With movies and TV series providing the most accessible form of escapism these days, it’s no wonder everyone’s perpetually tuned in to the latest Netflix launches and cinematic releases. Most recently there was the return of Sex And The City sequel And Just Like That, as well as season two of Emily In Paris, keeping us glued to our couches—and obsessing over the characters’ myriad fashion and jewellery choices.
Likewise, more of us are hitting theatres to catch the latest movies, from action flicks such as No Time To Die to murder thriller House of Gucci and more. Sometimes you just got to watch it on the big screen. Although, when you’ve got Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Go, and more on your (probably also very big) screen at home, who’s to say that the best movie experience can only be had at the cineplex?
Plus, there’s always the best part about streaming the latest movie releases at home—we’re not talking about wearing sweatpants and zero make up. The best part is that every time you spot someone in the show wearing something that catches your eye, just hit that pause button to scrutinise the outfits and criticise (or rave about) them as loudly as you like. No one’s there to shush you! Having sat through some of the season’s best movies and TV shows, boy have we got lots to unpack.
Nominated for four Golden Globe awards this year, Don’t Look Up is the satirical science fiction film about an impact event, namely a meteor, on its way to obliterate life as we know it. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence who are the astronomers trying to alert the world of this potential threat. Supporting cast members include Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Ariana Grande, Jonah Hill, Timothée Chalamet and more.
As news of their discovery make it to the White House, the two scientists are granted an audience in the Oval Office with President Janie Orlean played by Meryl Streep. Here’s the first point in the movie where you want to press pause and take a nice close look at Streep’s fire-engine red ensemble.
Throughout the film, Madame President’s strong penchant for luxury is plain as day. Along with that heavily bejewelled US flag presidential pin, she’s got a thing for solid gold jewellery studded with diamonds. That braided gold necklace looks distinctively French made, reminiscent of vintage designs by Van Cleef & Arpels. Ditto that large ring on her right hand featuring two overlapping diamond pavé bands.
In this look, Streep also wears contemporary creations by Cartier such as the large Trinity de Cartier ring on her left hand matched with Trinity de Cartier earrings (not shown), and an unmissable Piaget Extremely Lady timepiece in pink gold studded with diamonds, featuring a bracelet fully covered with the maison’s Palace décor engraving.
Meanwhile, President Orlean’s immaculately dressed son and chief of staff, Jason, played by Jonah Hill, also has a thing for flashy men’s jewellery—and expensive hypebeast-worthy watches too. Pairing his designer suits with logomaniacal accessories, the finest silk ties, Chrome Hearts rings, and a Richard Mille timepiece like every day is fashion week.
Mind you, it was no ordinary Richard Mille, but the RM52-01 Skull Tourbillon. However, word on the street is that that specific piece, like that Hermès Birkin he totes around, was a replica bought off Amazon just for the movie.
Another moment in Don’t Look Up to hit pause is when DiCaprio and Lawrence appear on local news program The Daily Rip, for an interview. News anchors played by Tyler Perry and Cate Blanchett don’t seem to take the duo very seriously but at this point we’re more distracted by Blanchett’s jewellery than their blatant disregard for science. Zooming in reveals the piece to be a Clash de Cartier necklace in rose gold.
One final moment in Don’t Look Up we’ve dwelled over is when DiCaprio returns to The Daily Rip for a second interview, wearing a discreet but iconic Cartier Tank Solo watch as he raged out on ‘live’ television.
Of course, luxury jewellers have consistently dressed celebrities in screens both large and small. In season two of Emily In Paris, Emily and the ladies of Savoir were dressed in Chopard Happy Diamonds as they organised a clichéd but no less charming bateau mouche to launch the jeweller’s latest collection.
Chopard also recently appeared in another, decidedly larger, production—one that’s definitely for the books. 007 flick No Time To Die had Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas play a fledgling CIA operative. Named Paloma, she met up with Bond in Cuba, all dressed up and ready to spar… in an evening gown complete with sparkling high jewellery pieces from Chopard’s signature Green Carpet collection. Her stellar performance impressed not only Bond himself but audiences too who can’t wait to see more of her soon.
In House of Gucci, Lady Gaga famously and fittingly wore authentic Bulgari heritage and contemporary high jewellery. Kenneth Branagh’s Death on the Nile, set to be released in April, will see Gal Gadot wearing the one and only Tiffany Diamond, a priceless 128-carat yellow diamond necklace. Although like Hill’s Richard Mille watch and Hermès bag, this one is also a replica.
So jewellery has been the focus of countless movie premises, albeit mostly as prized possessions sitting in museums or vaults waiting to be preyed upon by gangs of thieves—or indeed a team of one as evinced by gentleman thief and modern day Arsène Lupin, Assane Diop, in Netflix’s Lupin. It’s the basic premise of classic American heist movies, and one that immediately comes to mind is Gary Ross’s Ocean’s 8.
An all-woman all-star ensemble cast that includes Rihanna plus a plot that involved the Met Gala made the 2018 film a definite must-watch for all fashion lovers. Then there’s the heist which sent Ocean’s eight on a merry caper to steal a magnificent Cartier necklace named The Toussaint. While the producers had used a replica for the set, that design was derived from an actual heritage jewellery piece made in the 1930s for an Indian Maharajah.
That moment when Anne Hathaway wears it for the first time was just as satisfying to watch as when all eight stars showed up to the party in their Met Gala best. After all, what’s the point of shooting a movie featuring eight badass strong and smart women if we never get to see them strut their stuff?
Speaking of power women ensemble casts, upcoming spy flick The 355 is primed to be the feminine equivalent of the Mission Impossible franchise. Starring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o and Fan Bingbing, it promises a ton of action, lots of glamour, quippy quips, and, hopefully, equal parts brains and beauty.
Most importantly, while The 355 factors exquisite high jewellery into its storytelling, the pieces are not merely treasures waiting to be stolen, or part of an elaborate disguise, but accessories that are actually meant to accompany the mission. As ace hacker Khadijah (played by Nyong’o) briefs the team just before they infiltrate a high-stakes auction: “You have cameras in your jewellery. Comms in your earrings…” From the point of view of a scriptwriter for all future female spy movies, this changes everything.
From Chastain’s cute-as-a-button gold pendant to that utterly radiant high jewellery necklace expertly modelled by Kruger, along with Fan’s high jewellery diamond earrings and necklace, all the jewellery in this film were sourced from its watch and jewellery partner, Piaget.
The pieces had been carefully curated by costume designer Stephanie Collie to match the characters’ style and personality. Given Piaget’s knack for creativity in jewellery design—think transformable necklaces, secret watches, and cocktail rings featuring hidden compartments—we’re fairly certain that Collie had a lot to work with, and a lot of fun working with the maison.
