The Most Iconic Diamond Jewelry Moments in the History of the Met Gala
As the first Monday in May approaches, we’re looking back on the most memorable natural diamond jewels in the history of the Met Gala.
Each year since 1948, an exclusive assembly of A-list guests gathers in New York City for fashion’s biggest night, the Met Gala. On the first Monday in May, celebrities, designers, industry icons, and socialites all come together at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, looking their very best in over-the-top couture ensembles and exuberant natural diamond jewels.
First established by Eleanor Lambert, the fashion publicist who implemented New York Fashion Week and the International Best Dressed List, the Met Ball’s origins came from more modest means. When Vogue editor Diana Vreeland took the reins in the 1970s, the gala’s notoriety reached new heights and only continued to rise through Anna Wintour’s tenure at the helm of the annual event.
In recent years, the museum’s annual Costume Institute Benefit has become a sartorial spectacle, with attendees dressing to the nines in on-theme looks to raise funds and christen the opening of the year’s exhibition. Mile-long trains are teamed with opulent diamond-encrusted headpieces, tiaras, head-turning necklaces, stacked diamond bangles, and shoulder-grazing chandelier earrings. Who could forget Iman’s sparkling diamond diadem in 1997, or Dua Lipa’s Tiffany & Co.’s Lucinda Star diamond necklace in 2023?
The 2024 Met Ball co-chairs include Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, and Chris Hemsworth, who will serve alongside the gala’s longtime honorary hosts Anna Wintour, Tom Ford, and Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri, as well as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and fashion designer Jonathan Anderson.
This year’s exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” will open on May 10 and will showcase 250 items from the Met’s permanent collection, while the theme and suggested dress code for the annual soirée is “The Garden of Time.”
A tour de force of fashion’s finest, we’re looking back on some of the most radical natural diamond jewelry moments to take the Met staircase ahead of the 2024 Met Gala.
1997 Met Gala: Iman
Supermodel Iman attended the 1997 Met Gala wearing a white and bronze embellished Versace frock teamed with a diamond floral tiara and glittering diamond chandelier earrings.
2003 Met Gala: Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman co-hosted the annual fête in 2003 alongside legendary designer Tom Ford, who helmed the fashion house Gucci at the time and dressed Kidman for the occasion. With the theme in tribute to “Goddesses” that year, the actress teamed her glistening frock with clavicle-grazing natural diamond fringed drop earrings from antique jewelry retailer Fred Leighton.
2006 Met Gala: Bridget Moynahan
Bridget Moynahan arrived at the 2006 gala wearing a sleek black strapless gown with an outstanding diamond necklace that stole the show. The actress wore a piece featuring 13 large Mughal-style diamonds set in a contemporary-style necklace, with each large stone surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds, dangling from a string of even more diamonds.
2011 Met Gala:
Kate Hudson
Pregnant with her second child, Kate Hudson channeled her inner Jackie O in 2011. The actress wore a strapless Stella McCartney gown with a 1900s Fred Leighton diamond and platinum sunburst brooch perched on top of her long golden tresses. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was known to wear a similar diamond sunburst ornament from Wartski, sometimes in her hair like Hudson, and sometimes pinned to her lapel.
2013 Met Gala:
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker knows how to make an entrance. In 2013, the actress attended the opening of the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” exhibit, wearing a Philip Treacy mohawk headpiece with large diamond drop earrings, as well as diamond rivière and diamond moon necklaces from Fred Leighton.
2014 Met Gala: Selena Gomez
In 2014, Selena Gomez wore a dark plum Diane Von Furstenberg mermaid dress with Lorraine Schwartz Lightning Bolt diamond geometric drop earrings with a matching spiked cocktail ring.
2014 Met Gala: Beyoncé
Beyoncé arrived at the 2014 Met Gala to celebrate the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” exhibit, wearing a plunging black beaded sheer Givenchy Haute Couture gown designed by Riccardo Tisci, teamed with an elegant birdcage headpiece. The songstress finished off her vintage noir-inspired ensemble with black diamond shoulder-scraping chandelier earrings by Beyoncé’s go-to jeweler Lorraine Schwartz.
2014 Met Gala: Karolína Kurková
Czech model Karolína Kurková stunned on the red carpet in 2014, wearing a dramatic navy angular, asymmetrical floral Marchesa gown with a 55-carat Guipure diamond necklace from Harry Winston and a Queen Diamond cocktail ring from the jeweler. The dazzling diamond duo are worth more than $1 million together.
2014 Met Gala: Rihanna
For her fifth Met Gala appearance, Rihanna arrived in a white two-piece Stella McCartney ensemble and diamond jewelry including a Jacob & Co. diamond collar, stud diamond earrings, and an assortment of diamond cocktail rings from Cartier, Dionea Orcini, and Yeprem.
