Natural Diamonds in Reverse: Wearing Necklaces Backwards Is All The Rage
When it comes to backwards diamond necklaces, we hate to see you go, but love to watch you walk away.
One jewelry style hack has seen a renewed interest of late – backwards diamond necklaces. Turning around a necklace and wearing your natural diamonds in reverse turns tradition on its head for a transitional, versatile, and transformative look.
Taylor Russell glistened at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, wearing a cream-colored strapless Loewe gown with a chiffon shawl draped around her neck, à la Princess Diana at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Although her clavicle was covered, Russell didn’t miss the opportunity to creatively drip in diamonds. Styled by Jahleel Weaver, the actress adorned a resplendent Tiffany & Co. natural diamond pendant necklace, worn backwards, with a pear-shaped diamond of over 11 carats sitting between her shoulder blades.
on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Getty Images)
on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Getty Images)
The perfect accessory to a backless gown, wearing a diamond necklace in reverse is timeless, yet subversive and unexpected. But you can’t just turn any necklace backward. For maximum impact, the jewel must have an organic clasp for a seamless front-facing look to achieve the ideal “business in the front, party in the back” situation.
An infinite strand of consistent diamonds will do the trick, scooping or draping down the spine. A Y-shaped lariat necklace will gracefully dangle between the shoulders, preferably with a provoking diamond pendant dripping down the nape of the neck.
Russell is hardly the first A-lister to adopt the backwards trend. Nicole Kidman attended the Academy Awards in 2008, wearing a waist-length necklace created by L’Wren Scott that formed a front-and-back curtain of 7,645 individual diamonds for a 360-degree look. Kate Hudson arrived at the 2010 SAG Awards in a white backless Emilio Pucci gown with a Cartier diamond Sautoir Spotlight necklace swinging from behind her.
When Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway took home the Oscars for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively in 2013, both chose to wear their diamonds in reverse. J.Law even followed suit again the following year. Rita Ora, Jaime King, and Lashana Lynch have all turned their Bulgari Serpenti necklaces around so that their diamonds (literally) snaked down the back.
In June 2024, Sotheby’s hosted the Magnificent Jewels auction in New York City. A Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco diamond ‘tie’ necklace sold for $3.6 million, fetching three times its estimated value. The bauble rested on the model’s collarbone and dangled down her back.
Here, Only Natural Diamonds has rounded up our favorite red carpet moments with style stars wearing their diamond necklaces in reverse throughout the years.
Brie Larson in
Chanel Diamonds
Styled by Samantha McMillen, actress Brie Larson wore a Chanel diamond necklace featuring the camelia flower, turned around, dangling down her back at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Lashana Lynch in
Bulgari Diamonds
Lashana Lynch got creative with her Bulgari Serpenti necklace, wearing it backwards so the tail dripped down the back of her gown at the 2023 BAFTA Film Awards. She paired the High Jewelry necklace with Serpenti Viper drop earrings in White Gold with 2.08 carats of diamonds and the Serpenti Viper band in White Gold with 8.91 carats of diamonds.
Katherine Langford in
Piaget Diamonds
Actress Katherine Langford attended the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, wearing a silver sequined Prada gown and a piece from Piaget’s high jewelry collection – a mixed-cut diamond necklace with an emerald center stone in reverse.
Anya Taylor-Joy in
Tiffany & Co. Diamonds
Styled by Paul Burgo, Anya Taylor-Joy arrived at the 2021 Emmy Awards, wearing a butter yellow Dior backless halterneck gown, teamed with draped strings of Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard and a golden opera coat.
Gillian Anderson in
Tiffany & Co. Diamonds
Gillian Anderson stepped out at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, wearing a pure white Dior gown with a sweeping low-cut back – the ideal canvas for her Tiffany & Co. platinum and diamond Circlet necklace, worn backward. She teamed her ensemble with the jeweler’s Victoria diamond earrings.
Cynthia Erivo in
Roberto Coin Diamonds
Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Harriet, Cynthia Erivo attended the 2020 SAG Awards, wearing a bright red and hot pink custom Schiaparelli gown and a diamond serpentine Roberto Coin necklace that slithered down her back to great glistening effect.
