well as some of the more elaborate, full body pieces like this key necklace, hair piece and chandelier earring combo (pictured above). 

These pieces are not as valuable as everyday iconic pieces, however they are still well made and infamous pieces. 

Pretty Woman (1990)

We can’t forget the moment Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) gives Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) this incredible necklace in the 1990 rom-com, Pretty Woman. The very beautiful somewhat obscene piece retaliated by French goldsmith Fred Joaillier is 23 pear cut rubies set in diamond encrusted hearts currently being sold for about one point three five million dollars. 

The necklace that is worn in the film would have cost too much for the film's budget of $14 million, so the jeweller kindly let the film use the necklace. It came armed with an armoured guard purely out of the price tag. 

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Titanic (1997)

Part of Titanic’s famed The Heart of the Ocean necklace, one of the most famous pieces of jewellery in cinema history. Though the movie’s story is that the necklace was created out of real diamonds, in fact, the necklace was fashioned into white gold from zircons. But if it had been as it was supposed to be made using real diamonds it would have been worth well over $500 million!  The piece was made by London jewellers, Asprey & Garrard who took their inspiration from 3 famous diamonds in French history: The Marie Antoinette Bleu, The Regent and The Hope Diamond. 

Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)

However unlikely it is you’re not sure if you’re unaware of this classic film, everyone knows this iconic picture of Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) seated at the window of Tiffany & Co with cup of coffee, a croissant in mouth and wearing her 5 strand choker necklace tied together with some huge diamond brooch. An image so well known from the film that this Breakfast at Tiffany’s jewellery item has become one of the most famous images in movie history. 

2003 How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

In the 2003 hit How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Kate Hudson, IT girl extraordinaire, wears a beautiful 84 carat yellow diamond necklace. Harry Winston also fashioned this piece, which includes a white diamond circle estimated to come to $5.3 million. But this diamond was so special it inspired the now iconic yellow dress that Hudson wears with the necklace in the final scenes of the film.  

High Society

The beautiful Cartier ring which Hollywood starlet Grace Kelly wore in High Society sported a 10.47 carat diamond and was set in a platinum frame. Unlike most of the other pieces, Kelly’s engagement ring wasn’t made for the movie but it was hers and was the engagement ring given to her by Prince Rainier lll. 

In the End

It’s a given whether you’re into gawking at pretty jewels (who isn’t) or you happen to be into the minutiae involved in the art and industry of jewelry, check out the above mentioned 10 excellent dramas and documentaries to feast your eyes on. Finally, we’ve kept away from any jewel heist themed movies, sticking to the topical or historical.

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