2019 Met Gala: Camp theme takes jewellery to the extreme!

May 10, 2019

By Jodie Smith

6 min read

The MET Gala featuring 2019’s Costume Institute exhibition hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art has become one of the most talked about events in the fashion calendar. On the first Monday of May each year, all of the most famous and stylish stars in the world are invited to walk the red (or pink, in this case) carpet.

Gal Gadot wearing Tiffany&Co. necklace (as a headpiece) and earrings with diamonds in platinum

Gal Gadot wearing Tiffany&Co. necklace (as a headpiece) and earrings with diamonds in platinum

 Amber Valletta wearing Chopard jewellery from the ‘Haute Joaillerie’ collection featuring earrings and a ring with emeralds and diamonds set in titanium and 18k white Fairmined gold, and Winnie Harlow wearing Chopard jewellery from the ‘Haute Joaillerie’ collection, including a necklace and earrings in coloured diamonds and 18k rose gold

Amber Valletta wearing Chopard jewellery from the ‘Haute Joaillerie’ collection featuring earrings and a ring with emeralds and diamonds set in titanium and 18k white Fairmined gold, and Winnie Harlow wearing Chopard jewellery from the ‘Haute Joaillerie’ collection, including a necklace and earrings in coloured diamonds and 18k rose gold

 Cara Delevigne wearing choker by Maxior with multi-coloured sapphires

Cara Delevigne wearing choker by Maxior with multi-coloured sapphires

 Janelle Monae wearing Hanut Singh 'Starburst' earrings with diamonds  in 18k yellow gold

Janelle Monae wearing Hanut Singh 'Starburst' earrings with diamonds in 18k yellow gold

 Ru Paul Charles wearing David Webb rubellite necklace with rubellites, diamonds, black enamel, hammered gold and platinum, ‘Geodesic Dome’ ring with diamond, gold and platinum, and ‘Tallon’ ring with cabochon turquoise and diamonds in gold and platinum

Ru Paul Charles wearing David Webb rubellite necklace with rubellites, diamonds, black enamel, hammered gold and platinum, ‘Geodesic Dome’ ring with diamond, gold and platinum, and ‘Tallon’ ring with cabochon turquoise and diamonds in gold and platinum

The most exciting part of this theme is the creative styling opportunities that it affords the evening’s guests – with colourful, voluminous, sparkling outfits being the order of the evening. This, of course, meant that plenty of complimentary jewellery was on display to accessorise, adorn and accentuate the ‘camp’ factor of each look.

The Kardashian - Jenner family on the pink carpet at the 2019 MET Gala

The Kardashian - Jenner family on the pink carpet at the 2019 MET Gala

Lady Gaga was yet again the star of the evening wearing one-of-a-kind Tiffany&Co. jewels – as she was at this year’s Golden Globes and Oscars. Her diamond butterfly necklace from Tiffany Blue Book 2019 collection was complemented with sapphire, spinel and rubellite rings and diamond stud earrings. They were not the largest or most outré gems on show, but the butterfly motif on the necklace and the mixture of stones certainly fitted the camp theme. Model Kendall Jenner also wore jewellery from the 2019 Tiffany Blue Book Collection to accessories her wild orange feathered outfit, showcasing an Imperial topaz and diamond necklace and drop earrings. 

Lady Gaga in Tiffany&Co. 'Butterfly' necklace from the 2019 'Blue Book' collection with diamonds in 18k yellow gold

Lady Gaga in Tiffany&Co. 'Butterfly' necklace from the 2019 'Blue Book' collection with diamonds in 18k yellow gold

 Tiffany&Co. 'Butterfly' necklace from the 2019 'Blue Book' collection with diamonds in 18k yellow gold

Tiffany&Co. 'Butterfly' necklace from the 2019 'Blue Book' collection with diamonds in 18k yellow gold

 Kendall Jenner in Tiffany&Co. jewellery from the 2019 'Blue Book' collection, necklace and earrings with Imperial topaz in 18k yellow gold

Kendall Jenner in Tiffany&Co. jewellery from the 2019 'Blue Book' collection, necklace and earrings with Imperial topaz in 18k yellow gold

 'Blue Book' collection earrings with Imperial topaz in 18k yellow gold

'Blue Book' collection earrings with Imperial topaz in 18k yellow gold

Emerging designers necklaces were also represented at the MET Gala: Lilly Singh wore a handmade Pentágono necklace with a rare ametrine and diamonds set invisibly in pink gold created by French-Chilean jewelry designer, José María Goñi.

