The Most Iconic Jewellery in Movies

Movies, plays, and TV shows have featured precious jewels for centuries. In fact, history shows that precious stones were used as plot devices in plays written as far back as 100 B.C. As man-made jewels such as cubic zirconium and rhinestone hit the market, precious stones become all the more precious, leading to some dramatic storylines in both TV and movies alike. In this article, we delve into some of these in more detail as we explore the most iconic jewellery in movies.

Heart of the Ocean — Titanic

When it comes to movie jewels, there’s one piece that stands out from the rest. Kate Winslet’s Heart of the Ocean necklace, worn in James Cameron’s Titanic. Rumour has it that the diamond was originally owned by Louis XVI, who had it cut into a heart shape after the French Revolution. In the movie, the wealthy son of a Pittsburgh steel tycoon, Caledon Hockley, bought the necklace for his fiancée, Rose. Unfortunately for Hockley, Rose fell in love with the starving artist, Jack Dawson, shortly after receiving the jewel.

One Ring — Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The One Ring from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy has caused more misery and mayhem than any other pick on the list. On first glance, the ring appears to bear invisibility upon its wearer. However, the magic is deceptive and before long we learn that it was crafted by the Dark Lord, Sauron, in an attempt to win domination over Middle-Earth. The Lord of the Rings trilogy documents the quest to destroy the jewel to prevent Sauron from fulfilling his plan.

The Pink Panther Diamond — The Pink Panther Series

First appearing in the first film of the series, the Pink Panther is a valuable pink diamond. The first Pink Panther film was released in 1963 and introduced the famous French police inspector, Jacques Clouseau. The diamond is labelled the “Pink Panther” after the flaw in its centre. On close inspection, the flaw is said to resemble a jumping pink panther. The phrase disappears in the second and third films before reappearing in the title of the fourth film, The Return of the Pink Panther. In this movie, the plot revolves around the theft of the diamond. After this, the diamond was featured in all the subsequent films, ultimately appearing in six of the eleven movies.

Marilyn’s Diamonds — Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Marilyn Monroe’s famous song, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” first appeared in the Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Later, the stage show was made into a box office movie, with viewers worldwide in awe of Marilyn and her seductive dancing. In the movie, Marilyn is bejewelled with diamonds from the neck down as she dances through a parade of suitors. At the time, this was seen as the ultimate symbolic salute to 1950s materialism that was continued by generations of women.

Julia Roberts’ Necklace—Pretty Woman

Julia Roberts’ Necklace in Pretty Woman is another piece of iconic jewellery in movies. In the film, wealthy businessman Richard Gere performs a dramatic makeover on streetwalker Julia Roberts. To finish off the look, Gere places the beautiful necklace around Julia’s neck. Handmade by French jeweller, Fred Joaillier, the necklace is embellished with 23 pear-cut rubies in the centre of diamond coated hearts, set in 18k white gold.

007’s Rolex Submariner—The James Bond Series

The James Bond series made it clear from the start that only the best will do; particularly if you’re a world-class secret agent. From the very first film in the series, Bond sported a Rolex Submariner around his wrist. In the subsequent movies, the expensive watch had many other functions including a poison dart gun, saw, and laser beam cutter. Designed by Rolex in 1954, the watch was designed as a diving watch. Until it was popularised by the Bond films, the watch was primarily used by military personnel. Thanks to the films, the Submariner remains Rolex’s top-selling model.

007’s Omega Seamaster — The James Bond Series

Later in the Bond Series, 007 traded his Rolex for an Omega Seamaster. Crafted by the famous Swiss watchmaker in 1948, the model is an equally venerable sports watch; however, some watch enthusiasts feel the accessory is a downgrade. Thanks to the characteristic blue bezel and face, the Seamaster can be paired with both a short-sleeve shirt and fancy tuxedo alike. Much like his Rolex, Bond’s Seamaster has been upgraded with a number of gadgets throughout the 007 series.

The Bag of Diamonds — Reservoir Dogs

The next example on the list is the bag of diamonds in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. The plot of the movie revolves around a high-stakes diamond heist gone wrong, and the aftermath when the survivors convene in an abandoned warehouse to divide the loot. Obviously, things get much more complicated than that, but you get the gist. Unlike the other movies, we never actually see the diamonds in Reservoir Dogs. However, the bloodbath that proceeds the heist gives little doubt as to their value, earning them a space in the most iconic jewellery in movies.

The Galaxy — Men in Black

The final and most complicated pick on the list is the Galaxy in Men in Black. During the film, top secret agents of the MIB risk their lives in an attempt to save it, while an evil Bug tries to destroy it. In the sci-fi movie, the Galaxy is an actual galaxy containing planets and living beings. However, it’s also the size of a marble and hangs decoratively on a collar around a cat’s neck. Leaving viewers worldwide on the edge of their seats, the mission to save the galaxy has caused it to be one of the most iconic jewels in movie history.

In Summary

Whether you’re a diamond lover or you prefer a fancy wristwatch, the collection of iconic jewellery in movies above is guaranteed to impress.