First was the monochromatic mood in which actresses sported colored gemstone jewels that nearly matched their gowns (see: Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Oh, and Rachel Brosnahan).
Their embrace of color delivered unexpected red-carpet drama when white diamonds are always the safe bet.
Second were necklaces and chokers hitting around the 16-inch mark or above. These flattering lengths break up the bare neckline that many a gown creates, and several actresses weren’t shy to pair a statement jewel with a statement gown (see: Zendaya, Melanie Lynskey, Sarah Paulson, and newcomer Hannah Einbinder).
Let’s start there, with Zendaya, who, with help from her stylist Law Roach, always delivers a jewelry and fashion moment.
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Cultural touchstone “Euphoria” is the most provocative show on television and the vehicle that transported Zendaya from child actor to Hollywood powerhouse.
It’s only fitting that the one-name-only ingenue dons jewelry that equals her blinding star power on occasions when she’s adding to her trophy collection. (The 2022 Emmys were no exception, with Zendaya taking home a statue for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Rue on the HBO show.)
It wasn’t a surprise to anyone that she wore Bulgari, as she has an endorsement deal with the brand.
The focus of her 2022 Emmys Bulgari look was a high jewelry collar with dangling 4.45-carat oval diamond, and 12.96 carats of additional diamonds, all set in white gold.
She paired it with diamond studs weighing 2.3 carats each and a high jewelry ring with a 3.02-carat oval diamond, 20 step-cut diamonds totaling 1.98 carats, and pavé diamonds totaling 2.74 carats.
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Moving on to a look with some color, Reese Witherspoon, nominated for “The Morning Show,” absolutely commanded the carpet in her directional ensemble.
She wore a black-and-blue sequin Armani Privé gown with a breathtaking Tiffany & Co. necklace.
It featured 160 carats of aquamarine, 49 carats of blue zircon and close to 2 carats of diamonds set in platinum.
She paired it with diamonds earrings and an aquamarine ring.
It was easily my favorite look of the evening. If only all celebrity fashion could be so exciting.
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There seems to be a certain sartorial freedom that comes with knowing you’re unlikely to win at these events.
Winners gravitate toward diamonds, while those less likely to claim a prize tend to deliver more interesting fashion and jewelry.
That’s my take on Witherspoon’s look, anyway, and I’m applying the same theory to Sandra Oh. Both were nominated in the same category as Zendaya, who is undisputedly having her moment.
All the better for Emmy watchers, who got to see Oh’s incredible jewelry.
Also falling into the monochrome category, the pink gemstones featured in the Cathy Waterman jewels the actress donned subtly picked up the shades of her Rodarte purple jumpsuit to create one cohesive look.
She wore Waterman’s “Long Bamboo Earrings” in morganite and recycled platinum and a kunzite and diamond ring in recycled platinum.
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Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nominee Rachel Brosnahan followed Oh’s lead with a deep violet-blue Pamela Rolland gown and a sapphire that, next to the dress, appeared purple.
The Cartier high jewelry necklace, featuring sapphires and diamonds in platinum, was complemented with a Pluie de Cartier ring and Étincelle de Cartier ring, both featuring diamonds in 18-karat white gold.
My favorite detail was the single Étincelle de Cartier 18-karat white gold and diamond ear cuff, worn without any other earrings.
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A nominee in the same category for her starring role in “The Flight Attendant,” Kaley Cuoco represented a muted version of the hot pink Barbiecore trend in pink jewels and a pink and floral-detailed Dolce & Gabbana gown.
My internet sleuthing leads me to think she wore these Boucheron 22-carat morganite “Hopi, The Hummingbird” earrings accented with diamonds. She wore them without the detachable diamond “pom pom” drops.
Cuoco, whose love for animals is well documented, carried her own little high jewelry menagerie on the red carpet, also sporting a Boucheron giraffe ring with a 15.45-carat oval morganite, champagne diamonds, and white diamonds.
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Her Christian Siriano gown was the color of chrysoprase, but a heavy dose of white diamonds was an excellent complement for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominee Melanie Lynskey, one of the stars of “Yellowjackets.”
Martin Katz was the designer behind her more-is-more look, which centered on a platinum and diamond necklace with 22.43 carats of pear-shaped diamonds and 21.93 carats of marquise diamonds.
She also wore diamond rings, a bracelet, and earrings with yellow and white diamonds.
Sarah Paulson didn’t shy away from accessories at the Emmys, adorning her Louis Vuitton skirt and top with an extra-long belt worn knotted.
More importantly was the high-wattage Boucheron choker she wore, which commanded extra attention sans earrings.
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Hannah Einbinder was nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actress award for her role in “Hacks” and with the help of stylist Kevin Michael Ericson, sported one of the most interesting jewelry looks of the night.
The white gold and diamond estate necklace circa 1990s was from the collection of Briony Raymond, the vintage jewelry curator and fabulous designer in her own right.
She also was responsible for the diamond studs and eternity band that complemented Einbinder’s statement necklace, which was in the style of a San Marcos link chain, a silhouette that newly launched brand Boochier has radically modernized in its “Slinkee” collection, which is more like the nostalgic shape of a telephone cord in my mind.
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The Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie winner for her role in “The Dropout,” Amanda Seyfried was worlds away from the woman she portrayed, Elizabeth Holmes, in an ethereal pink Armani Privé gown.
With tulle obscuring her neckline, Seyfried’s prime jewelry real estate was her ears, thanks to her slicked- back hair.
Cartier rose to the occasion with its high jewelry platinum and diamond earrings that perfectly matched the gown’s romantic mood.
