A sparkling, sensational selection of jewels offered by StyleLab at its Academy Awards Suite
Color and sparkle, in stunning gems from black diamonds to aquamarine, tourmaline, sapphires, emeralds and zultanite set in a variety of precious metals were the must-haves on the Academy Awards red carpet.
About $20 million worth of precious jewelry was on loan from StyleLab and its arbiter of Oscar taste, celebrity stylist Michael O’Connor, in town from New York with a security guard in tow.
He arrived with more than 200 pieces from the American Gem Trade Association Collection, Dena Kemp, IDH Titanium, and Farah Khan, among other designers, putting them on display in a luxury hotel suite in Beverly Hills—all for nominees, presenters and other VIPs to sport during Oscar Week at parties and the awards themselves.
Earrings were key, and StyleLab offered an interesting take on big, bold designs with large pairs set in titanium, the lightweight material that some eyeglasses are made of—thus alleviating the heavy, painful earring syndrome that can weigh down even the most stunning award-winners.
Jeff Bridges’ daughter Isabelle chose diamond and emerald earrings by Farah Khan, valued at more than $45,000, while Haley Bridges chose a 6-carat diamond and sapphire ring by Dena Kemp.
Mary Zophres (nominated for Costume Design for “True Grit”) picked orange sapphire (7.60 carats) and diamond mosaic filigree earrings by Dallas Prince from the American Gem Trade Association Collection, worth nearly $12,000 and Michael De Luca (nominated as one of the producers for Best Picture for “The Social Network”) picked up onyx and diamond cufflinks for the Oscars.
Cheryl Cecchetto (producer of Academy Awards Governor’s Ball) was the belle of that ball in a nearly 76-carat green tourmaline necklace by Cynthia Renee for the American Gem Trade Association Collection coupled with bold 24-carat mint green tourmaline and diamond earrings by Jeffrey Bilgore for the American Gem Trade Association Collection, a jewelry ensemble valued at $170,000.
For men, O’Connor is a big fan of a diamond lapel pin on a tuxedo, along with cufflinks and/or shirt studs to provide some individuality to the guys, who always–no matter how bright their star is–pale in comparison to the women. He’s already preparing his next red carpet collection.
