LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Platinum jewelry ruled the red carpet at the "81st Academy Awards" and after-parties around the city. Jewelry and style expert Michael O'Connor - who helped celebrities find the perfect baubles for tonight's festivities - notes that classic elegance is back. "Movie stars are foregoing over-the-top bling and instead selecting one or two statement pieces of classic Platinum jewelry that stand the test of time." Drop and stud earrings, ornate cuff bracelets, hair brooches and statement necklaces set in Platinum were the most popular choices of the evening. Platinum is the most favored metal on the red carpet because it's naturally white, so it maximizes the brilliance of gemstones.
Following is a list of Platinum baubles that celebrities wore on the red carpet and at parties (retail prices are provided when available):
- Penelope Cruz - Platinum necklace with 69 carats of diamonds by Chopard.
- Kate Winslet - Platinum cluster earrings with 28 carats of diamonds by Chopard.
- Vanessa Hudgens - Platinum earrings with vintage coral and diamond drops by Cathy Waterman.
- Miley Cyrus- Platinum and diamond earrings and ring by Neil Lane ($500,000 total).
- Natalie Portman - Platinum and diamond hair combs, Platinum stud earrings, Platinum cuff bracelet and stackable rings by Kwiat.
- Diane Lane - Darkened Platinum and diamond necklace, bracelet, earrings and ring by Neil Lane ($250,000 total).
- Evan Rachel Wood - Darkened Platinum and diamond chandelier earrings, bracelet and ring by Neil Lane ($275,000 total).
- Tina Fey - Platinum ring by Fred Leighton.
- Sharon Stone - Platinum bracelets, rings and earrings by Damiani ($400,000 total).
- Viola Davis - Platinum earrings, brooch, bracelets and ring by Fred Leighton.
- Melissa Leo - Platinum earrings, bracelets and ring by Fred Leighton.
- Heidi Klum - Blackened Platinum earrings and bracelets by Lorraine Schwartz ($900,000 total).
- Dustin Lance Black - Platinum cufflinks by Beaudry ($20,000).
- Chris Dickens (Winner for Achievement in Film Editing Slumdog Millionaire) - Platinum tie accent by CliQ ($2,000) and cufflinks by Neil Lane($3,000).
- Chris Dicken's wife - Platinum earrings by Gumuchian ($18,000).
- Leslie Mann - Platinum and diamond lariat, and earrings by Cathy Waterman.
- Sophia Milos - Platinum earrings by Damiani ($265,000).
- Sally Bell - Platinum earrings, bracelet and rings by Fred Leighton.
- Ryoko Hirosue - Platinum necklace and earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
- Victoria Beckham (Elton John Party) - Platinum and diamond brooches or choker worn in her hair, Platinum and diamond stud earrings by Neil Lane.
- Madonna and her date Jesus (Vanity Fair Party and her private party) - Platinum and diamond look by Neil Lane (worth multi-millions of dollars).
- Eva Longoria Parker (Elton John Party) - Platinum and diamond lapel brooch, Platinum rings, and Platinum stud earrings by Neil Lane.
- Salma Hayek (Vanity Fair Party) - Darkened Platinum and diamond chandelier earrings by Neil Lane.
- Kate Walsh(Vanity Fair Party) - Platinum and black diamond earrings, bracelet and ring by Neil Lane.
- Vinessa Shaw - Platinum earrings, ring and bracelet by Kwiat.
- Christine Taylor- Platinum bracelets and earrings by Neil Lane.
- Rachel Griffiths (Vanity Fair Party) - Platinum and diamond bangles and earrings by Neil Lane.
- Tichina Arnold - Platinum bracelet, earrings, ring and necklace from the Calderoni collection by Damiani ($120,000 total).
- Sasha Ponti - Platinum pendant, ring, necklace, bracelet and ring by Damiani ($190,000 total).
- Kate Ledger - Platinum stud earrings, rings, and bracelets by Fred Leighton.
