The Alluring Jewelry At The 2022 Venice International Film Festival

The stars at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival arrived bejeweled in bold diamonds and delicate layered looks, which were stunning from every angle.

From renowned houses to Italian brands to a few American independent designers, the festival, which opened on August 31 and runs through September 10, 2022, has spotlighted jewels that dazzled on the red carpet and at the films that have premiered thus far.

Cartier, which became the official partner of the 79th Venice International Film Festival-Beinalle Cinema in 2021, continues its partnership for 2022 and has provided some of its most showstopping pieces for the stars to wear at the events. The company is also featuring archival pieces for an exhibit that is coinciding in Venice with the festival, styles worn in film and owned by such luminaries as Grace Kelly, Gloria Swanson and a host of other celebrities from Hollywood’s heyday.

But Cartier isn’t the only company to bring on the sparkle. Here we take a look at some of the jewels we have seen so far:

Julianne Moore in Cartier High Jewelry

Julianne Moore in Cartier High Jewelry

Maude Apatow in Cartier High Jewelry

1. Emma Chamberlain in Cartier High Jewelry

1. Emma Chamberlain in Cartier High Jewelry

Bianca Brandolini D’Adda in Cartier High Jewelry (this and the following photo of the brooch in her hair)

Melanie Laurent in Cartier

Chloë Sevigny in a Bulgari Serpenti necklace

Alice Pagani in Bulgari High Jewelry

Simone Ashley in Bulgari High Jewelry

Greta Gerwig in Bulgari High Jewelry

Jodie Turner-Smith in Gucci High Jewelry

Jodi Turner-Smith in Gucci High Jewelry

Zion Moreno in Flavia Vetorasso jewels

Tessa Thompson in Pomellato

Jodie Turner-Smith in Bulgari

Sydney Sweeney in Tiffany & Co.

Lili Reinhart in Chopard

Elizabeth Grace in Crivelli

Isabeli Fontana in Elsa Jin

Paola Turani in Messika

Rose Bertram in Messika Jewelry

Matilde Gioli in Buccellati

Many days are still left for the star-studded gala to bring on the bling. But if the first few days are any indication, we will surely see many more jaw-dropping jewels.

Speaking of awe-inspiring pieces, as I mentioned in the opening paragraph, Cartier, the event’s official partner, is holding an exhibit in Venice of some of the treasures owned by legendary stars and bought back from Cartier for its heritage department. The jewels and displays have been designed by Sylvain Roca and curated by Jean-Pierre Lavoignant, a cinema critic. The press release reports, “The history of Cartier is intimately linked to that of the arts, particularly cinema.” This is true of some of our favorite classics. In 1926, the Maison first appeared on the screen in the film The Son of the Sheik, although it seemed out of sink with actor Rudolph Valentino’s character He convinced the director to let him wear his Cartier Tank watch, which is forever imprinted in movie history.

I have written about Cartier jewels owned by the actresses who then wore them in film on this platform and others and in my 2015 published ACC Artbooks published If These Jewels Could Talk: The Legend behind Celebrity Gems. In this book, I delve into many more of the pieces than in the exhibit, but the display of jewels in Venice captures a time period in which glamour reigned.

This exhibit includes favorites such as Princess Grace of Monaco’s engagement ring from Prince Rainier, which she wears as part of her character in High Society. Gloria Swanson’s diamond and rock crystal bangles which she owned and wore in Sunset Boulevard. Pieces from Actress Simone Signoret. Maria Felix’s legendary crocodile necklace will also be on display, along with pieces from Josette Day. To bring the exhibit into modern day, the replica created for Ocean’s 8 was based on what was called the Touissant named after Jeanne Touissant, Creative Director at Cartier, from 1933 to 1970. The original was described as ‘the finest cascade of colored diamonds in the world’ was designed in 1931 by Cartier London. Only a design drawing of the original necklace and photographs of the jewel exists today. For the film, the diamonds were created by using zirconium oxides mounted on white gold.

Here are some of the photographs from the exhibit:

Gloria Swanson wears her Cartier rock crystal and diamond bangles, Cartier Paris, 1930 in platinum with round old- and single-cut diamonds and forty-seven rock crystal half-disks. In this shot, she waits to hear who received the Best Actress Award via radio in 1950. She was nominated for her performance in Sunset Boulevard

Grace Kelly in her last role in High Society, wearing her engagement ring in the film by Prince Rainier. The ring was made by Cartier Paris in 1956 in platinum with one emerald-cut diamond weighing 10.48-carats and two baguette-cut side diamonds.

Maria Felix wearing her Cartier Crocodile Necklace crafted from Cartier Paris, 1,023 brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamonds, two emerald cabochons (eyes) 1,060 emeralds, and two ruby cabochons (eyes). Entirely articulated, the two crocodiles can be worn separately as brooches. When worn as a necklace, the feet can be replaced by clawless paws that will not irritate the skin. Made as a special order for María Félix in 1975,

The replica of The Toussaint necklace for Ocean’s 8 sing zirconium oxides mounted on white gold.