Culture & Style
When Natural Diamonds Stole the Show: Famous Movie Jewelry
By Hannah Militano, Updated: September 4, 2025
Revisit the most unforgettable cinematic moments when natural diamonds played a starring role.
Mia Goth wears the Tiffany & Co. Archive diamond Wade Necklace as Elizabeth in Frankenstein. (Ken Woroner/Netflix © 2025)
“Isn’t it wonderful? Do you see what I mean, how nothing bad can ever happen to you in a place like this?” Holly Golightly asks while traipsing through Tiffany & Co. “It isn’t that I give a hoot about jewelry, except diamonds, of course… Like that.” In the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s, actress Audrey Hepburn’s eyes widen in awe, setting her sights on the 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond necklace sitting regally inside the jewelry case.
We go to the movies to feel something real in a world of make-believe—and natural diamond jewels deliver that magic. Whether transforming a rags-to-riches tale or symbolizing everlasting love, diamonds have an unrivaled ability to set the scene. Since the golden age of Hollywood, iconic film jewels have stolen the spotlight, captured our hearts, and proved themselves stars worthy of an Oscar.
Meet the Author
- Hannah Militano covers diamond jewelry trends, the fashion industry, pop culture, and celebrity news.
- She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
- As a journalist, her work has been featured in publications such as Editorialist, Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book, L’Officiel USA, Grazia USA, Coveteur, and more.
1933: Mae West’s Diamond Jewelry in She Done Him Wrong
Actress Mae West pulled from her own jewelry box for her 1933 portrayal of Burlesque singer Lady Lou in She Done Him Wrong. The film was adapted from the 1928 Broadway production Diamond Lil, written by West herself. Based on the life of performer Lillian Russell, the nickname originated from her love for diamonds and her skill in persuading men to purchase them for her.
West famously wore her own shoulder-scraping diamond earrings, stacks of Art Deco diamond bracelets, and a plentiful assortment of rings. During World War II, the actress sold a large portion of her collection to donate to the war effort, excluding a 1920s 40-carat diamond bracelet believed to have been worn in the film. The piece was later acquired by jeweler Neil Lane, who lent it to the costume department of Chicago for Catherine Zeta-Jones to wear in 2002, cementing its place in the canon of famous movie jewelry.
1940: Katharine Hepburn’s Diamond Engagement Ring in The Philadelphia Story
In the 1940 comedy The Philadelphia Story, Katharine Hepburn stars as Philadelphia socialite Tracy Lord. Throughout the film, she wears a stunning emerald-cut diamond engagement ring by Verdura. At the time, loaning real jewels to film productions was virtually unheard of—MGM usually relied on paste replicas—but it’s believed that either Hepburn or costume designer Adrian personally reached out to Duke Fulco di Verdura for the special request. The sleek, platinum-set solitaire not only reflected Verdura’s signature modernism but also marked one of the jeweler’s earliest high-profile Hollywood moments, just a year after opening his New York salon in 1939.
1946: Rita Hayworth’s Diamond Rivière Necklace in Gilda
In Hollywood’s golden age, diamond rivières and strapless gowns became a formula for great eveningwear. Nowhere was this more memorably showcased than in Gilda (1946), when Rita Hayworth, in her role as the ultimate femme fatale, delivered her sultry performance of ‘Put the Blame on Mame’ wearing a sleek black satin gown, opera gloves, and a dazzling diamond rivière necklace. The look not only cemented Hayworth’s status as a Hollywood icon but also set the standard for red-carpet allure, making the rivière an enduring symbol of cinematic seduction.
1950: Gloria Swanson’s Cartier Diamond Jewelry in Sunset Boulevard
Gloria Swanson was rarely seen without her signature Cartier rock crystal and diamond bombé bracelets, wearing them both on- and off-screen. The Art Deco bangles first appeared in her 1933 film Perfect Understanding and later became an unforgettable part of her portrayal of Norma Desmond in Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950). Swanson even wore the pair in 1951 to a New York party during a live radio link to the Oscars, as she awaited the results of her Best Actress nomination. Decades later, in 2022, Cartier paid homage to the Hollywood icon by reimagining her trademark jewels in the diamond-studded Libre Morphosis watch.