- Danielle Panabaker - Platinum earrings, ring and bracelet by Kwiat.
- Debora Lee Furness- Platinum earrings and bracelet by Fred Leighton.
- Ellen Kuras - Platinum bracelets, earrings, chain and ring by Neil Lane.
- Josh Brolin - Platinum cufflinks and shirt studs by Kwiat.
- Tony Parker (Elton John Party) - Platinum cufflinks by Neil Lane.
- John Legend - Platinum cufflinks by Neil Lane.
- Chris Rock - Platinum stud earrings by Neil Lane.
- Chris Harrison - Platinum and diamond watch by Jacob & Co. ($250,000).
- Billy Bush- Platinum watch by Franck Muller ($200,000).
- Billy Bush's wife - Platinum earrings by Erica Courtney($24,000).
- John Shanley - Platinum watch by Franck Muller ($43,800), and Platinum cufflinks by Beaudry ($16,000).
- Erin Ecklund (John Shanley's date) - Platinum earrings and cuff bracelet by Chad Allison ($34,000 total).
- Thom Floutz - Platinum cufflinks and ring by Jacob & Co. ($100,000 total).
- Jeanne Floutz (Thom Floutz's wife) - Platinum necklace with diamonds and pearls and a Platinum bracelet by Gumuchian ($100,000 total).
- John Nelson - Platinum cufflinks and lapel pin by Neil Lane ($12,000 total), and a Platinum watch by Franck Muller ($43,800).
- Mike Elizalde - Platinum cufflinks and tie accent by CliQ ($12,000 total).
- Mary Elizalde (Mike Elizalde's wife) - Platinum earrings by Erica Courtney($30,000).
- Steve Gold - Platinum tie accent by CliQ ($2,000).
- Lara Spencer - Platinum bracelets and earrings by Jacob & Co. (over $2 million total).
- Nancy O'Dell - Platinum and diamond earrings by Tom Rucker($35,000).
- Nikki Boyer - Platinum earrings and ring with pink spinel and diamonds by Peter Norman ($32,000 total).
- Adrianna Costa - Platinum earrings by Jacob & Co. ($420,000), and Platinum ring by Michael M. ($40,000).
- Terri Seymour(Elton John Party) - Platinum and diamond look by Neil Lane.
- Jill Simonian - Platinum cuffs and earrings by Chad Allison ($87,000 total).
- Michelle Tuzee - Platinum bracelets, ring and earrings by Neil Lane.
- Lauren Sanchez - Platinum earrings and rings by Neil Lane.
- Cat Sadler - Platinum earrings, rings and bangles by Neil Lane.
- Anya Sarre - Platinum chain and ring by Neil Lane.
- Yvonne Reyes - Platinum necklace by Damiani ($86,000).
- Anne Sweeney - Platinum bracelet by Alan Friedman($100,000) and earrings by Jacob & Co. ($200,000).
Platinum is prized for its Pure, Rare and Eternal qualities:
PURE: Platinum's high level of purity (generally 90%-95% pure) endows it with both a natural white luster, allowing the true radiance of a diamond or gemstone to shine; and hypoallergenic qualities that prove ideal for sensitive skin.
Only the purest platinum jewelry will bear a stamp reading "PLATINUM", "PLAT", "Pt 950", or "Pt 900", signifying the jewelry is 90% to 95% pure platinum.
RARE: Platinum is 30 times more rare than gold.
ETERNAL: Platinum will hold a diamond or gemstone securely, now and for always.
About Platinum Guild International USA
Platinum Guild International, the marketing arm for the worldwide Platinum jewelry industry, is dedicated to promoting Platinum and its, pure, rare and eternal qualities to the consumer and the jewelry trade. PGI has offices in each of the world's major jewelry markets, providing information, assistance and education on all aspects of Platinum jewelry.
For more information on Platinum, please visit www.preciousplatinum.com
