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Celebrity News: A Weekend Awash In Diamonds, Gems, And JewelsBy Hedda Schupak, Editor, The Centurion | January 23, 2018 (0 comments)

Los Angeles, CA—It was a weekend studded with both stars and gems. In New York City, the Gem Awards glittered at the Cipriani on Friday night, January 19, where the event—coincidentally in tune with the times—honored five women for their contributions to the greater good of the jewelry industry.

Sally Morrison was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for impactful behind-the-scenes work in promoting fine jewelry. Following a successful career as a public relations executive first at AmFAR and then in the movie industry, Morrison came to the jewelry industry more than 15 years ago, and has held executive positions at the Diamond Information Center, World Gold Council, Diamond Producers Association, and Gemfields.

Coming from both the nonprofit world and the very place where the #metoo movement exploded into the American consciousness, Morrison’s unique perspective gave an extra measure of authority and gravitas to her acceptance speech, during which she emphasized the need to elevate more women into leadership positions in the jewelry industry.

As accomplished as she has been—and having had many wonderful male mentors—she told the audience she still couldn’t help but wonder where her jewelry career might have led if she had been male herself, and reminded the audience that even the jewelry industry makes products for women, it still needs to do a better job of involving them at all levels.

Sally Morrison was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her untiring work behind the scenes to promote fine jewelry to the consumer world.

Actress Debra Messing (top of page), the Will and Grace star with industry roots—she grew up in a Rhode Island jewelry-manufacturing family—received the Gem Award for Jewelry Style. Her heartfelt acceptance speech captured the essence of jewelry emotion. “I can tell you where every piece of jewelry in my now vast collection comes from: from whom, for what occasion, which country pieces were discovered in. Jewelry tells the story of my life,” she said.

Irene Neuwirth won the Jewelry Design category, e-tailer Moda Operandi won the Retail Innovation category, and renowned author Marion Fasel of The Adventurine was honored with the Media Excellence category. Jewelry designer Stephen Webster served as master of ceremonies again.

Renowned international jewelry designer Stephen Webster, GEM Awards master of ceremonies.

On Saturday, the jewelry industry donned its finest for the 116th Annual Banquet of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York, newly moved to the New York Hilton Midtown while the famed Waldorf Astoria is closed for renovations. (Read a review here.) The Hilton, of course, has its own place in jewelry industry history as the longtime home of the JA Show, before its move to the Jacob Javits Convention Center in the late 1980s. Thankfully, the once-infamous Hilton elevators have been replaced with more efficient versions, as 24 Karat guests traversed between floors with ease.

In Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium on Sunday, the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards toasted stars of both big and little screens, and possibly—one never knows—foretold what might (or not) win big at the Oscars next month. But even if the little gold statues remain elusive, there was no shortage of diamonds, gold, platinum, and gemstones on hand. Here’s a glimpse at who wore what on the red carpet at the SAG Awards:

Kate Hudson, Chrissy Metz, and Giuliana Rancic all wore Forevermark. Presenter Kate Hudson wore Forevermark cluster shield ring (3.40 ctw) in 18k oxidized white gold and diamond ear cuffs (6.91 ctw) in 18k white gold.

Actress Chrissy Metz (Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, This Is US) wore Forevermark teardrop diamond earrings (6.73 ctw) and marquise ring (3.90 ctw) in 18k white gold:

E! TV Personality Giuliana Rancic (below left) wore Forevermark by Natalie K Center of My Universe five-diamond ring (2.06 ctw; below center) in 18k white gold; Forevermark by H.J. Namdar five-stone diamond swirl ring (1.50 ctw; below right) in 18k white gold; Forevermark by Rahaminov cushion eternity band (9.53 ctw) in platinum; and Forevermark by Yerushalmi Brothers classic diamond studs (8.01 ctw) in 18k white gold:

First-time host Kristen Bell was decked out in platinum jewelry. Celebrity stylist Nicole Chavez planned four outfit and jewelry looks for Bell for the show. “Platinum was my first choice for dressing Kristen for this awards show because it’s a naturally white metal that doesn’t cast any color into diamonds or gemstones, so she will sparkle all night long!” she said. Bell wore platinum jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz and Beladora throughout the night.