1956: Grace Kelly’s Cartier Diamond Engagement Ring in High Society
On the eve of her royal wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Grace Kelly appeared in her final film, High Society—a glamorous farewell to Hollywood before she traded the silver screen for palace life. Starring alongside Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby in the remake of The Philadelphia Story, Kelly had a dazzling co-star of her own: her Cartier diamond engagement ring. The jewel featured a 10.48-carat emerald-cut diamond flanked by tapered baguettes. Playing Tracy Samantha Lord, a socialite torn between three suitors, Kelly’s new sparkler even earned its own line of dialogue. Admiring the ring, her ex-husband quips, “That’s quite a rock, Sam.” To her fiancé, he adds, “Some stone, George. Did you mine it yourself?”
1958: Elizabeth Taylor’s Sentimental Diamond Necklace in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
While filming Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 1958, Elizabeth Taylor wore one of her most personal and sentimental diamond jewels. Just two weeks into production, tragedy struck: her husband, producer Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash in New Mexico on March 22 while en route to New York to accept the ‘Showman of the Year’ award. Taylor, who had planned to accompany him, stayed home at the last minute with a cold. Their daughter, Liza, was only seven months old. Taylor continued to wear her engagement ring, along with many other diamond jewels he had gifted her long after his death.
After two weeks of mourning, Taylor returned to set as Maggie Pollitt in the adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play. In Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, she recalled, “I was more or less like a robot until I became Maggie. When I was Maggie, I could talk, and I could function, until they said ‘cut.’ There was a trance-like thing about me after Mike’s death.”
As a way to keep his memory close, Taylor wore a heart-shaped solitaire diamond pendant necklace—Todd’s gift to her—throughout the film. The piece became a constant in her life; she wore it daily for years as a symbol of their enduring love, even choosing it for her wedding to her next husband, Eddie Fisher.
1961: Audrey Hepburn and the Tiffany Diamond in 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.
Although Hepburn never wore the priceless stone 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.”
1964: Gina Lollobrigida‘s Bulgari Diamond Jewelry in Woman of Straw
The glamour of Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida was rivaled only by the splendor of another great Italian institution: Bulgari. Known for her magnetic beauty and opulent style, Lollobrigida often adorned herself with bold diamond creations from the Roman jeweler, which became integral to her image both on- and off-screen.
Among her favorites was a scroll-motif platinum and diamond necklace with a matching bracelet, crafted by Bulgari in 1954 at the height of its postwar renaissance. Ingeniously designed, the bracelet could also be transformed into a tiara—a versatility that Lollobrigida herself showcased in the 1964 film Woman of Straw, where she wore the jewel in its regal form.
Unlike many of her Hollywood contemporaries, who relied on studios and jewelers to loan pieces for publicity, Lollobrigida was reported to have purchased nearly all of her jewelry herself, underscoring both her independence and her passion for collecting. Over time, her collection grew to rival those of fellow screen sirens Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren, cementing her place as one of the great jewelry icons of the 20th century.
1964: Audrey Hepburn’s 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.
1967: Anne Bancroft’s Harry Winston Diamond Ring in The Graduate
In The Graduate (1967), Dustin Hoffman’s Benjamin Braddock is drawn into a notorious affair with the sophisticated Mrs. Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft. To underscore her allure as the ultimate Beverly Hills seductress, Bancroft was adorned in an array of Harry Winston jewels From a sparkling diamond bracelet and classic cluster earrings to a commanding marquise-cut diamond engagement ring, her jewelry became an extension of her character’s polished yet predatory charm.
The Winston pieces not only amplified Mrs. Robinson’s glamour but also reflected the house’s status as the ‘King of Diamonds,’ lending authenticity to the image of a wealthy woman who wielded both social and sexual power. The result was a portrayal so iconic that Mrs. Robinson remains one of cinema’s most memorable characters—and her diamond-strewn style an indelible part of her legend.
1968: Barbara Streisand’s Diamond Jewelry in Funny Girl
Barbara Streisand became known throughout her career for weaving her personal jewelry collection—comprised largely of antique and vintage treasures—into her on-screen wardrobe. For her star-making role in the 1968 film Funny Girl, she hand-selected Edwardian and Art Deco pieces that perfectly reflected the early 1900s setting.
In the film’s emotional finale, during her performance of ‘My Man’, Streisand’s Fanny Brice wears glittering diamond teardrop earrings and an Edwardian-style diamond engagement ring, adding both authenticity and sentiment to the scene. Many of the jewels she wore were acquired from New York’s famed Fred Leighton boutique, a go-to source for antique gems. Unlike many actresses who relied on loaned pieces, Streisand was reported to have purchased much of her jewelry herself, and several of the Funny Girl pieces remain part of her personal collection today—a testament to her discerning eye and passion for historic design.
