One often thinks of luxury and wealth when mentioning Hollywood and celebrity culture. We see some of the greatest diamonds displayed in popular cinema yet often disregard the fact that some of those pieces have (or are inspired by) some of the richest history.
TITANIC
James Cameron’s Titanic features a replica of one of the world’s famous jewels, the Hope Diamond. In the film’s story, the diamond was known as the “Heart of the Ocean” previously owned by Louis XVI, the diamond itself is inspired by the rich history of the Hope Diamond. The stone is said to have been stolen from India centuries ago and has since been passed on for generations. It is now displayed at the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
In 1953, Marilyn Monroe starred in American film director Howard Hawks’ Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which she performs the famously known number: “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”. The necklace she wears in this iconic number includes the famous jewel known as the Moon of Baroda, previously owned by Marie Antoinette and Marie Theresa of Austria.
HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS
In the 2003 film, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Kate Hudson’s character wears an 84-carat yellow diamond pendant, said to be worth $5.3 million. This piece is one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever commissioned for a movie.
MOULIN ROUGE
In Baz Luhrmann’s hit film Moulin Rouge, Nicole Kidman’s character, Satine, wears a beautiful custom-made necklace designed by Stefano Canturi. It was inspired by the extravagant designs of the late 1800s, including the stylings of Louis XVI. The necklace was hand-crafted in 18K gold and studded with 1,308 diamonds.
OCEAN’S 8
Worn by Anne Hathaway in the 2008 film, Ocean’s 8, the film featured a replica of the Touissant Cartier necklace, crafted in 1931 for Maharaja of Nawanagar by Jacques Cartier himself. The Jeanne Touissant necklace is said to be worth USD 150 million.
