Culture & Style
14 Unexpected Ways to Style Natural Diamond Brooches
By Hannah Militano & Anna McFillin, Updated June 27, 2025
Part statement, part heirloom—these stunning natural diamond brooches do it all.
Elizabeth Taylor in London in August 1963. (Credit: CBS Photo Archive.)
Brooches have made a notable return to fashion. As versatile as a jewel can be, and as functional as brooches are, their popularity tends to ebb and flow with the current of trends.
These ornaments date back to the Bronze Age (2000-500 BC), when brooches were made of industrial materials like iron and other metals and used practically to secure clothing in early societies like the Greeks, Romans, and Celts. It wasn’t until the Renaissance that brooches became a decorative accessory.
Since then, brooches have evolved significantly, particularly with the addition of rare natural diamonds and gemstones. These adornments are one of the most common heirlooms, and natural diamonds make them all the more special. Notable jewelry houses like Tiffany & Co. and Cartier began producing the luxury badges in the 1920s and ‘30s.
Meet the Expert
- Briony Raymond founded her namesake New York jewelry atelier in 2015.
- She is a distinguished expert in fine jewelry, renowned for creating custom pieces and curating vintage collections for her clients.
Chances are, you have seen a decorative brooch or two in your grandmother’s jewelry box, begging to be taken out and worn. The brooch is a simple yet effective way to accessorize your wardrobe.
There are 100 ways to style these embellishments, especially with the help of natural diamonds. There is, of course, the classic pin-to-the-lapel look, but there are also more fashion-forward ways to bring an unsuspected character to an otherwise muted ensemble, such as replacing the buttons on a cardigan, fastening a brooch to the waist of your jeans, or even pinning a brooch in your hair.
“I absolutely adore diamond brooches – there are so many ways to play with them,” says jewelry designer Briony Raymond. “Whether pinned to the lapel of a blazer, on a little black dress, or fastened to the waist of a gown, a brooch brings an unexpected layer of polish and personality to any look. They’re incredibly versatile; you can cluster them or even style one in your hair. A diamond brooch can transform something simple into something striking, which is really the magic of great jewelry.”
A brooch brings an unexpected layer of polish and personality to any look.
The brooch has found its way back onto the runways and red carpets, and back into style. This most recent awards season and the 2025 Met Gala proved just that. Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, Zendaya, Teyana Taylor, Colin Kaepernick, Succession’s Sarah Snook, Bad Bunny, Anna Wintour, Tessa Thompson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jalen Hurts all championed the natural diamond brooch, just to name a few.
Rihanna wore a diamond Cartier brooch at the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton wore a diamond Briony Raymond brooch at the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Sarah Snook wore brooches from Rahaminov Diamonds and Saidian Vintage Jewels at the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Bad Bunny wore a diamond floral Cartier brooch at the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Anna Wintour wore a Lydia Courteille antique brooch the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Zendaya wore a Bulgari Serpenti brooch on her back at the 2025 Met Gala (Getty Images)
Colin Kaepernick wore a Briony Raymond Art Deco diamond swallow brooch at the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
Serena Williams wore a Fred Leighton vintage diamond swirl brooch in her hair at the 2025 Met Gala. (Getty Images)
“It was incredibly special to see diamond brooches take center stage at this year’s Met Gala and even more meaningful to see our pieces worn in such personal, powerful ways – on not one but two of the evening’s hosts, and by Rihanna for her pregnancy announcement,” says Raymond. “From her fur coat to Lewis Hamilton’s hat, and A$AP Rocky’s lapel at the after-parties, each brooch brought its own sense of character. Seeing our designs woven into such iconic fashion moments was an unforgettable honor.”
Whether you are dusting off an heirloom or looking to add a new brooch to your collection, a natural diamond brooch will instantly elevate your look. Below are our top picks of natural diamond brooches and creative ways to style them.
You Can Wear Your Brooches on a Necklace Like Elizabeth Taylor
Queen of all things jewelry, Elizabeth Taylor often wore her natural diamond and emerald Bulgari suite, gifted to her by her fifth (and sixth) husband, Richard Burton. He gave the assortment to her in stages, first presenting Taylor with the emerald and diamond pendant brooch as an engagement gift in 1964.
