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BY MICHELLE NO

As the first awards show of the year, the Golden Globes have the privilege of showcasing 2014’s first roundup of the celebrity style circuit, and setting the stylistic tone for the rest of the year. On Jan. 12, the bejeweled lineup was spearheaded by the likes of Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston, and Van Cleef & Arpels, with appearances by the lesser established but nevertheless visually commanding houses of Neil Lane and Lorraine Schwartz.

Looks that cut through the general style buzz included jewels seemingly designed with their accompanying dresses in mind. Naomi Watts’ heavy gold-and-diamond Bulgari collar necklace, locked into place over a thin, silver Tom Ford dress, for one, seemed a ready-made balance. Taking a cue from Jessica Alba’s Harry Winston and Oscar de la Renta gem-and-gown combo from last year’s Golden Globes, Jessica Chastain draped a double-stranded Bulgari diamond and platinum necklace over bare shoulders and a simple black Givenchy dress for a luxe, visually interlocking ensemble. Cate Blanchett’s lace-and-Chopard diamond earrings duo stole the night, however, with a sparkling, Blue Jasmine-appropriate outfit. Drawing extra admiration were the jewels’ ARM (Alliance for Responsible Mining)-supported, sustainable sourcing.

While some gems accentuated and dialogued with their sister fabrics, others seamlessly matched their wearer’s personalities. Allison Williams projected millennial cool with onyx Cartier Agrafe earrings and a diamond pavé bracelet. In the case of Sofia Vergara, an oversized blue statement necklace from Lorraine Schwartz went hand-in-hand with the comedic zing of her Modern Family role. Lorraine Schwartz, a New York-based jeweler who rose to prominence in 2002 after outfitting Halle Barry with a lightweight diamond necklace, also dressed Amy Adams in a crystal and gold pendant, an apt fashion call considering Adams’ recent role in the gold glam American Hustle.

Inspired by nature, the Chaumet Frisson Collection’s white gold and diamond sunburst earrings as modeled by Adèle Exarchopoulos channel winter’s first frost and icy early morning crystals. Photo courtesy of Chaumet.

In the same vein, vintage jeweler Neil Vane also attracted attention via whimsical mixes of gems and metals. Girl-of-the-moment Jennifer Lawrence showed off jade and coral chandelier earrings, adding a colorful flourish to an otherwise monochromatic gown. Adèle Exarchopoulos, star of the controversial French romance, “Blue is the Warmest Color,” and international It Girl, continued the eclectic tradition with earcuffs in white gold and diamonds from Chaumet’s Frisson Collection.

The evening’s sartorial turnout could not be complete without a generous showing of classic Harry Winston jewelry. Reese Witherspoon served as the Winston house’s most prominent ambassador, frosting herself in a 10-carat ring, 4-carat studs, and stacked diamond bracelets. Not to be outdone by her A-list contemporary, Julia Roberts also indulged from the troves of the house that invented “celebrity jewelry dressing.” Her selections, totaling $1 million, included emerald-cut, micropavé diamond ear studs, and a platinum and diamond cocktail ring. Curating from the other side of the diamond globe, “Wolf of Wall Street”s Margot Robbie added decadent bling to her sultry white Gucci dress with the Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake Lampion earrings and Tess ring.

Margot Robbie’s Van Cleef & Arpels Tess ring from the 744 Fifth collection features diamonds set in platinum. Photo courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels.

The conservative trends of the awards season’s first major public event inspired subtle variations on classic designs, inducting a new class of bling aficionados and enrobing Beverly Hills in Old Hollywood glam.

—January 17, 2014