Bridgerton is Back! Meet the Diamonds of Season 2

Bridgerton, Netflix’s hit period piece set in Regency England is back with season two. Based on Julia Quinn’s enormously popular novels, it was the platform’s highest viewed television series to date when it premiered on Christmas day in 2020. The eight-episode season took home a well-deserved 12 Emmy nominations which came to nobody’s surprise. Sexy, sophisticated and a feast for the senses, the show fed us scads of decadent costumes, lavish jewels and a delicious gossip-fueled storyline.

Diamonds are an integral part of Bridgerton, both as a theme an in the wardrobe. In the series, the chosen debutant is the “diamond of the season” and the series even played a rendition of the Rihanna song “Diamonds.” And of course, there are no shortage of diamonds worn by the characters.   

Centered around the eldest Bridgerton daughter’s societal debut, season one set the bar extremely high. We watched, mouths agape, while Daphne navigated her steamy courtship with The Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset, who later became Prince. With season two fast approaching, everyone is asking the same question: how can it possibly compare?

As season one was Daphne’s, season two focuses on the oldest Bridgerton sibling—Anthony—and his need for a suitable match. Early on, we meet Kate and her younger sister Edwina Sharma, newly arrived Bridgertonians who have relocated from India. Will Kate spark a match with Anthony? That’s what the trailer suggests but past the love, lust and trickery we’ve come to expect, it’s the jewels that will make us press pause. Whether it’s the ballroom, the drawing room or the Queen’s court, you can expect lots of sparkle from the Bridgertons, Featheringtons and, of course, Lady Danbury herself.  Assistant costume designer in season one, Sophie Canale, is now at the helm as costume designer for season two. Sophie drew back the velvet curtain for the Natural Diamond Council and offered us a sneak peek.

Get the Look: Bridgerton Season 2 Jewelry Inspiration

As with season one, season two required an army to create its 700 costumes. “Most of the jewelry is designed so I would go through a process of taking elements from historical, mainly Georgian references for the mothers of Lady Danbury, Lady Fetherington and Lady Bridgerton,” said the costume designer. Sophie’s brilliant team focused on collecting images, fabric samples and collaborating with three jewelers who designed the adornment for season two. It’s no surprise that most of the pieces were costume as it would have cost millions to outfit the hundreds of costumes in real diamonds and gems from the period. 

“It was always an inspiration, you know. It wasn’t this has to be like this; it was a journey.  As a jewelry team they would show me elements that they thought worked.” But what works for the mothers doesn’t necessarily work for the daughters. “With the younger characters I would take more contemporary references, so there was this difference between the generations of women,” Sophie Canale said.“

And also, you’ll notice this season we had more elaborate tie pins with the men and they all have fob watches in the tones of their costumes as well.” 

In addition to the men upping their jewelry game in the new season, signet rings were a part of their wardrobe as seen on Anthony in a scene with his new love interest.

What of the new ladies in the ‘ton? The Sharma sisters are spicing things up this season too, especially with their jewelry. “I took inspiration for the Sharma family from historical Indian jewelry,” Canale said. “So you can see with the beadwork and the choice of shapes are very much Indian inspired using rose gold as a base for most of their jewelry.”

This plays out in the use of tonal beading and gemstones that correlate with the colors in the costumes. “One thing I did introduce as well is hair decorations rather than always having hats. Using hair pins which were part of the jewelry collection set­–pieces so everything is matching.” Brilliant!  

Though we expect to see a plethora of extravagant chokers and encrusted tiaras this season, the elegant Lady Daphne Bassett returns with her more delicate signature: a diamond cluster stud earring. 

Like Lady Bassett, the Sharma sisters can be seen in layered statement pieces as well as more understated tonal pendant necklaces. Though there is still much mystery behind Lady Whistledown, costume designer Sophie Canale shines a light on the woman famous for creating whispers across town. “I think Lady Whistledown would be a pearl lady. She is very demure and I think she would not be too showy, a classic pearl.” What else will Lady Whistledown dig up, spill and whisper this season?

If you want a little Bridgerton inspiration for your own jewelry collection, Canale suggests starting with florals. “I think floral is always fun. In our day wear we use a lot of floral beads and glassware. For evening wear, tiaras, sparkle, sparkle, sparkle, I can’t get enough!”

So how many pieces of jewelry are there overall in season two? “I actually can’t answer that question because there are so many,” Canale says. “I don’t even know where to start. Mind blown!” Mind blown, indeed.

Stream Bridgerton Season 2 on Netflix beginning March 25th.