Search Colored-Stone.com:

This month's issue

Contact Customer Service

Colored Stone Back Issues

Emmy Stars Show Best in Color

By Deborah Yonick

Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) wore 18K gold and diamond yellow beryl Goddess earrings by Erica Courtney.

Oprah Winfrey in orange sapphires and yellow gold earrings and ring by Lorraine Schwartz. Photo Credit: Mathew Imaging © 2008.

HOLLYWOOD, CA—With the bulk of major celebrity awards ceremonies crammed in at the beginning of the year, the Primetime Emmy Awards in September brings a much-needed injection of red carpet panache at the onset of the fall-winter and holiday seasons. Unquestionably, attendees at the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ annual soiree Sept. 21 embraced color in both their garb and jewels, making more fun and fanciful fashion statements than those typically seen at the Academy Awards.

Stars at the 60th annual Emmys were clad in a veritable rainbow of bright jewel-toned gowns from coral, raspberry, and lemon yellow to emerald green and aqua blue. Both floor and cocktail lengths were in fashion with single shoulder and strapless styles the norm rather than the exception. Gowns hinted at spring ’09 trends with lots of ruffles, folds, wispy transparency and texture combinations.

Jewelry trends highlighted a variety of gemstones and colored diamonds and a return to yellow gold, with big gemmy cocktail rings, bold chandelier style earrings, and stackable bangle bracelets among the most popular jewelry types selected. While statement-making necklaces are the rage this season, few actresses sported any notice-me neckwear, opting instead for grand ear decoration. The decision to forgo necklaces had a lot to do with the choice of dress, as single shoulder strap gowns pushed adornment up a notch to the lobes.

Among the designer jewelry brands most sought after by red carpet regulars were those big into color like Lorraine Schwartz, Erica Courtney, and H. Stern. Lorraine Schwartz scored four knock-outs with 1) her carved lavender jade and blackened platinum butterfly earrings worn by model/reality show host Heidi Klum; 2) her amethyst earrings and ring in blackened platinum worn by actress Christina Applegate of “Samantha Who?”; 3) her pink sapphire and diamond cluster earrings worn by Saturday Night Live actress Amy Poehler, and 4) her orange sapphires and yellow gold earrings and ring worn by talk show host and publisher of O magazine, Oprah Winfrey.

Erica Courtney was even more evident with more than a dozen celebrities adorned in her designs on the red carpet this year. Among them: Kathy Griffin from “My Life on the D- List” in yellow beryl drop earrings and lemon quartz and pink sapphire ring, both in 18k gold; Kathy Joosten from “Desperate Housewives” in tanzanite and platinum drop earrings; Katee Sackhoff from “Battlestar Galactica” in tanzanite and platinum ring; Marin Hinkle from “Two and A Half Men” in aquamarine earrings with South Sea pearl drops and pearl ring, both set in platinum; and Kate Flannery from “The Office” in green amethyst drop earrings and ring set in platinum.

Kate Sackhoff wore platinum and diamond Flower Basket earrings by Erica Courtney.

Dexter's Lauren Velez wore Erica Courtney's 18K gold and diamond Mini Flower hoops.

Although statement necklaces were few in number, those we saw were stunning, especially the one worn by screen and stage legend Phylicia Rashad, lead-actress nominee for her role in “A Raisin in the Sun.” Never one to shun opulence, Rashad made everyone green with envy by wearing an H. Stern necklace with more than 186-carats of emeralds worth over $1 million, plus vintage emerald earrings and a green tourmaline ring. Audra McDonald, best supporting actress nominee for “A Raisin in the Sun” and star of “Private Practice,” sported an elegant aquamarine ring in gold and diamonds; Jennifer Carpenter, leading lady in “Dexter,” flashed a bold rock crystal ring; and “Criminal Minds” star Kelly Kruger wore “Cobblestone” mixed quartz gem earrings and amethyst ring.

Phylicia Rashad chose H.Stern’s Minerva Necklace with more that 186 carats of emeralds ($1,221,000), Top Floral Diamond Bracelet ($252,000), Vintage Emerald Earrings ($28,000) and Classic Green Tourmaline Ring ($33,000) Image courtesy of H.Stern.

Heidi Klum during the Emmy's Show wearing Lorraine Schwartz: platinum diamond and turquoise teardrop earring; platinum diamond and turquoise diamond bangles with platinum diamond bangles. Photo Credit: Matthew Imaging © 2008

The Office's Kate Flannery wore Erica Courtney: Platinum and diamond Wide Flower earrings with a green amethyst drop.

Other colorful standouts: Kate Walsh of “Private Practice” and “Grey’s Anatomy” wore a $1 million worth of Neil Lane jewels including sapphire and diamond cuff bracelet with 100 carats of diamonds and sapphires and large 25-carat black diamond and platinum ring; E! Live from the Red Carpet reporter Giuliana Rancic in a citrine, topaz and diamond necklace set in yellow gold, a 23-carat fancy yellow diamond ring and yellow diamond heart-shaped earrings by Chopard; and Lisa Edelstein of “House” in black diamond and platinum earrings, ring and necklace by Erica Courtney. In fact, the hottest looks in diamonds were those in color, especially black, cognac and chocolate shades.

Hayden Panettiere wore Fred Leighton jewels including 1920's onyx and diamond bracelet in platinum, 1920's sapphire and diamond bracelet in platinum, and 1930's sapphire line bracelet in platinum. Photo courtesy of the Platinum Guild International USA.

What holiday dressing trends can be gleaned from Emmy stars?
• Bold gem drop and chandelier earrings are in vogue, especially when wearing a single shoulder strap dress—hold the necklace please.
• Stackable bracelets in gem-studded bangles or cuffs, or a combination of both adds drama to the wrist, especially for frocks that have a lot going on.
• Big cocktail, AKA Power, add a flash of color every time you move your hand in conversation—and sometimes, that’s all you need to be red carpet worthy!
• Although statement gem-set necklaces were seen sparingly on Emmy’s red carpet, they are on trend for the fall-winter season and remain an important accessory through spring-summer ’09 based on recent runway shows. If worn, go light on the earrings and stackable bracelets.

This was also sent out to our Colored Stone GemMail newsletter subscribers. Want to receive the latest up-to-date information on the gemstone industry? Sign up for our free Colored Stone GemMail newsletter.

e-mail the editors of Colored Stone | About Colored Stone | Sign up for the FREE Colored Stone GemMail newsletter

This site and all of its contents are copyright Colored Stone and Interweave unless otherwise noted.
All articles, photographs, graphics, logos, and trade show floorplans are owned by Colored Stone and may not be reproduced in any form,
in print or in electronic media, without the express written permission of the publisher. Violators will be subject to legal action.