It’s about time. For the most part, this awards season had sparkled with megawatt diamonds but featured very little color. That changed with the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Although we still saw an abundance of exquisite all-diamond jewelry, colored gemstones combined with a sprinkle of twinkle added personality to the red carpet. It makes sense; this is the awards program in which actors celebrate their peers’ colorful characters and rich performances.

The gowns were also some of the season’s best, complementing the gems beautifully.
story by beth bernstein

If there were an award for best jeweled, Zendaya would have won it. She brought to mind Old Hollywood while still maintaining a modern vibe in Bulgari’s High Jewelry necklace of yellow gold with a cushion tanzanite, cushion morganite, cushion aquamarine and 17 round spinels popping from 24 pear-shaped, 65 round brilliant-cut and pavé-set diamonds. Photo: Shutterstock.

Shown here is the Bulgari necklace that Zendaya wore. Photo: Bulgari.

Have you ever seen Jessica Chastain not look like a style-setting A-list actress? I haven’t. She always gets it right, as she did here in magenta gown and Gucci High Jewelry ruby and diamond earrings. Photo: Shutterstock.

Emily Blunt looked stunning in this floral custom gown by Oscar de la Renta and Bulgari High Jewelry Serpenti necklace in pink gold with one oval brilliant diamond and 20 step cut brilliant marquise rubies with pavé-set diamonds. Photo: Shutterstock.

Shown here is Emily Blunt’s Bulgari Serpenti diamond and ruby necklace. Photo: Bulgari.

Amanda Seyfried took being green seriously in her Prada dress and Cartier Sixième Sens High Jewelry earrings in platinum with emeralds, onyx and diamonds. Photo: Shutterstock.

Shown here are Amanda Seyfried’s Cartier earrings. Photo: Cartier.

Stephanie Hsu wore vivid jewels with her equally color-drenched gown. They include Cartier High Jewelry earrings in 18K white gold, rubies, onyx and diamond and Cartier High Jewelry bracelet in platinum, spinels and diamonds. Photo: Shutterstock.

Shown here is the Cartier ruby and diamond bracelet that Stephanie Hsu wore. Photo: Cartier.

Viola Davis wore a bright yellow gown accented with Swarovski jewelry. Pictured here are colorful hoop earrings. Photo: Shutterstock.

Aubrey Plaza wore Mouawad jewelry — colored gemstone drop earrings and a diamond and colored gemstone bracelet — as she showed off her abs in a midriff-baring gown. Photo: Shutterstock.

Elizabeth Debicki, who played Princess Diana in the latest season of The Crown, wore ear climbers with awe-inspiring emeralds and a large statement-making emerald and diamond ring (not shown). Her look was edgy elegance. Photo: Shutterstock.

Cate Blanchett wore two rings, one with a huge colored gemstone. As always, she was the picture of perfection. Photo: Shutterstock.