The best jewellery at the Met Gala 2023

By Kim Parker

Sure, Choupette in various guises was there, too. But in keeping with the monochrome looks dedicated to the career of Karl Lagerfeld at this year’s Met Gala, diamonds and pearls shone out as the jewels of the moment.

Far from her fictional role as a star as a ‘mark’ who unwittingly aids in the theft of precious diamonds from the Met Gala in the film Ocean’s 8, Anne Hathaway chose to wear a Bulgari high jewellery necklace and bracelet, both crafted from yellow gold set with an ancient silver coins and pavé diamonds.

Rihanna also opted to adorn herself in Bulgari jewels, selecting an intricate platinum necklace of cultured Akoya pearls, round white diamonds and pear-shaped diamond drops.

British star Lily James went for white diamonds by De Beers, choosing an enormous pair of ascher-cut diamond stud earrings and duo of diamond necklaces, including a strand of white diamonds and a pear-cut central stone taken from a transformable high jewellery necklace.

The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey looked every inch the Disney princess in delicate white lace, accented with dramatic drop earrings in 18k white gold, set with gleaming round cut diamonds.

Serena Williams positively glowed in a Paloma Picasso-designed Olive Leaf Torsade pearl necklace, a triple-stranded Ziegfeld collection pearl necklace and platinum and diamond earrings, all by Tiffany & Co.

Oh ma gah! Cardi B showcased two show-stopping looks for the gala. The first was a powder-pink corseted confection by Miss Sohee, which the musician accessorised with a bespoke Raindrop choker by London-based jeweller, Anabela Chan. The spectacular piece consisted of over 20-carats of lab-grown diamonds set in recycled 18k gold and silver with cultured freshwater pearls and repurposed mother-of-pearl paste pearls.

A freshly shaven-headed Florence Pugh also added extra drama to her Valentino ensemble with Tiffany & Co jewels, choosing not one, but two pairs of platinum and cultured South Sea pearl and diamond earrings and a spectacular wrist stacks of white diamond and pearl tennis bracelets, all topped off with two chunky diamond rings – one set with an 11-carat diamond, and the other with a round diamond weighing over 6-carats.

Actor and singer Ariana DeBose was a ray of sunshine in pendant diamond earrings and a fistful of brilliant, cushion and oval-cut diamond rings, all by Bucherer.

Lily Collins was back from Paris and attended the gala in an array of Cartier jewels, including a dramatic high jewellery necklace from an as-yet-unveiled collection in platinum, diamonds and onyx, plus a matching pair of earrings, a white gold and diamond ring and a separate ring with parrots crafted from white gold, diamonds, black ceramic, sapphires and emeralds.

The ever-fabulous Michelle Yeoh also opted for a suite of shimmering Cartier diamonds, choosing a transformable high jewellery necklace crafted from platinum and diamonds, earrings and a swirled white gold, diamond and onyx ring.

Amanda Seyfried was a vision in rose gold, matching the fringed fabric of her mini dress with Cartier’s diamond-studded Agrafe earrings, ring and elaborate bib necklace.

Clad in a frothy pink gown not unlike the one she wore in her famous Chanel No.5 advert, Nicole Kidman stepped out in a pair of platinum chandelier earrings set with 16.64 carats of diamonds, plus a matching diamond cluster ring weighing 2.33 carats, both by Harry Winston.

Viola Davis embellished her fabulous fuchsia dress with a sprinkling of Boucheron diamonds, choosing a pair of white gold and diamond hoop earrings, a matching white gold and diamond bracelet and two sparkling diamond rings by the Parisian jeweller.

Don’t worry darling, Olivia Wilde was here for the diamonds, too. Wilde adorned herself with the maker’s yellow gold Vendôme pendant earrings with pavé and pear-cut diamonds, plus two sparkling yellow and white gold and diamond rings.

We loved the more is more approach that Rita Ora took on the red carpet. The singer embellished her gothic black gown with pearl-studded nail chains, plus a pair of diamond chandelier earrings and sparkling stacks of engraved gold, diamond and pearl cuffs by Italian jeweller, Buccellati.

Dramatic collar necklaces were totally a thing, perhaps in homage to Karl Lagerfeld’s signature starched white collar. Model Irina Shayk dazzled in a customised collar necklace from Ana Khouri with pear-cut diamond drops.

Alongside Karl-esque sunglasses and a platinum blonde wig, Jessica Chastain sported a white diamond sautoir from Gucci with a sparkling horse bit motif, plus diamond and imperial topaz rings.

Like this? Read about the astonishing blue diamond Priyanka Chopra wore to the Met Gala 2023.