2014 Met Gala: Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway was a lady in red at the 2014 Met Gala, wearing a Calvin Klein strapless gown with dangling diamond geometric Vhernier earrings.
2015 Met Gala: Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson was a golden vision at the 2015 Met Gala, honoring the “China Through the Looking Glass” exhibit. The actress arrived in a gilded Michael Kors sequined gown with an elaborate Lorraine Schwartz necklace thrown effortlessly into her blonde top knot. Emblazoned with yellow and champagne diamonds, the piece was the cherry on top of a show-stopping look.
2015 Met Gala:
Kim Kardashian
Channeling her inner Cher, Kim Kardashian showed up for fashion’s biggest night wearing inverted Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, weighing in at over 33 carats with her sheer, intricately embroidered Roberto Cavalli gown by Peter Dundas.
2016 Met Gala:
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman arrived at the 2016 Met Gala celebrating “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”wearing a caped gown from Alexander McQueen’s Fall/Winter 2016 collection embellished with moons and stars, topped off with a vintage 19th-century diamond tiara and inverted pear-shaped diamond drop earrings from Fred Leighton, styled by Julia von Boehm.
2016 Met Gala: Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman pinned a historic Cartier diamond peacock brooch to the shoulder strap of her ivory Ralph Lauren gown at the 2016 fête, marking the piece’s first red carpet appearance. Created by the iconic jewelry house as a special order in 1948, the brooch from the Cartier Collection in Paris stands nearly 8 inches tall and is set with more than 90 carats worth of diamonds.
2016 Met Gala: Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker attended the grand occasion in 2016, celebrating the “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology” exhibition, wearing a Monse ensemble inspired by the Broadway musical Hamilton. Influenced by the 1700s time period, the Sex and the City actress fittingly wore an antique natural diamond rivière necklace from Fred Leighton with an antique agate and turquoise cameo pendant and an assortment of dazzling diamond rings, styled by Erin Walsh.
2016 Met Gala: Madonna
In 2016, Madonna stunned in a black lace Givenchy ensemble with extreme cutouts and millions of dollars worth of natural diamonds. The pop icon wore a spectacular diamond necklace in her hair, with its pendant gracing her forehead and loads of diamonds body chains and rings by celebrity jewelry designer Neil Lane, totaling at over 400 carats.
2017 Met Gala: Cassie
Cassie graced the red carpet wearing a head-turning custom spiked starburst diamond ear cuff by Indonesian jewelry designer Rinaldy Yunardi and a lace-trimmed black silk On Aura Tout Vu gown at the 2017 Met Gala.
2017 Met Gala:
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez attended the 2017 Met Gala, celebrating the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of The In-Between” costume exhibition, wearing a sheer sky-blue Valentino gown with Harry Winston three-row hoops set with 42.54 carats of diamonds, a vintage diamond bracelet set with 57.30 carats of diamonds, a Mrs. Winston Bracelet set with 45.05 carats of diamonds, and a stack of four diamond band rings from the jeweler.
2017 Met Gala: Deepika Padukone
Indian actress Deepika Padukone stunned at the 2017 Met Ball, wearing diamond chandelier earrings from Fred Leighton along with an antique diamond star tiara converted into a bandeau by wearing it reversed, lying flat on the top of her head.
2017 Met Gala: Elle Fanning
Styled by Samantha McMillen, Elle Fanning arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2017, donning a baby blue chiffon Miu Miu gown with diamond stud earrings and an Art Deco natural diamond and aquamarine bandeau from Fred Leighton in her hair. The piece can be transformed into a bracelet or even a choker.
2017 Met Gala: Hailey Bieber
In 2017, Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin) arrived at the Met wearing a custom two-piece Carolina Herrera gown with a Gigi Burris birdcage veil with Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings and two-layered diamond-encrusted chain chokers.
2017 Met Gala: Bella Hadid
In 2017, Bella Hadid traipsed up the iconic Met steps in a black second-skin black mesh Alexander Wang catsuit with Bulgari Serpenti high jewelry diamond wrap bracelets on each wrist and matching diamond Serpenti earrings.
2017 Met Gala: Sofia Richie
Sofia Richie attended the 2017 Met Ball in a plunging metallic gown by Topshop, teamed with an edgy leather jacket and loads of diamonds. Richie wore the Messika dangling diamond Ritzy earrings, the coordinating high jewelry Ritzy tie necklace, and the brand’s Flappers choker for a high-impact look.
