10 of the Best Understated Diamond Jewels at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
You know we love major priceless diamond jewelry statements at the Oscars. In fact, it’s a highlight of the jewelry calendar year to see all the splendor. But we also have major appreciation for diamond designs at the other end of the spectrum. The personal pieces that are less fantasy viewing and more inspirational ideas for every day. Just this type of jewelry could be found on any number of stylish stars at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
This diamond mode is trickier to get right than you might think. What am I saying? Well, it’s minimalist to be sure, but it’s not boring. It’s a dusting of diamonds that polishes a look to perfection. It has a presence, yet it doesn’t overwhelm or distract. When it’s done just right the diamonds feel thoughtful. I imagine the stylist and star working over trays of jewelry to find just the right way of completing a sleek outfit which is part of the equation. And hair is flowing with movement, bobbed or slicked back.
Without naming any names, there are those out there that leave jewelry off entirely and that doesn’t work. It feels bleak. These jewels spark a little joy. They also align with the 90s revival of a certain brand of minimalism that is going strong. And they are right in keeping with the headline news out of the fall fashions shown last month in Paris, Milan and New York: understated yet polished styles are in.
Find out more about the jewels below.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler who has rapidly become one of the male style stars of the red carpet sported a sleek Saint Laurent black suit with an open silk shirt that showed off his Étincelle de Cartier diamond necklace. The pear shape diamond pendant Austin wore is set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Kaia Gerber
Kaia Gerber who joined her longtime boyfriend at the Vanity Fair party clearly has 90s minimalism in her genes from her mother Cindy Crawford.
At the party she paired her metallic halter slip dress with De Beers The Alchemist of Light Midnight Aura 3.60-carat diamond ear climbers. The model also had on two diamond essentials from De Beers: an eternity band and tennis bracelet.
Laura Harrier
Laura Harrier who has worn some seriously major jewelry on the red carpet over the years, really switched gears at Vanity Fair with delicate diamond earrings. The actress sported lyrical Boucheron Plume de Paon Ear Clips with her off-the shoulder Saint Laurent gown.
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi is always one to watch on the red carpet for her chic style. An ambassador for Cartier she has donned some of the French firm’s masterworks. At Vanity Fair she showed the cooler side of the collection.
On one ear the actress wore two single diamond earrings: an Étincelle de Cartier ear cuff in white gold and an Étincelle de Cartier earring in rose gold. The opposite ear was bare.
Julia Garner
Julia Garner dared to wear the Off-White dress Naomi Campbell debuted so memorably in Paris 10-days ago and she totally pulled it off. Beyond having the perfect figure for the gown, the styling with Nina Runsdorf diamond jewels and brushed back hair made it work.
I’ll admit these earrings are not exactly understated in everyday life but in Hollywood red carpets they are. The All That Is earrings feature over 5-carat round diamonds set in gold pendants with a dramatic line of painted blackened rhodium.
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski is a serious jewelry lover. Over the years she has set trends in the category by the way she layers necklaces, tosses on hoops and designs engagement rings. It’s a major shift for her to go this minimal at a formal event like Vanity Fair, but here we are proving my jewelry point.
The uber-influencer model and actress paired Anita Ko Claw earrings with a sheer Feben gown.
Lily Aldridge
Model Lily Aldridge was another party-goer who chose to wear an ensemble straight off the Paris runways. Her fabulous gown came from Balmain.
She is also one of the women who has cropped their hair for a 21st century bob that really shows off jewelry well and makes it look so modern. Her classic pearl and diamond Mikimoto earrings look totally cool.
Kylie Jenner
The entire Kardashian Jenner clan are major devotees and friends with jewelry designer extraordinaire Lorraine Schwartz. Usually, however, they are in her big-time creations.
Kylie Jenner switched things up at Vanity Fair when she appeared in substantial yet smaller than normal studs and an elegant updo.
Hailey Bieber
Zendaya might have been the first celebrity to lob off her long locks then Hailey Bieber came in a close second. The model made the most of her short do at Vanity Fair by placing one giant Diamond Phillipa Ear Piece with a Hanging White Diamond from Ana Khouri on her upper lobe.
While the jewel is substantial, I would argue it’s still quite understated. It’s also impactful and feels very much like the new direction in diamonds.
