A few components are essential to a successful film, like a great script, a skilled director and, of course, talented actors. But other elements help make a movie memorable, like the setting, the costumes and, of course, the jewelry. Here, Vanessa Cron, the jewelry historian behind the delightful Instagram account @jewelsandthegang, highlights some standout gems that played key roles in films.
The Breakfast Club
“This one runs deep into our souls and might not be understood by everyone. But for anyone who was a teenager in 1985, there’s no more meaningful jewel than a round-diamond ear stud. A single one to be precise. The one given by Claire, played by Molly Ringwald, to John, played by Judd Nelson, while ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me),’ by Simple Minds, is blasting in the background.”
“I know those who have seen The Breakfast Club, directed by John Hughes, get chills by simply reminiscing about how they felt when they saw it. They felt they belonged somewhere. They felt everything was possible. And they felt that their own ‘weird’ was seen and celebrated. Whether they were seen as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess or a criminal, or all of that.”
Crazy Rich Asians
“Sometimes, a jewel can become somewhat of a character in a movie. It might symbolize more than its value, more than money, more than pretty, more than fashion. It can be as powerful as a jewelry box opened by Nick Young, played by Henry Golding, proposing to his girlfriend Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, on a plane and revealing an emerald and diamond engagement ring in Crazy Rich Asians, directed by John Chu in 2018.”
“Spoiler alert: It means family, it means love, it means acceptance, and it means happy ending. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s a gift from Young’s mother, Eleanor, played by Michelle Yeoh. Yes, I know that if you haven’t seen the movie, it will not speak to you. But if you have, you know how beautiful and powerful that is — and what a beautiful emerald and diamond engagement ring really means.”
Star Wars
“This bracelet right here is movie history more than you know. It is the Darina bracelet by Finnish designer Björn Weckström for Lapponia from his Space Silver series, inspired by the first steps on the moon, in 1969. Why is it movie history? Because in 1976, Weckström received a call from an unknown (to him) assistant to a movie director in the U.S. who asked him for some futuristic silver jewels for a movie they were about to shoot. As the timing of the request was so short, Weckström advised said assistant to go shop for some of his already-available jewels in London, where the movie crew was located.”
“Little did he know that his jewels had been chosen to adorn what would be become one of the most famous characters of all time: Princess Leia. Because, yes, this Darina bracelet and Planetoid Valleys necklace were indeed worn by ultra-fabulous Carrie Fisher in the last scene of Star Wars, directed by George Lucas, when she’s awarding medals to Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, and Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford. Can there be anything more iconic than this? I think not.”
Wonder Woman 1984
“Every woman knows that a good large cuff bracelet feels empowering to wear. So it was fitting that Diana Prince, played by Gal Gadot, was wearing a pair of the best cuffs ever made in Wonder Woman 1984, directed by Patty Jenkins.”
“The Bone cuffs were created by master designer Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. 50 years ago and have never ceased to be fashionable. The metal seems to have been cast directly onto the body, the sensuality is obvious, as is the reminder of the human fragility — all the while feeling like protective armor and making you feel the strongest you’ve ever been and the very definition of a wonder woman. An unmatched tour de force of design.”
Casino
“Some call it the ‘mob wife’ trend, or it could just be the 1970s coming back in full force. Whatever it is, there’s one way to get the look, and that’s to emulate the original movie mob wife: Sharon Stone in Martin Scorsese’s 1996 film Casino.”
“Who has not dreamed of that intense scene when she is handed a suitcase full of Bulgari jewels? Not a jewelry box or two. An actual suitcase of jewels! What fantasies are made of. Get yourself one or two of those Bulgari bangles or necklaces and feel like a million dollars. Or like Sharon Stone. Gold is always the answer!”