2018 Met Gala: Blake Lively
In keeping with the 2018 theme of “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” Blake Lively looked ethereal in her grandiose Versace gown, teamed with emerald and diamond spear earrings by Lorraine Schwartz and a custom-made champagne diamond starburst halo headpiece from the jeweler.
2018 Met Gala:
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski arrived on the red carpet in 2018 as a shining angel, wearing a backless metallic Marc Jacobs number, paired with asymmetrical diamond earrings from Messika. The model wore the Calypso ear cuff with two My Twin Toi & Moi earrings on the opposite ear. Ratajkowski completed her look with the jeweler’s High Jewelry MissTaylor long diamond necklace and the May Ray diamond necklace woven throughout her hair for a shimmering halo effect.
2018 Met Gala:
Sienna Miller
Sienna Miller attended the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” exhibit in 2018, complete with halo headpieces. The actress wore two vintage diamond star tiaras from Fred Leighton with a diamond and pearl Louis Vuitton necklace. Rebecca Selva from Fred Leighton previously told OND, “Sienna’s stylist Kate Young saw the tiaras and said, why don’t we layer them.” She recalled, “I loved the idea because it defied expectations and demystified the formality of the jewel.” Selva revealed, “We had to wire the tiaras together. You have to tell a tiara where it is supposed to sit.”
2019 Met Gala:
Zoë Kravitz
When everyone else plays it safe, or goes predictably over-the-top, Zoë Kravitz comes through with a look that’s sexy, bold, and unexpected. In 2019, she opted for a black Saint Laurent sequin gown with a daring heart-shaped bust cutout. Her diamond jewelry made just as much of a statement, especially the bespoke diamond and pearl girandole-style earrings by Anabela Chan, a diamond ring by Le Vian Jewelry, and wrists full of stacked diamond bangle bracelets by Yvan Tufenkjian.
2019 Met Gala: Gal Gadot
Paying homage to “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” Gal Gadot graced the red carpet in 2019 wearing Tiffany & Co. natural diamond tassel earrings and a flamboyant diamond and pearl headpiece with her white lace caped Givenchy gown.
2019 Met Gala: Lady Gaga
Exemplifying the 2019 theme of “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” Lady Gaga stripped down to her skivvies on the Met steps, revealing four different ensembles, designed by Brandon Maxwell. The musician teamed her looks with a Tiffany & Co. necklace from the 2019 Blue Book collection, set with over 28 carats of princess-cut natural diamonds and an 18-karat gilded yellow gold butterfly charm at its center.
2019 Met Gala:
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez attended the 2019 Met Gala, celebrating the “Camp: Notes on Fashion” costume exhibition, wearing a plunging silver beaded fringe Versace gown with over 8.8 million dollars’ worth of diamond jewelry from Harry Winston. Adhering to the theme, Lopez teamed her gown with a shimmering silver headdress and Harry Winston’s “Purple Dragon Necklace.” She matched her eye makeup to the lavender-purple cushion-cut sapphire at the center, which was surrounded by 64.16 carats of round brilliant, pear-shaped, and marquise-shaped white diamonds. Adding to the over-the-top glamor, J.Lo accessorized even further with vintage 29.59-carat diamond chandelier earrings from 1972, two Secret Cluster diamond bracelets, and two diamond rings set in platinum from the renowned jewelry house.
2019 Met Gala: Joan Collins
Dame Joan Collins paid homage to her iconic character from the 1980s series Dynasty at the 2019 soirée. The star wore a custom ivory silk and feather Valentino Haute Couture gown with a dazzling tiara, diamond chandelier earrings, and a diamond cluster necklace, while she stacked diamond bangles and rings over her white opera gloves.
2021 Met Gala:
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o knows that diamonds and denim are the ultimate duo. The Academy Award-winning actress teamed her distressed denim Versace Jeans Couture gown with three layered platinum and natural diamond De Beers necklaces for the ultimate statement-making Met Gala moment. Styled by Micaela Erlanger, Nyong’o also wore diamond drop earrings from the brand, as well as dazzling bracelets and an assortment of diamond rings — one even weighed in at 10.31 carats.
2021 Met Gala: Gabrielle Union
Only Natural Diamonds cover girl, actress Gabrielle Union stunned at the Met in 2021, wearing a transformative Iris van Herpen gown which took 1,400 hours to complete, teamed with the Diamond Spears necklace from Messika’s High Jewelry collection, featuring 70.88 carats of pear-shaped diamonds.
2021 Met Gala:
Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz pulled out all the stops for the 2021 Met Gala. Kravitz arrived in a sparkling Saint Laurent chainmail ensemble with an assortment of modern-classic Jessica McCormack jewelry.