Jane Fonda in Gismondi
1754 Diamonds
At the 2017 Emmy Awards, Jane Fonda teamed her hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown with contrasting diamond and emerald jewels, courtesy of Gismondi 1754. The legendary actress wore the Italian jeweler’s Rugiada necklace backwards for a choker effect in the front, and a dangling detail in the back. Worth $1.75 million, the piece comprised of 26.61 carats of pear-shape white diamonds, 24.42 carats of navette-shape diamonds, 18.84 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds, and 82.88 carats of pear shape emeralds. Styled by Tanya Gill, Fonda matched the show-stopping necklace with emerald and diamond chandelier earrings.
Jennifer Lawrence Chopard & Neil Lane Diamonds
Winning Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence famously tripped over her voluminous Christian Dior Couture ivory number while climbing the ceremony steps to receive her Academy Award in 2013. The actress took her memorable look a few steps further with loads of Chopard natural diamonds. Lawrence wore 12-carat diamond drop earrings and a captivating ring, but what really completed the ensemble was her thin, traipsing necklace with 74 carats worth of diamonds, draped along her clavicle. With 150 diamond links, the long necklace cascaded down her back.
The following year, Lawrence kept the trend going. Nominated for her role in American Hustle and acting as a presenter, the star wore a bold red strapless Dior gown with $3 million worth of Neil Lane diamonds, including an infinity necklace that scooped down her back, similar to last year’s style playbook.
Anne Hathaway in
Tiffany & Co. Diamonds
Anne Hathaway won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2013 for her turn as Fantine in Les Misérables, wearing a soft pink Prada gown, diamond stud earrings, and a victory-worthy Tiffany & Co. floral diamond necklace that elegantly dangled down her back. The jewel looked just perfect with the crisscross strap detailing of her gown.
Kate Hudson in
Cartier Diamonds
While this look may be from the 2010 SAG Awards, the Cartier jewels are truly timeless. Kate Hudson opted to wear the long Sautoir Spotlight necklace down her back for a dramatic, sensual look. The necklace features a cluster of cascading diamond tassels that are absolutely divine and beautifully complement the earrings. Hudson also wore diamond chandelier earrings that added a touch of glamour to her crisp white boatneck Emilio Pucci gown.
Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott Diamonds
With a knack for exemplary Oscars jewelry, Nicole Kidman wore a black Balenciaga gown at the 2008 ceremony, that acted as a canvas for her mind-blowing diamonds. The actress was covered in a dramatic piece, created by L’Wren Scott, with 1,399 carats of rough diamonds in various cuts, shapes, and sizes – 7,645 individual diamonds to be exact.
Iman in De Beers Diamonds
When De Beers and Iman announced their partnership at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, Iman posed for a photocall, where she displayed De Beers’ “first diamond necklace” valued at over $100,000 at the time. The floral diamond jewels were auctioned off at the Cinema Against AIDS gala to benefit amfAR. The following year, Iman wore an uber-exaggerated version of De Beers’ “first diamond necklace” at the 2003 amfAR gala. Walking the red carpet in a slinky fuchsia Dior gown, Iman wore an elaborate wildflower couture neckpiece that covered her chest and extended down her back, featuring over 500 diamonds at 56 carats. She paired her bespoke necklace with a $2 million 5.5-carat emerald-cut rare pinkish-orange diamond ring, also from De Beers.
Shop the Trend
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamonds By The Yard Sprinkle Necklace via tiffany.com.
Chanel Les Infinis De Camélia Transformable Long Necklace, 18K White Gold and Diamonds, via chanel.com.
Bulgari Serpenti Viper Necklace, via bulgari.com.
Piaget Sunlight pendant, via piaget.com.
Stephanie Gottlieb Diamond Bezel Station Lariat Necklace, via stephaniegottlieb.com.
Hamilton Jewelers Fred Force 10 Necklace with 217 Round Brilliant-Cut Diamonds, via hamiltonjewelers.com.
Van Cleef and Arpels diamond necktie, via sothebys.com.
Neil Lane Neil Lane Couture Rose And Pear Cut Diamond And Platinum Necklace, via neillanecouture.com.
