Hollywood has a longstanding love affair with spectacular jewellery. From vintage classics to modern blockbusters, filmmakers have often adorned their stars with real, high-end gems to add authentic glamour to the story. These jewels – sometimes on loan from prestigious maisons or even created especially for the film – carry fascinating histories of their own. Below, we explore some of the most expensive and iconic pieces of jewellery ever to grace the silver screen, discussing their provenance, the films they shone in, and the eye-watering values attached to them.
Titanic’s Legendary “Heart of the Ocean” Necklace
The Heart of the Ocean from Titanic is perhaps the most famous movie jewel of all time. In the film’s lore, it’s a 56-carat heart-shaped blue diamond originally owned by Louis XVI. While the necklace used for filming was actually a prop, its story was inspired by the real Hope Diamond – a rare blue diamond of 45.5 carats valued at hundreds of millions.
Celine Dion wears the Asprey & Garrard Heart of the Ocean Necklace
After Titanic became a worldwide sensation, London jewellers Asprey & Garrard crafted a real Heart of the Ocean: a platinum necklace set with a 171-carat Ceylon sapphire and 103 diamonds, which sold at auction for $1.4 million on the condition that Céline Dion wear it to the 1998 Oscars. Had the film’s fictional 56-carat blue diamond been real, experts estimate its value would exceed $500 million – truly befitting the name “Heart of the Ocean.”
The Cartier “Toussaint” Necklace in Ocean’s 8
Anne Hathaway in Ocean’s 8
For the heist caper Ocean’s 8, Cartier resurrected one of its historic masterpieces – the Jeanne Toussaint necklace – originally designed in 1931 for the Maharaja of Nawanagar. In the film, Anne Hathaway’s character wears this high-jewellery diamond necklace as the target of a glamorous Met Gala heist. The necklace seen on screen is a meticulous Cartier-made replica, about 15–20% smaller than the lost original.
While the genuine 1931 creation featured a staggering 500-carat coloured diamond ensemble, the film version was crafted with zirconium oxides mounted in white gold to simulate diamonds, ensuring it could withstand the rigours of filming. In the plot, it’s presented as a priceless Cartier heirloom – and indeed, in reality, the necklace’s estimated value is around $150 million. After production, Cartier put the replica on display in its New York flagship, cementing Toussaint’s status as a piece of cinematic jewellery legend.
Tiffany’s 128-Carat Yellow Diamond – Death on the Nile (2022)
Gal Gadot wears the Tiffany & Co. Necklace in Death on the Nile
When Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile was adapted in 2022, the filmmakers sought help from Tiffany & Co. to evoke true 1930s opulence. The result was a show-stopping necklace worn by Gal Gadot’s character Linnet Ridgeway Doyle, set with a gigantic yellow diamond modelled after the famous Tiffany Diamond.
The real Tiffany Diamond – a 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow cushion-cut stone unearthed in 1877 – is one of the world’s largest and rarest yellow diamonds, valued at roughly $30 million. It has only ever been worn by four women, including Audrey Hepburn in 1961 and Lady Gaga at the 2019 Oscars. For the film, Tiffany created a faithful replica of their iconic gem to adorn Linnet. The luminous canary-yellow jewel seen on screen captures the spirit of the original, bringing an air of authentic Old World luxury – and deadly intrigue – to the movie.
James Bond’s 25-Carat Diamond Necklace – Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
The Bond franchise is synonymous with fast cars, fine champagne, and occasionally, fabulous jewellery. In Tomorrow Never Dies, Teri Hatcher’s character Paris Carver exudes sophistication at a launch party in a breathtaking diamond necklace and matching ring, both designed by British jeweller David Morris. This elegant necklace – often dubbed the “Bond Necklace” – features 25 carats of white diamonds set in platinum in a distinctive scalloped design. Worn in an intimate scene opposite Pierce Brosnan’s 007, the piece imbued Paris with an air of Old Hollywood glamour – right until her dramatic exit.The exposure sparked so much interest that David Morris received numerous requests for replicas of the necklace.
Hatton Jewels even had the privilege of acquiring one of these Bond necklaces for its collection. Although its exact price wasn’t publicised, the combination of 25 carats of diamonds and Bond pedigree means this necklace commands a truly high value. More than just a prop, it remains a symbol of cinematic elegance, forever tied to the mystique of the 007 universe.
Satine’s Diamond Necklace – Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!
Few pieces rival the extravagant necklace worn by Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge! as the courtesan Satine. Australian jeweller Stefano Canturi was commissioned to create this objet d’art, which boasts 1,308 diamonds totalling 134 carats in a Romantic-era design. The masterpiece included a 5-carat emerald-cut diamond as its centrepiece and even required custom fittings – Canturi crafted a mould of Kidman’s neck to ensure a perfect drape.
In 2001, it was reported as the most expensive jewellery ever made for a film, valued at approximately $1 million at the time. The piece was deemed so valuable that a second, less expensive copy (with silver and crystals) had to be made for scenes where the necklace is dramatically torn off, to avoid risking the real one. Ultimately, Canturi could not part with his creation – after a brief consideration of auctioning it, he kept the Satine necklace in his personal collection. Its legacy lives on as a dazzling example of how much effort (and carats) filmmakers will invest to achieve authentic decadence on screen.
Vivian’s Ruby Necklace – Pretty Woman (1990)
Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman
Julia Roberts may have been the star of Pretty Woman, but the ruby and diamond necklace she wears in the film’s famous opera scene nearly steals the spotlight. Designed by French luxury jeweller Fred Joaillier specifically for the movie, this spectacular necklace featured 23 pear-shaped rubies framed by heart-shaped diamonds, all set in 18K white gold.
In the film, Edward (Richard Gere) quips that the necklace cost $250,000 – and he wasn’t far off. In reality, the piece was made with genuine gemstones and would later be valued in the $500,000 to $1 million range, especially as fine rubies have soared in value over the years. Perhaps just as memorable as the necklace’s fiery red glow was the scene where Edward playfully snaps its box shut on Vivian’s fingers – a spontaneous moment that revealed Julia Roberts’ real laugh and has since become an iconic bit of movie history. With a security guard reportedly standing by on set, the necklace safely fulfilled its role, adding a perfect touch of fairy-tale luxury to this modern Cinderella story.
The Moon of Baroda Diamond – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Marilyn Monroe wearing the iconic Necklace
Decades before these contemporary films, Hollywood had another brush with an extraordinary gem: the Moon of Baroda. This 24.04-carat pear-shaped Fancy Yellow diamond made a cameo adorning Marilyn Monroe during the iconic “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” number in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Steeped in history, the stone originated from India’s famed Golconda mines and was owned by the Maharajas of Baroda for centuries.
The studio mostly used costume jewellery in the film, but the Moon of Baroda was very real – upon seeing it, Monroe herself gasped, “It’s gorgeous!” The publicity around Monroe wearing this gem only amplified its fame. In 2018, the Moon of Baroda went up for auction at Christie’s, where it sold for $1.3 million, nearly double its pre-sale estimate. While that price is modest compared to some modern movie jewels, the Moon of Baroda’s rich heritage and its connection to an immortal Hollywood moment make it truly priceless in the eyes of cinema lovers.
From the depths of the ocean to the gilded halls of high society, these jewels have brought authentic brilliance to Hollywood films. Each piece carries a story of craftsmanship and glamour, proving that jewellery can be as unforgettable as the stars who wear it.