“We talked about how to elevate the look, because it is just so risqué,” McCormack told Vogue at the time about the vintage-inspired pieces that included a tilted pear shape diamond button solitaire ring and signature mixed diamond cut double drop earrings set in blackened gold. “I live in her jewelry, I really do,” Kravitz added about the jewelry designer. “I love that Jessica creates these special, unique pieces that look great with a gown, but also a t-shirt. That’s totally my vibe.”
2021 Met Gala: Rihanna
As the reigning queen of the Met Ball, Rihanna arrived in 2021 wearing a voluminous black Balenciaga Couture gown with a Bulgari Heritage high jewelry chocker necklace, complete with over 267 carats worth of diamonds.
2021 Met Gala: Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid walked the beige carpet at the 2021 Met Ball wearing a white strapless Prada column gown, black leather opera gloves, and astounding diamond high jewelry from Jacob & Co. The supermodel chose the jeweler’s Riviera necklace, featuring a 54.03-carat round brilliant-cut diamond at the center.
2022 Met Gala:
Emma Chamberlain
YouTube star Emma Chamberlain shined her brightest at the 2022 Met Gala, pairing her custom Louis Vuitton ensemble with a stunning diamond Cartier tiara, diamond drop earrings, and a head-turning white and yellow diamond choker, allegedly previously owned by Maharaja of Patiala.
2022 Met Gala: Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian slipped into Marilyn Monroe’s archival 1962 Swarovski crystal-embellished Jean Louis gown for the 2022 gala, 60 years after Monroe serenaded President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden for his 45th birthday. Matching the iconic nature of her ensemble, Kardashian accessorized with Cartier Essential Lines dangling diamond earrings in 18-karat white gold.
2022 Met Gala: Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade attended the ball in 2022 sans shirt, teaming his open white Versace suit with a diamond Tiffany & Co. necklace with the brand’s iconic Bird on a Rock brooch.
2023 Met Gala:
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa turned heads and dropped jaws at the 2023 Met Gala when she stepped on the red carpet wearing Tiffany & Co.’s Lucida Star necklace. She is the first star to ever wear this reset white Legendary diamond, which was previously set in Jean Schlumberger’s iconic and celebrity favorite, Bird on a Rock brooch. This D-colored natural diamond is over 100 carats and features 82 facets. Just when you thought the look couldn’t get better, Dua Lipa wore the iconic “Chanel Bride” that supermodel Claudia Shiffer wore while closing the 1992 Chanel Fall Couture show.
2023 Met Gala: Rihanna
Pregnant with her second child, Rihanna attended the 2023 fête in a dramatic custom white Maison Valentino gown with Belperron floral earrings and a Verdura cuff bracelet, layering pearl and diamond necklaces from Belperron and Bulgari.
2023 Met Gala: A$AP Rocky
Decked out in Gucci, A$AP Rocky wore a Ruban Diamants pave diamond belt over his plaid kilt, as well as a cat-shaped diamond pinky ring and matching stud earrings from Boucheron in homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s kitten Choupette. The rapper completed his look with a captivating diamond lapel pin.
2023 Met Gala: Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh glistened on the Met steps in 2023, wearing an epic natural diamond necklace from Cartier, diamond drop earrings, a sparkling diamond cocktail ring, and a dazzling timepiece with her tuxedo-style Karl Lagerfeld Couture gown.
2023 Met Gala:
Priyanka Chopra
Priyanka Chopra wore one of the rarest and most valuable Bulgari diamonds ever sold to the 2023 Met Ball. The actress adorned the Laguna Blu, a fancy vivid blue 11.16-carat pear-shaped diamond, set in a diamond chain necklace. Previously set in a ring, the diamond’s appearance at the annual gala marks the first time the gem has been seen in a new setting since 1970. After shining on Chopra’s décolletage, the diamond traveled to be auctioned at Sotheby’s Geneva.
2023 Met Gala: Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway attended the 2023 Met Gala wearing a vintage-inspired Atelier Versace tweed deconstructed safety-pin gown with and natural diamond Bulgari High Jewelry — most notably the Roman jeweler’s custom Monete ancient coin choker, held together by a diamond-studded collar.
2023 Met Gala: Nicola Peltz Beckham
Nicola Peltz Beckham lit up the red carpet in 2023, layering on the natural diamond jewels. She teamed her white strapless Valentino gown with diamond stud earrings, a large diamond cross, which hung from a string of even more diamonds, a black velvet choker, and an exceptional diamond Harry Winston necklace she borrowed from her mother, Claudia Heffner Peltz. Her mom even wore the piece on Nicola and Brooklyn Beckham’s wedding day in 2022. The necklace was previously owned by the socialite Evalyn Walsh McLean, who also owned the Hope Diamond before Harry Winston purchased her entire jewelry collection in 1949.
