Gemme Couture- Fine Handmade Jewelry

ACADEMY AWARDS 2012: JEWELRY

For the Academy Awards jewelry designers and dealers loan the pieces in order to gain visibility for their companies, and so do fashion designers. They allow celebrities to choose what they'd like to wear from the inventory the designer wants to promote. Many of the designers work with multiple celebrities, so they must be careful not to duplicate an item.

Harry Winston is a company that's been associated with celebrities since its beginnings, so you'll always see their pieces on those who are Oscar-bound. Another is New Yorker Fred Leighton, whose rings you see on the right hands of the Sex In the City ladies. Other famous and less well known designers are represented too, such as Swiss company Chopard and designer Neil Lane amongst others. Famous European designers were notably scarce this year; Bulagari, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, etc.

Natalie Portman in Harry Winston

The trend this year seemed to be diamonds, diamonds, diamonds with a splattering of color: emeralds and sapphires. Platinum, the precious metal that never changes color nor fades, ruled the red carpet at the 2012 Academy Awards. From Natalie Portman and Cameron Diaz's diamond necklaces, to Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez's drop earrings, Hollywood's leading actresses chose to showcase their jewels in naturally white platinum settings that truly enhance the brilliance of diamonds and colored gemstones. Platinum is the ideal choice for red carpet jewelry because it holds diamonds and precious gemstones more securely than any other metal. It is not only the highest quality metal, but its density makes it one of the most durable and enduring precious metals. Platinum is also naturally white, unlike white gold, which means it will not cast any tint onto a diamond or gemstone, allowing the stone's genuine color to sparkle brightly.