Hollywood is in the business of selling dreams and, as a new fascinating list reveals, that also includes the fantastic diamond jewelry we see on screen.
According to a recent article in forbes.com, the UK-based Hatton Garden jeweler, Queensmith, was asked by Confused.com to list the most expensive pieces of jewelry – both fictional and real- from movies and TV series. The list uses “precise assumptions for fictional pieces by valuing each element and converting it to real-world amounts.”
So, here they are – the top five most expensive pieces from the movies:
Titanic: Heart of the Ocean Necklace ($500,750,000)
Designed by jewelers Asprey & Garrard, the Heart of the Ocean is a fictional jewel which, in Titanic, allegedly came from Louis XVI’s crown. At the end of the film, it is tossed into the ocean by Rose.
While the studio fashioned the prop for about $9,400, the 56-carat heart-shaped blue diamond in white gold and a colorless diamond frame would have been worth more than $500 million had it been real. The piece was inspired by one-of-a-kind blue Hope Diamond, a stunning 45.52 carat gem- and the largest blue diamond in the world. It is currently kept at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.
Ocean’s Eight: The Toussaint Cartier necklace ($150,000,000)
Ocean’s 8 gives a feminist touch to the traditionally male-casted Ocean’s 11 franchise with an all-female cast. The film, which combines a crime caper with plenty of laughs and fashion, also has some serious bling behind it. Cartier, which was chosen as the film’s exclusive jewelry partner, was asked to create a very specific replica for the film’s ultimate heist – the “Jeanne Toussaint” Necklace.
The necklace is a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s Creative Director in the 1930s. The original necklace was designed by Jacques Cartier in 1931 for the Maharaja of Nawanagar. The necklace, which was initially designed for a man, was adjusted to Anne Hathaway’s measurements and reduced by 15% to 20% of the original size. To adapt the jewel to match Hathaway’s proportions, dis-mountable bezels were devised.
In the film, the Toussaint is made of flawless, colorless diamonds. To create an identical effect on screen, the colored diamonds were replaced with zirconium oxides, a natural material, mounted on white gold as “the necklace had to be solid enough to withstand frequent manipulations during filming”. In addition, special attention was paid to the finishing of the settings and polishing, “as close-ups would not allow for any imprecisions”.
Death on the Nile: 128-carat yellow diamond necklace ($30,000,000)
Gal Gadot’s character in Death in the Nile, a socialite called Linnet Ridgeway Doyle, is a replica of the Tiffany Diamond – one of the largest coloured (or “Fancy”) diamonds ever made – a 128.54 carat gem polished into an 82-facet, cushion shape polished gem. It was worked on for a year from a 287-carat rough unearthed in South Africa in 1877.
The true Tiffany Diamond was worn in public only three times since its discovery, most recently by Lady Gaga, who wore it as part of a custom-made necklace to the 2019 Academy Awards.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Isadora yellow diamond necklace ($5,000,000)
Released in 2003, the blockbuster film starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey features the fictional company DeLauer Diamonds, which takes center stage during the famous “Frost Yourself” gala scene.
In that scene, Hudson’s character, Andie Anderson, wears the stunning Isadora yellow diamond necklace, boasting an impressive 84-carat yellow diamond pendant called “Isadora” (after Isadora Duncan in the movie). The necklace, designed by Harry Winston, was complemented by a pair of 5-carat radiant cut yellow diamond stud earrings worth about $125,000. After the film, the Isadora necklace was sold to an anonymous buyer.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: Moon of Baroda diamond necklace ($4,378,850)
The Moon of Baroda is a 24.04-carat pear-shaped, Fancy Yellow diamond worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” while promoting the 1953 classic film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. According to Christie’s, upon laying her eyes on the stone Monroe gasped and said “It’s gorgeous!”.
The unique diamond was mined in the legendary Golconda mines in India – the source for the Koh-i-Noor and the Grand Mazarin stones. It is estimated that it was mined between the 15th and 17th centuries. At one time, it “may possibly have been part of the vast collection of the Gaekwads of Baroda, one of India’s wealthiest and most powerful ruling families”, according to Christie’s.
In November 2018, the diamond sold for $1.3 million at the Christie’s Hong Kong jewelry auction, almost doubling its highest pre-sale estimate of $750,000.
FAQ The 5 Most Expensive Movie Jewels
What is the most expensive piece of jewelry ever featured in a movie?
The Heart of the Ocean necklace from Titanic holds the top spot at $500,750,000. This fictional 56-carat heart-shaped blue diamond set in white gold was designed by Asprey & Garrard and inspired by the real Hope Diamond. While the actual movie prop cost only $9,400 to make, the real-world value of such a piece would exceed half a billion dollars.
How was the Cartier necklace in Ocean’s Eight adapted for filming?
The Toussaint Cartier necklace, valued at $150,000,000, was specifically modified for Anne Hathaway’s measurements, reducing it by 15-20% from the original 1931 design. Cartier replaced the colored diamonds with zirconium oxides mounted on white gold to make it durable enough for filming. The original necklace was designed by Jacques Cartier for the Maharaja of Nawanagar and was initially created for a man.
What makes the Tiffany Diamond necklace from “Death on the Nile” so special?
The 128-carat yellow diamond necklace worn by Gal Gadot’s character is a replica of the famous Tiffany Diamond, valued at $30,000,000. The original Tiffany Diamond is one of the largest colored diamonds ever found, weighing 128.54 carats and cut into an 82-facet cushion shape. It was worked on for a year from a 287-carat rough diamond discovered in South Africa in 1877, and has only been worn in public three times.
What happened to the Isadora necklace after “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” was filmed?
The Isadora yellow diamond necklace, featuring an 84-carat yellow diamond pendant designed by Harry Winston and valued at $5,000,000, was sold to an anonymous buyer after filming completed. The necklace was featured prominently in the movie’s “Frost Yourself” gala scene and was complemented by 5-carat radiant cut yellow diamond stud earrings worth about $125,000.
What is the historical significance of the Moon of Baroda diamond from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”?
The Moon of Baroda, valued at $4,378,850, is a 24.04-carat pear-shaped Fancy Yellow diamond with legendary origins. It was mined in India’s Golconda mines (the same source as the Koh-i-Noor) between the 15th and 17th centuries, and may have been part of the Gaekwads of Baroda royal collection. Marilyn Monroe wore it while singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” and it sold at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2018 for $1.3 million, nearly doubling its pre-sale estimate.
