The Best Natural Diamond Jewelry in Emmy History
The Emmy Awards are back, baby! And Tinseltown’s finest are sure to be covered in diamonds.
When the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards return to our screens on Monday evening, the red carpet is sure to bring some must-see fashion moments and dazzling diamond jewelry. Since postponing the 2023 ceremony due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the Emmys are officially back!
The 75th annual ceremony will honor the best in American primetime television programming in the last year — and our favorite binges are leading the pack in nominations. Selected by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, beloved series from Succession, Abbott Elementary, and The White Lotus were given a substantial amount of nods, while other fan-favorites like The Crown, Only Murders in the Building, Beef, The Last of Us, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, accumulated their fair share of accolades as well.
Nominated A-listers include a lot of faces that regularly make the best dressed lists, known to be drenched in natural diamonds. There’s the legendary Christina Applegate (Dead to Me), who has made the list of best diamond jewelry moments of the Emmy Awards for her long layers of diamond necklaces at the 2003 ceremony. Abbott Elementary‘s Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph are also among the nominees along with Jessica Chastain, Jenna Ortega, Sarah Snook, and Jennifer Coolidge. The ceremony will be hosted by Black-ish actor and comedian Anthony Anderson and will air at 8 p.m. ET on Monday.
In honor of television’s biggest night, we’re looking back on the most iconic diamonds to hit the Emmy Awards red carpet throughout the years. From Mary Tyler Moore in the 1980s to the Jennifers of the early-aughts (Garner, Aniston, and more), catch our favorite natural diamond jewelry moments in Emmy history, below.
Zendaya, 2022
Zendaya made history (again) during the 2022 Emmy Awards, taking home the trophy for Leading Actress in a Dramatic Series for her portrayal of Rue in Euphoria. Dressed by stylist Law Roach, Zendaya wore a strapless black Valentino peplum ballgown and a black satin headband. Adding some shine to her classic ensemble, Zendaya adorned Bulgari diamond stud earrings and a shimmering diamond choker with a delicate pendant dripping off her collarbone.
Billy Porter, 2021
Billy Porter is the expert when it comes to a dramatic look, and his custom Ashi Studio all-black, winged ensemble delivered just that for the 2021 Emmy Awards, along with a plentiful array of diamond jewelry. The Pose star wore a Lorraine Schwartz diamond and emerald necklace with two diamond ear cuffs, reportedly valued at $1 million. Porter completed the look with an assortment of diamond rings by Schwartz and H.Crowne, worn over his black opera gloves.
Kim Kardashian, 2019
Kim Kardashian presented the award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program at the 2019 Emmys, wearing a black velvet corseted Vivienne Westwood gown with two thick diamond chains layered with a diamond cross pendant by Jadelle Beverly Hills. Ahead of the ceremony, the SKIMS mogul teased the look from her dressing room, wearing an additional necklace — a diamond chain choker with an emerald at the center.
Jane Fonda, 2017
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.
Zoë Kravitz, 2017
Big Little Lies actress Zoë Kravitz attended the 2017 Emmy Awards wearing a feathered Dior Haute Couture gown with a plunging neckline, perfectly accenting her two Tiffany & Co. diamond and platinum riviera necklaces worth a total of $440,000. The star completed her suit with diamond studs from the jeweler, weighing in at about 5 carats.
Lea Michele, 2010
Glee star Lea Michele stepped out on the red carpet for the 2010 Emmy Awards, wearing a navy blue Oscar de la Renta strapless gown with diamond stud earrings, stacks of diamond bangles, and a statement-making Lorraine Schwartz diamond mesh choker necklace.
January Jones, 2008
January Jones arrived at the 2008 Emmy Awards with her golden blonde hair tied up in a bun, wrapped in a Kwiat diamonds-by-the-yard necklace for the effect of 5-rows of glittering headbands. The Mad Men actress accessorized with diamond drop earrings to complete the look.
Christina Applegate, 2003
Christina Applegate took home the Emmy in 2003 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy for playing one of Rachel Green’s (Jennifer Aniston) snobby sisters on Friends. Tapping into a 1920’s flapper-inspired aesthetic, the star chose a low-waisted baby blue sheath dress with buckled straps, diamond link-chain drop earrings, and layers and layers of long diamond necklaces.
Courteney Cox, 2003
Friends actress Courteney Cox attended the 2003 Emmy Awards, wearing a classic Carolina Herrera gown with dainty yet substantial diamond drop earrings and a double-stack of Art Deco sapphire-and-diamond bracelets.
Jennifer Garner, 2002
Nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series thanks to her role in Alias, Jennifer Garner attended the 2002 Emmy Awards wearing an ivory waterfall draped georgette Ralph Lauren gown teamed with a floral diamond necklace and matching three-stone drop diamond earrings. The actress also wore a vintage 14 karat white gold and diamond watch circa the 1950s, thanks to Ralph Lauren’s collection of estate jewelry, along with a star sapphire platinum and diamond ring from the 1930’s.
Jennifer Aniston, 2000
Friends star Jennifer Aniston made one of her most memorable appearances with then-husband Brad Pitt at the Emmy Awards in 2000, wearing a simplistic red strapless Prada column gown and a diamond necklace, a diamond bangle, and tiny diamond drop earrings, which peaked out from under her golden locks.
Mary Tyler Moore, 1987
Trailblazer Mary Tyler Moore wore an emerald green one-shoulder column gown to the 1987 Emmy Awards, topped off with circular pavé diamond and yellow gold earrings.
Betty White, 1976
Betty White took home the Emmy Award in 1976 for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, thanks to her part on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, wearing thin oval-shaped pavé diamond earrings.