She even wore the brooch to her wedding to Burton with flowers in her hair. Once she was given the necklace, Taylor often clipped her brooch to it, to dangle as a beautiful diamond pendant. She wore the brooch on her necklace to the Academy Awards, where she received the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her part in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 1967.
Fred Leighton
Designed originally as a brooch, this Victorian-era heirloom from Fred Leighton makes for an epic conversion. This piece can be worn multiple ways; slip this on a yellow gold chain for a pendant look, or fasten on your lapel.
You Can Wear Brooches on Your Back Like Zendaya
Zendaya looked dapper as ever for the “Tailored for You” dress code of the 2025 Met Gala, styled by Law Roach. As a Global Brand Ambassador for Bulgari, the actress inventively wore a diamond Blugari Serpenti natural diamond snake brooch pinned to the back of her cream Louis Vuitton Zoot suit.
Bulgari
The Bulgari Serpenti is one of the most recognizable motifs in the history of the jewelry world. The slithering Serpenti style has become synonymous with the Italian jewelry house over the years, but long before it was created, the snake motif was evident in humanity in nearly every culture. For millennia, the snake motif has symbolized wisdom, regeneration, healing, power, temptation, and rebirth, interpretations that are still part of modern culture. Wear it in time to celebrate the Year of the Snake.
You Can Wear Brooches on a Coat Like Rihanna
Ahead of the 2025 Met Gala, Rihanna exposed her pregnancy in the streets of New York City. The star hid from the rain under an umbrella outside the Carlyle Hotel, wearing a light grey Miu Miu sweater set that revealed her bump, diamond stud earrings, and a Messika Precious Flow High Jewelry necklace and ring. Rihanna carried a brown fur stole with an array of natural diamond brooches attached, from Joseph Saidian and Sons Jewelry, Lang Antiques, and an antique Victorian “En Tremblant” diamond brooch from Briony Raymond.
Joseph Saidian & Sons
This Diamond Flower brooch from Joseph Saidian & Sons contains 415 round diamonds, approximately weighing 4.5 carat mounted in platinum and 18 karat yellow gold.
You Can Use Brooches to Replace a Button on a Cardigan, As Seen on The Runway
The Miu Miu Fall/Winter 2020 runway show incorporated gem-set brooches styled in a plethora of ways–pinned on scarves, set beneath collars, and clasping together buttoned knit bandeaus and cardigans.
Broken English
This natural diamond and enamel brooch from Broken English hails from the Victorian Era and makes for a great button replacement. Whether a button is already missing or you’d like to jazz up your cardigan, fasten this brooch at the top of your sweater or in the middle button for an incredibly chic adornment.
You Can Wear Brooches In Your Hair Like Jackie Kennedy
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was known to wear a nineteenth-century natural diamond Starburst brooch from Wartski, often experimenting with its styling. According to the jewel’s lore, Kennedy purchased it in 1961 during an Official Visit to London, attending the Dinner hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. She went shopping with her sister, Princess Lee Radziwill, when they stopped at Wartski.
To purchase the jewel, she traded in the diamond brooches she received as a wedding gift from her in-laws, but made replicas so she could continue to wear them. Mrs. Kennedy wore the diamond brooch on gowns and in her hair at some of Camelot’s most important state affairs, including for the Shah of Iran and Empress Farah’s state visit to the US in 1962. Her daughter, Caroline Kennedy, was last known to have possession of the brooch.
Signifying her immeasurable impact on style, Kate Hudson channeled her inner Jackie O at the 2011 Met Gala. 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.
Jewels by Grace
A little bling goes a long way, especially in your locks. This Jewels by Grace Edwardian Pin Brooch makes for the perfect hair accessory. Fasten securely at the top of a braid or a half-up, half-down ponytail to achieve the look of an elegant barrette.
You Can Wear a Brooch On a Choker Like Taylor Russel
For the Closing Ceremony at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, jury member Taylor Russell stunned on the red carpet at Palazzo del Cinema. The Bones and All actress wore a black Schiaparelli gown, Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Banana Dot ear clips, and the jeweler’s iconic Bird on a Rock brooch in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold with a diamond of over 12 carats, creatively pinned to a black velvet choker.
