THE STARS ALIGNED for Billie Eilish’s jewelry at the 94th Academy Awards, a look that I was delighted to see as an antique collector, author of a new book on antique jewelry and lover of all things celestial. Rebecca Selva, chief creative director of Fred Leighton, worked with Dena Giannini, Eilish’s stylist, on a creative transformation of a 19th century tiara of stars into two rings and a pair of earrings.
Selva has a knack for re-imagining pieces from the past into modern jewels that celebrities wear at red carpet events. The styles she creates can also inspire the contemporary woman to create similar looks. Often in the 19th century jewels were convertible. Tiaras like this one came with fittings so that the stars would detach and could be worn as brooches and smaller hair ornaments. But for Eilish’s look at the Oscars, Selva had her master jewelers adapt the antique stars from the tiara into two rings and a pair of earrings.
The Tiara from which the rings and earrings were adapted.
Selva talks a bit about the transformation of the jewel: “A star in her own right, Billie was truly the inspiration for us looking at the stars from the tiara in a different way. In wearing the antique diamond stars in her unique and creative expression as earrings and rings, Ms. Eilish will further imbue them with a fresh spirit of permanence and timelessness.”
Giannini agrees. “Billie’s jewelry for the Academy Awards 2022 was incredibly special. We were able to give new life to the piece and appreciate in a new light for Billie’s Oscars look.“
The stars from the tiara that were made into rings and earrings.
And it was a perfect choice as the singer-songwriter glowed when received the award for Best Original Song for the James Bond theme “No Time to Die,” from the film of the same name.
Eilish clearly likes to layer. Although she has been trying on different styles in all aspects, from hair color to fashion to jewels, her affinity for multiple pieces carried over when Selva and Giannini added more antique rings and one-of-a-kind modern takes on past styles. Those looks were created with old cut stones by the Fred Leighton design team under their label, Signed Fred Leighton.
A Fred Leighton 10K Marquise Shape Diamond Ring, a Signed Fred Leighton Rose Cut Cluster Diamond Ring, and a Signed Fred Leighton old European cut diamond ring.
For all of you purists like me or any jewelry enthusiasts who have been wondering, Selva will be converting the stars back to the tiara. Her team did an excellent job of soldering the stars to the rings and earring so they could easily be revised back to their original form.