The Natural Diamonds Behind Audrey Hepburn’s Most Unforgettable Roles
Audrey Hepburn, before filming Breakfast at Tiffany’s, wears the store’s most expensive diamond necklace, including the Tiffany Diamond. (Getty Images)
In her personal life, Audrey Hepburn’s jewelry philosophy leaned towards a “less is more” approach, preferring elegant pearls and the daintiest of diamonds. But on screen, the beloved Hollywood icon wore the most extravagant of jewels from historic houses like Tiffany & Co., Chaumet, Fürst, and more.
Over 30 years after her death, Audrey Hepburn remains the talk of the town. Her son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, just released a new book about his mother with novelist Wendy Holden, titled Intimate Audrey: An Authorized Biography. The book explores Hepburn’s childhood, humanitarian work, family memories, and untold stories—like how Marilyn Monroe was originally up for the role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Back in February, it was announced that Lily Collins will portray the late star in an upcoming film about the making of Breakfast at Tiffany’s based on Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Dawn of the Modern Woman by Sam Wasson. The Emily in Paris star took to Instagram to say, “It’s with almost 10 years of development and a lifetime of admiration and adoration for Audrey that I’m finally able to share this [news]. Honored and ecstatic don’t begin to express how I feel…”
Meet the Expert
Victoria Wirth Reynolds was appointed the Chief Gemologist of Tiffany & Co. in 2020 as the jeweler expanded its diamond traceability program. Reynolds has worked for Tiffany & Co. for over 37 years, with roles including Vice President of High Jewelry. Her experience spans diamond grading, custom designs, business sales, marketing high jewelry, and more.
While a release date for Collins’ upcoming project has yet to be announced, it’s not the only Audrey Hepburn film on the horizon. According to Deadline, Thomasin McKenzie and Ansel Elgort are set to star in Dinner With Audrey, inspired by the decades-long friendship between Hepburn and fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy.
In the meantime, we’ll be revisiting Hepburn’s greatest hits. Ahead, discover the exquisite natural diamonds that made her shine on and off the big screen.
Audrey Hepburn Wore a Fürst Pearl, Sapphire, and Diamond Choker in Roman Holiday
In her Academy Award-winning turn as the defiant Princess Anne in William Wyler’s 1953 classic film Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn wore a myriad of sparkling royal tiaras and intricate, shining necklaces. But one particular jewel caught the audience’s attention in the final scenes of the movie and left a lasting impression. As she meets Gregory Peck’s character, Joe Bradley, she wears an elegant choker, featuring two strands of round cultured pearls upholding a pendant with cabochon sapphires and round natural diamonds of over 6 carats, set in 18-karat white gold.
The opulent necklace was designed by Fürst, the Italian jewelry house that dates back to the 1850s – an apt choice for the Rome-based movie. The jewel was reportedly part of a selection presented to Hepburn for her to choose personally. Once filming wrapped, the necklace was returned to Fürst along with an autographed picture of Hepburn wearing it from the film. “To Fürst with many thanks,” read the note.
The necklace was later sold to a private client. In 2023, the choker appeared in Christie’s Auction House’s Jewels Online: The Geneva Edit, which was held in November 2023. It was expected to sell for nearly $30,000 when National Jeweler confirmed it had been withdrawn from the sale for confidential reasons.
Audrey Hepburn Wore The Famed Tiffany Diamond While Filming Breakfast at Tiffany’s
In 1961, Audrey Hepburn began filming Breakfast at Tiffany’s in New York City. Based on Truman Capote’s best-selling novel, the movie marked the first time motion picture cameras were allowed inside a Tiffany & Co. boutique. “Nothing bad could ever happen to you at Tiffany’s,” Hepburn’s character, Holly Golightly, explains.
In one of Breakfast at Tiffany’s most famous scenes, Holly Golightly and her love interest Paul Varjak (George Peppard) wander through Tiffany & Co., where she muses, ‘It isn’t that I give a hoot about jewelry, except diamonds, of course… Like that.’ The camera lingers on the legendary 128.54-carat Tiffany diamond necklace, glowing in its showcase.
It isn’t that I give a hoot about jewelry, except diamonds, of course.
Discovered in South Africa in 1877, the Tiffany Diamond is one of the most extraordinary gemstones ever found. Originally a 287.42-carat rough, it was expertly cut into a 128.54-carat cushion-shaped diamond, maximizing its brilliance and fire. Its rarity is not only defined by its size, but by its exceptional fancy yellow color, a naturally occurring phenomenon found in only a small fraction of diamonds.
Although Hepburn never wore the priceless diamond in the film itself, she did don the gem for the movie’s promotional photos—paired with her iconic little black Givenchy dress and evening gloves. Set in Jean Schlumberger’s Ribbon Rosette necklace, the Tiffany Diamond made Hepburn only the second woman in history to wear it. In a now-famous moment, Henry B. Platt, great-grandson of Charles Lewis Tiffany, was photographed carefully adjusting the necklace on her, cementing the image as one of Hollywood and jewelry history’s most enduring pairings.
“The Tiffany Diamond is the cornerstone of our House,” said Tiffany & Co. Chief Gemologist, Victoria Wirth Reynolds. “It embodies our unwavering commitment to pursuing beauty over size. When the diamond was discovered, few had witnessed a yellow diamond so remarkable. Today, the Tiffany Diamond remains unrivaled in scintillation and beauty. Its intense sparkle can be seen from far across the room.”
Besides Hepburn, socialite Mary Whitehouse, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé are the only women to have ever publicly worn the iconic Tiffany Diamond.
Audrey Hepburn Wore Chaumet Diamond Jewelry in My Fair Lady
In the 1964 rags-to-riches musical My Fair Lady, Audrey Hepburn transforms from Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a vision of high society. Her grand entrance at the Embassy Ball is one of the film’s most memorable moments, marked by a dazzling ensemble that epitomized cinematic glamour. Hepburn’s towering updo was crowned with a diamond chandelier tiara by Chaumet, paired with a lavish openwork diamond choker and coordinating drop earrings.
The look was the creation of legendary costume and set designer Cecil Beaton, whose opulent gowns and exquisite styling brought George Bernard Shaw’s story to life. Hepburn’s breathtaking ballgown and jewels not only captivated audiences but also helped earn the film the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, sealing its place in Hollywood history.
Beyond the Screen: Audrey Hepburn’s Bulgari Brooch Sold in a Landmark Auction
While Audrey Hepburn’s on-screen jewelry defined some of Hollywood’s most memorable style moments, her personal collection was more minimalist but just as meaningful, often tied to friendships, memories, and moments off camera.
In early 2026, Sotheby’s unveiled the refined jewelry collection of Doris Brynner, a leading figure of elegance in the artistic and high society circles of the 20th century. Having forged close friendships with Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton, the chic entourage left her with many sentimental jewels, several of which were included in the landmark Sotheby’s auction.
One buzzy piece was a Bulgari emerald, sapphire, and natural diamond brooch, resembling a peacock, crafted in 1960, that once belonged to Audrey Hepburn. The actress gifted the brooch to Brynner, set with cabochon sapphires and emeralds, accented with brilliant-cut diamonds, with a cabochon emerald in the center and a teardrop-shaped emerald dangling below. Hepburn’s Bulgari brooch had the auction goers on the edge of their seats when it sold for 355,600 euros ($426,025), more than six times its estimate.
From the silver screen to private collections, Audrey Hepburn’s most memorable jewelry moments reveal impeccable style and the enduring significance of natural diamonds. Just as Hepburn’s legacy continues to captivate across generations, so too do the natural diamonds she wore—timeless, rare, and forever.