1968: Elizabeth Taylor’s Bulgari Diamond Jewelry in Boom!
As much a jewelry connoisseur as she was a Hollywood star, Elizabeth Taylor often brought her own treasures to the screen. In the 1968 film Boom!, in which she starred opposite her husband Richard Burton, she adorned herself in a dazzling array of her personal Bulgari diamond brooches, bracelets, and more. Among the most memorable was the famed Krupp diamond, a 33.19-carat Asscher-Cut ring that Burton purchased for her in 1968 for the then-record price of $305,000.
Renamed the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond in her honor, the stone became one of the most iconic pieces in her legendary collection—praised for its exceptional size, clarity, and hypnotic step-cut facets. Taylor wore it both on- and off-screen, cementing its status as a jewel as famous as the woman herself.
1974: Mia Farrow’s Cartier Diamond Jewelry in The Great Gatsby
In the 1974 film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Mia Farrow embodied the glittering Jazz Age as Daisy Buchanan, the wealthy socialite at the heart of the story. To capture the opulence of the Roaring Twenties, she was adorned in Cartier’s Art Deco creations, including a diamond tennis necklace, pear-shaped diamond earrings, and a circular diamond wreath brooch.
Among the standout pieces was Cartier’s 1928 Love Bird brooch —two perched parrots crafted in rubies, black onyx, and diamonds. Most famously, Daisy’s look was completed with a dramatic marquise-shaped diamond engagement ring paired with a diamond wedding band, a combination that became one of the film’s most iconic images. Just two years after the movie’s release, Cartier celebrated its heritage with the Louis Cartier Retrospective exhibition in New York, where many of the jewels worn in the film were showcased.
1990: Julia Roberts’ Fred Diamond Jewelry in Pretty Woman
Who could possibly forget the iconic scene in Pretty Woman, when Richard Gere surprises Julia Roberts with a jewelry box, only to playfully snap it shut just as she reaches for the treasure inside—eliciting her now-famous burst of laughter. Inside lay a dazzling necklace of 23 pear-shaped rubies, each encircled by natural diamond hearts, created by French jeweler Fred Joaillier. Worn with Vivian’s unforgettable red gown and white opera gloves, the piece became one of the most memorable jewels in modern cinema, forever tied to the film’s fairy-tale transformation.
1995: Sharon Stone’s Bulgari Diamond Jewelry in Casino
Thanks to the viral ‘Mob Wife’ aesthetic, Sharon Stone’s ultra-glamorous turn as Ginger McKenna in Martin Scorsese’s Casino (1995) is enjoying a renewed appreciation. In one unforgettable scene, her kingpin husband, played by Robert De Niro, presents her with a Bulgari briefcase brimming with treasures, spilling piles of gold and diamond jewels across the bed for his bride to choose from. Among the dazzling array are Bulgari’s iconic Serpenti Tubogas ring and watch, along with the house’s signature Monete coin jewels. Admiring the trove, Ginger quips, “So, do you think it’s too much if I wear these all on the same day?” before praising her husband with a sly smile: “The jewelry’s not so bad either.”
1995: Angela Bassett’s Bulgari Diamond Jewelry in Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale follows the lives of four friends played by Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. After Bassett’s character Bernadine is betrayed by her husband, she loads up his car with his entire wardrobe, pours on the gasoline, lights a cigarette, and sets it all on fire, making for one of the most legendary revenge scenes in cinematic history. lad in black lace lingerie beneath a flowing white silk robe, Bassett punctuated the look with a bold Bulgari gold-and-diamond choker, a piece of jewelry that perfectly underscored her character’s strength and smoldering glamour.
2001: Nicole Kidman’s Canturi Diamond Jewelry in Moulin Rouge!
Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 Academy Award-winning cinematic adventure Moulin Rouge! features one of the most prominent pieces of diamond jewelry in film history. Set in 1899 Paris during the Bohemian Revolution, Nicole Kidman stars as the courtesan Satine, also known as the “Sparkling Diamond.” When the evil Duke tries to claim her for himself, he places an intricate diamond bib necklace around her neck, representing his possession of her.
Designed by Australian jeweler Stefano Canturi and named after Nicole Kidman’s character in Moulin Rouge!, the Satine necklace entered the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the most expensive jewels ever created for a motion picture. Handcrafted over four months using century-old techniques, the elaborate piece was inspired by the opulent lace-like designs of the Louis XVI era. Set with 1,308 diamonds totaling 134 carats and finished with a 2.5-carat sapphire clasp, the necklace embodied both period authenticity and cinematic extravagance, cementing its place as one of film’s most legendary jewels.
2002: Jennifer Lopez’s Harry Winston Diamond Jewelry in Maid in Manhattan
In the 2002 romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan, Jennifer Lopez delivers a true Cinderella moment with a breathtaking fashion transformation. Her grand reveal unfolds at a black-tie gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she appears in a striking coral Bob Mackie gown paired with Harry Winston diamond wreath Cluster necklace and matching earrings. Selected by costume designer Albert Wolsky, the iconic wreath-style necklace is composed of 180 marquise, pear-shaped, and round brilliant diamonds totaling more than 48 carats—an ensemble that instantly elevated Lopez’s character from working-class heroine to picture-perfect leading lady.
2003: Kate Hudson’s Harry Winston Diamond Jewelry in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days
It remains one of the most iconic style moments in modern cinema: Kate Hudson, radiant in a backless lemon-yellow gown, sparkling with the legendary ‘Isadora’ necklace in the 2003 romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. At a glittering jewelry party, her character Andie Anderson is invited to ‘frost herself’ as she admires Harry Winston’s dazzling collection. When she marvels, ‘Is this real?!’ a representative introduces her to the star of the evening—the Isadora necklace. Designed with a cascading diamond cluster and anchored by a 51.94-carat yellow sapphire pendant, the piece perfectly complemented her unforgettable gown, cementing its place in both jewelry and pop culture history.
2006: Kirsten Dunst’s Vintage Fred Leighton Diamond Jewelry in Marie Antoinette
In 2006, director Sofia Coppola reimagined the tragic tale of Marie Antoinette, the last queen consort of France before the French Revolution. Reimagined into a frothy, pastel dream world of regal grandeur, the film overflows with pastries, anachronistic 18th-century Manolo Blahnik footwear, and an astounding $4 million worth of antique diamond jewelry from the New York boutique Fred Leighton. The high-fashion period drama sees Kirsten Dunst star as the titular teenage queen, who historically treasured her own jewelry collection. Showcasing the royal’s opulent and overindulgent lifestyle behind the gilded gates of Versailles, Dunst wears diamond feather brooches, diamond bracelets, and necklaces, with various pairs of drop earrings, like the 18th-century star and moon diamond chandelier earrings, totaling 25 carats.
2010: Sarah Jessica Parker’s Itay Malkin Black Diamond Engagement Ring in Sex and the City 2
In the 2010 Sex and the City cinematic sequel, Carrie and Mr. Big are already married (after that disastrous first attempt in the first film). After a fight, Big gifts Carrie a long-overdue 5-carat natural black diamond ring in one of the final scenes of the movie. When she asks him, “Why’d you get a black diamond?” Big replies, “Because you’re not like anyone else.” Ever the wit, she quips, “That’s a relief. I thought you were gonna say it’s the color of my soul.”
While production was on the hunt for black diamond rings, jewelry designer Itay Malkin anonymously submitted two options for consideration. Sarah Jessica Parker and writer/director, Michael Patrick King chose his design over 20 other big-time jewelry designers. Malkin collaborated closely with Parker and costume designer Patricia Field to refine the final design: a 5-carat round-cut black diamond set in 18-karat white gold, accented with a hidden halo of 78 pavé-set natural white diamonds totaling 0.43 carats. The result was an engagement ring as unconventional and unforgettable as Carrie herself.
2010: Angelina Jolie’s Cartier Diamond Jewelry in The Tourist
In The Tourist (2010), Angelina Jolie’s character Elise Clifton-Ward is defined by her elegance—most memorably through an extraordinary diamond choker with a dazzling history. Even before filming began, Jolie enlisted the expertise of jeweler Robert Procop to help identify the perfect piece. Procop scoured the globe, narrowing a field of 100 exceptional necklaces down to seven contenders before he and Jolie selected a Cartier masterpiece: an interwoven laurel-leaf choker set with circular-cut diamonds in platinum.
