Anyone seeking additional proof that the 2024 Oscars were rooted in a bigger-is-better vibe, look no further than the abundance of high-jewelry choices seen on the red carpet and inside the Dolby Theatre. Necklaces sometimes tend to take a backseat to chandelier earrings or a statement cocktail ring on red carpets these days, but not this year, as chokers, pendants and sautoirs ruled the parade of gems at the 96th Academy Awards. (See all the star-studded Oscars red carpet 2024 arrivals.)
Other jewelry trends seen at the 96th Academy Awards include a prevalence of jaw-dropping gemstones, from the sapphires on Emma Stone‘s Louis Vuitton high jewelry and the morganites favored by Zendaya — one of the night’s best-dressed stars — to the stunning aquamarine of 30-plus carats on the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book necklace worn by Gabrielle Union. White diamonds tend to rule major red carpets, and though they were undeniably omnipresent here as well, the presence of brilliant hues amid all those diamonds was a welcome addition to a night teeming with high style.
With that in mind, The Hollywood Reporter selected a dozen pieces that dazzled on the red carpet, from vintage jewels to designs freshly crafted in European workrooms, each playing a unique role in the sparkle of Hollywood’s biggest night.
Zendaya in Bulgari
A Bulgari ambassador since 2020, the Dune: Part Two star often wears high-wattage pieces from the jewelry house’s iconic Serpenti collection, but for the 2024 Oscars, the actress and star stylist Law Roach opted for high jewelry in delicate pink hues that paired beautifully with her Giorgio Armani Privé gown. These earrings feature an exquisite pair of triangular-cut morganites totaling 42.19 carats, surrounded by pink tourmalines, mandarin garnets and diamonds, all set in 18-karat pink gold.
Cynthia Erivo in Roberto Coin
Set to portray Elphaba in the upcoming Wicked, Erivo enjoyed honoring her character with a custom Louis Vuitton gown and bolero in emerald green leather, and she extended the theme to her manicure and jewels as well, the latter by designer Roberto Coin. Earrings set with diamonds and tsavorites and a bracelet highlighting emeralds and diamonds were fresh from Coin’s workroom in Italy, while Erivo accented her nail art with a flurry of rings from Coin’s Princess collection.
Charlize Theron in Boucheron
Admittedly the earrings were not necessary with this look, also because under the lights in the Dolby Theatre, Charlize Theron’s choker and necklace from Boucheron‘s Quatre Radiant Edition, both crafted in 18-karat white gold and set with diamonds, were true to their name, reflecting the light beautifully, especially against the glistening silver silk of her Dior Haute Couture gown. A variety of Boucheron rings completed the ensemble, but the necklace and choker truly made this look.
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton
The Poor Things star and Oscar best actress winner enjoyed a fairytale night in head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, including pieces from the house’s recently released Deep Time high-jewelry collection. Next to Stone’s mint-hued silk jacquard gown with peplum, her yellow sapphires were a standout choice, including the 30.47-carat octagonal step-cut sapphire at the center of this Drift necklace, which also featured diamonds set in 18-karat white gold.
Ke Huy Quan in Cartier
An early adopter of the men’s brooch trend, Ke Huy Quan had no intention of straying from what he considers to be his good-luck charm from when he won the best supporting actor Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023. This year his choice was one-half of a set of vintage Cartier Tradition Chevron clips from 1938, highlighting sapphires and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, which the actor paired with his burgundy double-breasted evening jacket by Giorgio Armani.
Gabrielle Union in Tiffany & Co.
Few people looked more joyful on the red carpet than Gabrielle Union, who attended the 2024 Oscars with husband Dwyane Wade. From her embellished minidress and column skirt by Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera to her Tiffany & Co. jewels, Union simply sparkled. That included the necklace from Tiffany & Co.‘s Blue Book Botanica collection, showcasing an emerald-cut aquamarine that exceeded 31 carats, surrounded by diamonds set in platinum.
America Ferrera in Pomellato
Among the night’s best-dressed women, America Ferrera excelled in an homage to Barbie pink with her chainmail gown by Atelier Versace. She also deserves kudos for not matching her jewelry too closely and instead opting for a tonal effect, achieved with Pomellato‘s Ode to Milan Castello necklace, which showcases five reverse-set rubellites totaling more than 29 carats, surrounded by more than 28 carats of diamonds and set in 18-karat rose gold.
Grace Gummer in Briony Raymond
Several attendees chose vintage jewels for the 2024 Oscars, including actress Grace Gummer, attending with husband Mark Ronson, a best original song nominee for Barbie. Gummer’s custom Gucci gown with allover sequins and deep-V neckline provided the perfect framing for this Estate Art Deco Sautoir necklace, crafted of round and baguette-cut diamonds set in platinum, by Briony Raymond.
Ava DuVernay in Reza
With her sleek custom Louis Vuitton gown in pale blue, writer-director-producer Ava DuVernay also went tonal with her jewelry, wearing earrings and a pair of rings by Reza. This Cone ring features the terrific color combination of an oval-cut sapphire in deep blue, surrounded by turquoise-hued tourmalines, all set in 18-karat white gold.
Margot Robbie in Fred Leighton
The Barbie star and executive producer caught everyone off guard, in the best possible way, by turning up at the 2024 Oscars not in her trademark pink of the last nine months, but in an Atelier Versace gown in such a deep brown that many style pundits thought it was black. Her neutral choices extended to her manicure and her jewels, including a vintage piece courtesy of Fred Leighton, a 1980s toursade cuff by Rene Boivin crafted in 18-karat yellow gold and embellished with diamonds.
Simu Liu in De Beers
A brooch is now a ubiquitous piece of men’s jewelry on red carpets, which only makes it more exciting when a star and his stylist employ it in imaginative ways. That was the case of Barbie co-star Simu Liu and his star stylist, Chloe Takayanagi, who accented his black tuxedo by Fendi with a platinum brooch set with 32.61 carats of diamonds from the Imaginary Nature high-jewelry collection by De Beers, employing the piece as the jacket closure vs. the more traditional and expected placement on the lapel.
Jamie Lee Curtis in Cathy Waterman
It’s easy to discern when a woman knows she looks amazing — by the way she walks through a room — and that was undeniably the case with Jamie Lee Curtis, who killed it in a sleek black gown by Dolce & Gabbana at the 2024 Oscars. Her jewels by Santa Monica-based Cathy Waterman only supported that idea, including a wide cuff crafted in 22-karat yellow gold and platinum, embellished with diamonds and sapphires. The cuff is inspired by Waterman’s first trip to Paris with her parents when she was a young girl and saw Winged Victory of Samothrace, the iconic circa-190 B.C. statue in the Louvre Museum. The piece indeed depicts the winged statue in platinum and diamonds, flanked by temple motifs accented with sapphires.
See more of the best fashion and beauty looks, check out THR‘s full Oscars issue and follow all of our Oscars 2024 coverage for the winners, memorable moments and what the cameras missed.