Diamonds on the red carpet are nothing new. As a symbol of old Hollywood and A-list royalty, white diamonds have long conjured visions of glamour and refinement. But Desert diamonds in shades of honey, cinnamon, chestnut, amber, whiskey and cocoa, the gemstones set a new tone for celebrity style, ushering in a sense of singularity, sensuality and authenticity for a new chapter of dressing, both on and off the red carpet.
That was apparent on the ears, wrists, fingers and necklines of guests who attended the New York launch of Desert diamonds, a new product-led campaign from A Diamond is Forever that teamed up with the jewelry industry’s top designers to reimagine how bold, statement-making pieces look when using a unique color palette of natural diamonds in shades of tan, champagne and cocoa.
On the red carpet at the October 3 event, Lucien Laviscount’s Le Vian pendant and Kay Jewelers pinky ring (a signet style pavéd with Desert diamonds) made a sleek statement with the actor’s all-black suiting, while Lucky Blue Smith’s Le Vian necklace and pendant, bracelet and ring by Kay Jewelers added to a rakish menswear moment, with the model in a white shirt, cream shawl-collar jacket and brown gingham trousers.
Ever the trailblazer, Teyana Taylor’s oversized croc-embossed jacket in a cognac hue and matching aviator eyewear were the perfect foil to a suite of diamonds by Grandview Klein, including a double strand necklace and matching tennis bracelet of honey-hued Desert diamonds, all sourced from Namibia. Julia Fox proved her penchant for the avant-garde in a sculpturally padded white t-shirt dress and red platform pumps, which she accented with a mega-size cocktail ring by Munnu Gem Palace featuring polki-cut Desert diamonds in a traditional Mughal-inspired setting.
It was perhaps Ciara who provided a new blueprint for red carpet glamour a la Desert diamonds. The music artist walked the red carpet in a classic little black dress, strapless with a deep-V sweetheart shape and ruffled skirt, paired with a De Beers London necklace featuring yellowish-honey-colored Desert diamonds in a halo setting, also worn with a Premier Gem ring with Desert diamonds sourced from Botswana and Vice Versa studs.
Other guests mingled among the jewelry vitrines in the downtown Manhattan space, wearing earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets that lived in harmony with the pieces featured in the cases. Model Hilary Rhoda’s Khepri earrings and necklace matched the smoky sparkle of her layered mesh cocktail dress, while singer-songwriter Amber Mark showed how leopard print is the perfect motif for smoky Desert diamonds, which she wore in a delicate necklace by Le Vian. Singer-songwriter Inji contrasted a beige lace dress with a pair of simple huggies by Aneri, and models Julez Smith, Amanda Murphy and Chanel Iman all wore necklaces by Le Vian; pieces that showcased the range of diverse and unique hues that make up Desert diamonds.
Shannon Adducci is a writer, editor and jewelry specialist based in New York City. She is currently editor at Dossier magazine and her work has appeared in luxury titles including The New York Times and The Strategist, among others