From Schwartz, she wore earrings with multi-color natural padparadscha sapphires and a domed ring with a ruby set in blackened platinum (below left, ImageStar); a necklace with ruby and diamonds; stud earrings with diamonds, earrings with diamonds and jade (below right, Getty images), and a ring with carved emerald, black onyx and diamonds.

From Beladora, she wore stackable chain rings with rubies and diamonds, dangle earrings with diamonds (5.91 ctw), a ring with a pear-shaped diamond (6.7 ctw), a bespoke ring with twin old-cut pear and marquise diamonds (5.79 ctw), a 1955 cocktail ring with diamonds (2.76 ctw).

Margot Robbie wore platinum earrings with diamonds by Tiffany & Co.:

Saoirse Ronan wore Panthère de Cartier earrings, with sapphires, onyx and diamonds set in platinum. Dakota Fanning wore Fred Leighton’s stud earrings with round brilliant diamonds (7.22 ctw) and antique ring with a pear shape diamond, all set in platinum. Laura Dern wore Fred Leighton Art Deco old mine earrings with diamonds and onyx and an Art Deco ring with diamonds and onyx, all set in platinum.

Olivia Munn wore Lorraine Schwartz diamond stud earrings (10 ctw) and a diamond ring, both set in platinum. Goldie Hawn wore Schwartz’s Swirl drop earrings with diamonds, diamond rings, and a cuff bracelet with pearl and diamonds, set in platinum.

Brie Larson wore Neil Lane drop earrings with diamonds, and ring with garnet and diamonds, set in platinum, and even the guys got into the platinum spirit: Sterling K. Brown wore Chopard’s “L.U.C Quattro” 43mm timepiece featuring a blue dial set in a platinum case, and Anthony Anderson wore a Neil Lane dress set with diamonds and brooch with colored gemstones and diamonds, both set in platinum.

Yes, you can sell red carpet jewelry! There was no shortage of jewelry that’s accessible to your customers on the red carpet. Celebrities stepped out in such brands as Dana Rebecca Designs, EFFY Jewelry, Le Vian, Meira T, and Hearts On Fire. Here’s a look at who wore what:

Sophia Bush wore earrings by Dana Rebecca Designs and rings by EFFY Jewelry to the Entertainment Weekly Pre-SAG party:

Among the celebrities wearing red carpet favorite Le Vian were actress Marisa Tomei, who wore Le Vian morganite earrings:

Laurie Metcalf wore Le Vian diamond earrings:

Samira Wiley wore a Le Vian tanzanite and diamond ring (below left and center) and Caleb McLaughlin wore a Le Vian diamond ring (below right):

Gina Rodriguez wore Le Vian morganite and tanzanite earrings, IVY New York spinel ring, and Djula diamond ring:

Jackie Cruz wore Le Vian diamond stud earrings (below left) and Chelsea Peretti wore a Le Vian diamond ring (below center and right):

Hannah Zeile wore a Le Vian Tanzanite and diamond ring:

Kimiko Glenn wore diamond rings by Harry Kotlar (below), Anabela Chan diamond earrings, a MARLI diamond cuff, and diamond rings from Gilan:

Four celebrities chose pieces from Meira T for both the SAG Awards and the Entertainment Weekly Nominees Celebration party the night before:

Hearts On Fire was well represented at the SAG Awards and especially at the Entertainment Weekly party, with 17 celebrities choosing pieces from the brand. At the SAG Awards on January 21, comedienne Sarah Silverman wore a Hearts on Fire diamond ring:

Beth Dover wore a Hearts on Fire diamond bracelet and Butani diamond earrings:

Kia Stevens wore a Hearts on Fire diamond necklace:

Vella Lovelle wore Hearts on Fire diamond necklace and rings and Narcisa Pheres spinel earrings:

At the Entertainment Weekly Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees Celebration on January 20, Hearts On Fire was one of the event's premier sponsors, so it's no surprise the guests were decked out in the brand's jewelry. For instance, Brittany Snow wore diamond rings and Britt Barron (below) wore a diamond bracelet: