Shimmering cinema: The five best pieces of jewellery in movies
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(Credits: Far Out / 20th Century Fox)
Movie studios, directors and producers often believe that it’s the grand spectacle of cinema that people remember when it comes to their favourite films. But, often, the headline-grabbing moments come from the tiniest details. Thanks to their glittering beauty, humans are like magpies to jewellery, meaning that whenever a sparkling ring, gorgeous necklace or splendid broach comes on screen, thousands of beady eyes are staring right back.
Ever since the very dawn of the moving image, stunning statement pieces of jewellery have infatuated movie lovers, with many going into the history books of cinema the moment they are worn. Take, for example, the iconic Heart of the Ocean seen in James Cameron’s epic Titanic, with the stunning necklace almost preceding the reputation of the film itself, especially as it is now believed to be the most expensive jewellery ever made for cinema.
Elsewhere, Aubrey Hepburn has stunned with her diamond and pearl necklace from the admittedly dated 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the 84-karat Isadora necklace from How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days far outweighed the quality of the movie itself. Yet, while iconic, there is arguably a box of bling that betters such aforementioned gems, appearing in everything from fantasy epics to frenetic New York tales.
Each of the following pieces stuns in some shape or form, whether they inspire wonder, awe or even laughter.
The five best pieces of jewellery in movies:
5. Arwen’s Evenstar Pendant – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Peter Jackson, 2002)
Of course, Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy makes it onto the list; it’s called Lord of the Rings, for goodness sake. Though the titular ring itself is a solid piece of bling, it cannot compare to Arwen’s Evenstar Pendant, which we see throughout the trilogy but get a proper good look at in 2002’s Two Towers. A flowing, flower-like silver pendant, the piece has since become the tattoo or replica piece of jewellery of choice for LOTR fans worldwide.
Given to Aragorn as a symbol of defiance, the necklace represents the love between the ranger and Arwen, becoming an amazing gift for someone who had only recently entered the latters’ lives.
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4. The ‘B’ necklace – The Other Boleyn Girl (Justin Chadwick, 2008)
Sometimes, nothing is quite as good as the real thing, and while the glowing nature of Arwen’s Evenstar Pendant was special to behold, Anne Boleyn’s ‘B’ necklace from Justin Chadwick’s The Other Boleyn Girl is a stunner. With a taste that was centuries ahead of its time, the necklace looks like the kind of thing everyone from the ages of 20-30 has, with their own respective letter, of course.
Worn in real life by the wife of Henry VIII, who was later executed for supposed adultery, as well as Natalie Portman, who played her in Chadwick’s The Other Boleyn Girl, the necklace is a proper classy piece of treasure.
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3. Furby on fleek – Uncut Gems (Safdie brothers, 2019)
The Safdie brothers’ 2019 film Uncut Gems is, no doubt, considered a classic of contemporary cinema, but for some, it will forever be synonymous with its diamond-encrusted Furby created by protagonist Howard Ratner. A kitsch piece of bling that looks exactly like the toy that was popular in the late 1990s, Ratner’s Furby is hideous to some and a true beauty to others.
Yet, even though its quality is divisive, everyone can agree that it is an ice-breaker at a party, with its moveable eyes being a real selling point for this bulky yet incredibly cute little fella.
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2. Diamond Jim’s Diamond Ring – Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie (Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, 2012)
Let’s take a step back for just a moment and embrace the fantasy of what every single person in the world wants: the biggest diamond ring in existence. Although the results have never been made definitive, it’s pretty clear that the diamond ring in Tim and Eric’s Billion Dollar Movie is surely the biggest ever to hit the silver screen, with Diamond Jim being a truly generous gentleman.
Shown in the opening sequence of Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim’s absurd comedy, the diamond ring is a novelty-sized treat given to the love of Diamond Jim’s life. Is the ring itself real? With just one small huff of movie magic, anything is indeed believable.
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1. Garland Necklace – Moulin Rouge (Baz Luhrmann, 2001)
Bigger is, indeed, sometimes better, with the Garland necklace in Baz Luhrmann’s wonderous musical Moulin Rouge being a stunning piece that makes Satine, played by Nicole Kidman, stand out from the crowd. Less of a necklace and more of an entire chest piece, the Garland is known as one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever made for the silver screen, costing an estimated $1million.
As Satine sings, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” and with 1,308 diamonds on her necklace, it’s no surprise why she thinks so. No matter how against materialism you might claim to be, no one could escape the allure of the Garland necklace.
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