Tiffany & Co.
Designed by Jean Schlumberger in 1965, the Tiffany & Co. Bird on a Rock brooch had continued to be heralded as a red carpet favorite.
You Can Wear Brooches On Your Waist Like Sebastian Stan
Sebastian Stan looked handsome in an all-black ensemble at the 2024 Met Gala, paired with three vintage natural diamond brooches from Cartier, worn on his waistband.
1st Dibs
Why wear a flower in your hair when you can wear it on your waist? This vintage enamel floral brooch makes an eye-catching detail whether fastened to the waistband of your trousers or cinching a top.
You Can Wear Brooches On Your Sleeve Like Nicole Kidman
Style icon Nicole Kidman wore an Art Deco diamond brooch from Fred Leighton on the sleeve of her black Brandon Maxwell gown at the 2016 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Antique Jewelry Company
They say to wear your heart on your sleeve, but have you considered wearing a vintage diamond horseshoe brooch on your sleeve? This brooch from Antique Jewelry Company is sure to make a statement. Carry the luck of the horseshoe with you on the cuff of your sweater or the end of your jacket sleeve for some added flair.
You Can Wear a Brooch On a Tie
1st Dibs
If you have a special event coming up, take your black tie attire one step further and replace the bowtie with a vintage natural diamond bow brooch.
You Can Wear a Brooch On Your Collar Like Queen Elizabeth II
One of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite pieces of jewelry was the 18.8-carat Cullinan V heart-shaped diamond brooch, which she wore on several poignant occasions, including Prince Philip’s 99th birthday portrait and Princess Eugenie’s wedding. The diamond originally belonged to Queen Mary, who in 1911 had it fashioned into the stomacher of her Delhi Durbar parure. As styles evolved and stomachers didn’t fit the fashions, the forward-thinking Queen Mary had it redesigned as a brooch and later gifted it to Queen Elizabeth II.
Beladora
Brooches are most commonly worn on the lapel but elevate your look and let this vintage diamond bird from Beladora take flight to the collar of your shirt.
You Can Wear Brooches On Your Jacket Pocket Like Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet added some exquisite vintage diamonds on the chest pocket of his navy blue Prada zip-up jacket at the 2020 Academy Awards. The Dune actor opted for a vintage Cartier London brooch with natural diamonds and Burmese rubies set in platinum and white gold, created in 1955.
Georgian Jewelry
An additional embellishment in an unexpected place is on the pocket of a jacket or sport coat. Style this Victorian Era brooch from Georgian Jewelry on your jacket pocket. This hand-painted enamel brooch depicts a woman who is also wearing diamonds in an unexpected way.
You Can Wear a Brooch On Your Back Pocket
Andreoli
A nod to the 90s and Y2K, this beautiful diamond butterfly brooch from Andreoli is begging to be worn in a daring manner. If you know you will be standing, try styling this brooch on the back pocket of your jeans for the ultimate cool girl look.
You Can Wear Brooches On a Hat Like Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar pinned diamond brooches to his cap for the 2023 Grammy Awards. Lamar accepted the Best Rap Album award for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, wearing a natural diamond, emerald, and sapphire brooch from the Tiffany & Co. Archives (circa 1970-1971), pinned to his blue pgLang baseball cap. Paloma Picasso “Scribble” Graffiti brooch, circa 1983–1988, was also clipped to his hat, along with a Paloma Picasso “Gold” Graffiti brooch from 1988.
At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Margaret Qualley pinned a Chanel diamond brooch to her oversized floppy sunhat.
During his Super Bowl Halftime performance, Usher changed into a blue and black Off-White ensemble, with a huge floral diamond brooch clipped to the side of his black fitted cap for some extra bling.
For Future Reference Vintage
Looking to jazz up your winter hats? Whether it be a fuzzy bucket hat, a beanie, a pillbox hat, or a baseball hat, a little addition of diamonds never hurts. This diamond heart brooch from For Future Reference Vintage will accentuate any and all of your headwear.
You Can Clip Brooches To a Bag
Lang Antiques
For all the animal lovers out there, this natural diamond and hand-painted enamel brooch from Lang Antiques is a must have. Style this brooch on your favorite nylon or cotton tote, or even a woven leather.