Lilly Singh wearing 'Pentágono' necklace by José María Goñi with a rare ametrine and diamonds in 18k pink gold

Lilly Singh wearing 'Pentágono' necklace by José María Goñi with a rare ametrine and diamonds in 18k pink gold

Competing with enormous hair, gargantuan props, and playful clothing is no small feat, but jewels from the houses Bulgari, Cartier and Harry Winston all managed to live up to the challenge. Jennifer Lopez’s tribute to camp was a glittering dress and headpiece with a plunging neckline which was decorated with the Harry Winston ‘Purple Dragon’ necklace set with a 65.32 carat purple sapphire set in a 129.48 carat diamond and platinum.

Jennifer Lopez wearing Harry Winston jewellery, including 'Purple Dragon' necklace set with a 65.32ct purple sapphire, 129.48ct diamonds in platinum, and earrings, bracelets and rings all with diamonds in platinum

Jennifer Lopez wearing Harry Winston jewellery, including 'Purple Dragon' necklace set with a 65.32ct purple sapphire, 129.48ct diamonds in platinum, and earrings, bracelets and rings all with diamonds in platinum

Actress Lily Collins was faithful to the theme in ruffled dress splendor, with backcombed, floral dappled hair and a Cartier ‘Magnitude’ high jewellery necklace with emeralds, rock crystal, onyx, black lacquer, and diamonds, matching earrings and ‘Pluie de Cartier’ ring with diamonds set in 18K white gold. Bulgari showcased some of the most incredible bracelets of the evening on model Naomi Campbell – the diamond heritage bracelet (c. 1959) has been worn on the red carpet favorite by actresses Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and Julia Roberts previously.

Lily Collins wearing Cartier 'High Magnitude' jewellery suite

Lily Collins wearing Cartier 'High Magnitude' jewellery suite

  Cartier 'High Magnitude' necklace with emerald, rock crystal, onyx, black lacquer and diamond in platinum

Cartier 'High Magnitude' necklace with emerald, rock crystal, onyx, black lacquer and diamond in platinum

 Cartier 'High Magnitude' earrings with emerald, rock crystal, onyx, and diamond in platinum

Cartier 'High Magnitude' earrings with emerald, rock crystal, onyx, and diamond in platinum

Men’s jewellery made more of a splash than it had at any event we’ve ever seen before: Rami Malek in Cartier de Panthere brooch in emeralds, diamonds and onyx and Cartier Tank MC watch; Benedict Cumberbatch in Verdura peridot ‘nosegay’ brooch; Nick Jonas in a suite of Chopard gems – a necklace featuring 60.02 carats of diamonds set in white gold from the ‘Precious Lace Collection,’ a ring featuring 3.07 carats of marquise-cut diamonds in white Fairmined gold from the Green Carpet Collection,’ and a timepiece featuring 38.30 carats of diamonds set in white gold from the ‘Imperiale Collection’. The grand dame of camp himself – RuPaul – wore David Webb’s rubellite necklace with rubellites, diamonds, black enamel, hammered gold and platinum, ‘Geodesic Dome’ ring with diamond, gold and platinum, and ‘Tallon’ ring with cabochon turquoise and diamonds in gold and platinum.

 Nick Jonas wearing Chopard jewellery, including a necklace from the ‘Precious Lace Collection,’ a ring from the ‘Green Carpet Collection’, and watch from the ‘Imperiale Collection’ - all in diamonds in 18k white Fairmined gold and Rami Malek in ‘Cartier de Panthere’ brooch with emeralds, diamonds and onyx and Cartier Tank MC watch

Nick Jonas wearing Chopard jewellery, including a necklace from the ‘Precious Lace Collection,’ a ring from the ‘Green Carpet Collection’, and watch from the ‘Imperiale Collection’ - all in diamonds in 18k white Fairmined gold and Rami Malek in ‘Cartier de Panthere’ brooch with emeralds, diamonds and onyx and Cartier Tank MC watch

Drop earrings fit the bill for many celebrities, with Miley Cyrus opting for Bulgari high jewellery diamond and white gold versions. Sienna Miller, Naomi Scott and Emily Blunt all chose Messika statement diamond earrings in splaying, dynamic forms. For colourless diamond fans that were attending the event, Messika jewellery offered bold designs in more restrained colour palettes.  

Lupita Nyong'o wearing suite of Bulgari archival and 'High Jewellery' collection jewellery with emerald, amethyst, ruby, sapphire, diamond, tourmaline and pearl in 18k yellow gold, white gold and platinum

Lupita Nyong'o wearing suite of Bulgari archival and 'High Jewellery' collection jewellery with emerald, amethyst, ruby, sapphire, diamond, tourmaline and pearl in 18k yellow gold, white gold and platinum

What is most spectacular about the 2019 MET Gala is that it allowed every guest the chance to throw away the traditional rule book on how much jewellery you ‘should’ wear, which types and styles match, and that one must look elegant. More was more on the pink carpet, and the jewels that were chosen for the occasion were fun, flamboyant and full of colour.

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