Originally crafted in Cartier’s Parisian workshop in 1906 for Louis-François Cartier himself, the jewel seamlessly bridged Belle Époque artistry with Hollywood glamour. After the film’s release, the necklace became a star in its own right—SONY Pictures even staged a traveling showcase to display the piece during the movie’s international press tour. Since then, the necklace has been immortalized as ‘The Elise Choker,’ forever linked to Jolie’s portrayal of the enigmatic heroine.
2012: Keira Knightley’s Chanel Diamond Jewelry in Anna Karenina
In the 2012 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, Keira Knightley’s tragic heroine dazzles in a cascade of pearls and Chanel diamonds, most memorably the layered floral Camélia Poudré necklace. Though the film is set in 19th-century Russia, the jewels were intentionally modern—an artistic choice that emphasized Anna’s otherworldly allure and heightened the stylized, theatrical tone of Joe Wright’s production.
As the longtime face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle fragrance, Knightley’s influence helped secure an extraordinary collaboration. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran was granted access to Chanel’s high jewelry archives, resulting in the use of approximately $2 million worth of Chanel Joaillerie throughout the film. The partnership not only elevated Anna’s aristocratic wardrobe but also marked one of the most glamorous intersections of couture, cinema, and fine jewelry in recent memory.
2013: Carey Mulligan’s Tiffany & Co. Diamond Jewelry in The Great Gatsby
In 2013, Baz Luhrmann reimagined F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby in a dazzling, high-octane spectacle, with Carey Mulligan stepping into the role of the elusive Daisy Buchanan. To capture the opulence of the Jazz Age, Luhrmann and costume designer Catherine Martin partnered with Tiffany & Co., the very jeweler Fitzgerald himself was known to frequent. For the film, Tiffany created an array of custom jewels that channeled 1920s glamour, including a diamond-and-cultured pearl headband with a dramatic feather plume and a series of intricate jeweled handpieces. The collaboration not only brought Fitzgerald’s world of excess vividly to life but also reaffirmed Tiffany’s place as the ultimate emblem of Jazz Age elegance.
2021: Lady Gaga’s Diamond Jewelry in House of Gucci
Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci is filled with diamonds, affluence, fashion, and murder. When Patrizia Reggiani, played by Lady Gaga, marries into the Gucci family, all hell breaks loose—but not before she rocks some ultra-luxurious jewelry from Boucheron and Bulgari. When Patrizia Reggiani first encounters Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) in House of Gucci, she captivates in a crimson gown paired with a Bulgari suite from the Le Magnifiche collection, styled by Oscar-winning costume designer Janty Yates.
The fiery necklace—set with 11 oval rubies and 77 round brilliant-cut natural diamonds—was perfectly complemented by matching earrings, mirroring Patrizia’s bold allure. As she muses in the film, ‘They had it all—wealth, style, power. Who wouldn’t kill for that?’ the jewels underscore both her irresistible charm and the opulence of the Gucci dynasty. A tale of ambition and revenge, her jewels represent the grandeur and opulence only natural diamonds can capture.
2025: Mia Goth’s Archival Tiffany & Co. Diamond Jewelry in Frankenstein
Tiffany & Co. once again takes center stage on the silver screen—this time in Netflix’s Frankenstein, the highly anticipated new film from Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro. For the first time, the jeweler has brought together rare vintage diamond masterworks and contemporary high jewelry in a single production, drawing from the extraordinary depth of the Tiffany Archives. Costume designer Kate Hawley paired the storied pieces with custom textiles in rich jewel tones inspired by organic forms, seamlessly weaving Tiffany’s jewels into the fabric of the film.
Set in the 1850s, Frankenstein grounds its Gothic romance with jewelry that reflects the era’s opulence. 27 Tiffany & Co. designs and objects appear on screen—including necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, brooches, pendants, a sterling silver hair comb, and even a pocket watch. Nearly every piece is worn by Mia Goth in her role as Elizabeth, cementing Tiffany’s jewels as an essential element of the character’s identity.
In the first stills from the film, Goth is draped in sapphires and vivid cerulean hues, her head adorned with peacock-feather fascinators, and her décolletage glittering with the antique diamond Wade necklace alongside the multi-strand Favrile Glass Scarab necklace.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Hawley shared: “Having Tiffany & Co. as a collaborator was an honor that was deeply moving for my entire crew. It was a recognition of our craft and added a new artistic dimension. Tiffany’s jewelry became its own creative contribution, similar to hair design, makeup, wardrobe, sets, and props. It was not just an accessory but an essential element of Elizabeth’s character, enhancing the color palette and overall interpretation of her world.”
