diamond news
Diamond Divas
Published on August 30th 2007Award season means one thing for hopeful nominees – diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds.
IDL: Award season means one thing for hopeful nominees – diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds. In mid-September, the Emmy award show kicks off the 2007/8 television and movie award season in the U.S. and Hollywood’s silver screen sirens are already hunting for that perfect bling to accompany them down the red-carpet.
As the countdown to the diamond-fest begins, we take a look back at the top diamond divas and the jewels they wore:
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In 1970, Elizabeth Taylor asked legendary costume designer Edith Head to whip up a gown that would show off the 69-carat, pear-shaped diamond that Richard Burton gave her. Taylor ended up in a simple tank gown with a plunging V-neck, her hair in an up-do so it wouldn't hide the necklace. Nine years later the diamond was sold for close to three million dollars.
In 1996, presenter Salma Hayek made a true star statement when she showed up in a stunning diamond tiara from Fred Leighton. She stated, "When is a girl going to wear a tiara if not to the Oscars?"
In 1997, a $490,000 Chanel comet diamond was literally purchased off the neck of Celine Dion. The buyer called Chanel only minutes after Dion appeared on the red carpet and snapped up the diamond extravaganza.
The 15-carat, blue diamond necklace worn to the 1998 Oscars by Best Supporting Actress nominee Gloria Stuart was worth $20 million, and required that she have two security men with her at all times. The extremely rare blue diamond was Harry Winston's version of the "Heart of the Ocean" featured in the Oscar winning film "Titanic."
In 1999, when Whoopi Goldberg served as host of the Academy Awards, she set the record wearing an estimated $71 million worth of diamonds on stage, including a ten million dollar diamond ring by Harry Winston.