Bergamot Gems at the Movies

With the Cannes Film Festival coming to a close on Sunday, I took a moment to reflect a bit about what I once heard Martin Scorsese say: "Cinema is a matter of what's within the frame and what's without". Though I'm sure he meant it in a cinematographic sense, I think he also meant that beyond the camera, cinema's most fundamental goal is to capture aspects of regular life as well as the greatest fancies of the imagination. Respectively, jewelry on the silver screen has been no different. So while Cannes busied itself on showcasing some of today's most magnificent jewelry and newest films, I reminisced about the items that remain part of our collective memory, thanks to cinema. So let's go to the movies, shall we?

The Gatsby Collection by Tiffany & Co displays every delight from the Jazz Era, Photo courtesy of www.tiffany.com

In the very beginning, jewelry for the movies restricted itself mainly to costume jewelry. It would only be as of the "Golden Era" of film that fine jewelry would be worn by Hollywood stars and in turn in the films themselves. That tradition is seen continuing in Baz Luhrmann's 2013 remake of the Great Gatsby. It was a stroke of mutually beneficial marketing genius that brought together he and Tiffany & Co in this common project. In order to authentically portray the era of absolute decadence that is described in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, Tiffany & Co supplied not only the main cast's jewelry, but for the entire project. In turn, Luhrmann's highly seductive vision of opulence would popularize the store's line of "Jazz Age Glamour" including the head band seen in the picture.

Kate Winslet wearing the "Heart of the Ocean'',  actually made of Cubic Zirconium (CZ) for filming. Photo courtesy of www.showbizgeek.com

I think it's safe to say that people will never forget the "Heart of the Ocean" from James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic. Everything about that movie was big, even the "diamond". Though this particular necklace did not exist, the plot of the film is loosely based on a large sapphire necklace that survived the sinking and was tied to a story of thwarted lovers on their crossing to America. From the replica that Celine Dion would wear at the Academy Awards that year, to the vast collection of Edwardian jewelry that would be recovered from the belly of that ship by enthusiasts, it goes without saying that this piece inspired people to take their dream-chasing beyond the theater.

A still shot from Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003). Photo courtesy of www.orenishiianimation.wordpress.com

The eponymous Bill A.K.A. "Snake Charmer" from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1, is the target of the Bride's vengeful and murdering rampage. A ruthless killer himself, we find out that Bill is also a thoughtful and deliberate character; one that understands that even evil has its standards and code of honor.  What's fantastic about this still shot is that all of Bill's character traits are understood in a single visual image. Man-rings are generally a very deliberate accessory choice for men and the one worn here by David Carradine encapsulates the spirit of Bill's very silent, but deadly power. Of course if that was not already obvious, the Hattori Hanzo sword is close at hand to confirm this.

Gollum in Peter Jackson's Return of the King (2003). Photo courtesy of www.gretchenrubin.com

"One Ring to Rule Them All". For LOTR fans, there isn't anything more precious than this seemingly simple band of gold that reveals these words when placed in fire. Unlike the other rings given to the elves, men and dwarves alike, this one holds no stone. At the center of this story's plot, the One Ring represents a power too great for one lone person to have. Ultimately it would carry Gollum (pictured here) to his death.

Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai dancing to the song Dola re Dola in Devdas (2002), Photo Courtesy of www.zohraa.com

If you've ever been to a traditional Indian wedding,  you'll know that the importance of literally showering the bride in copious amounts of colorful and bold jewelry cannot be understated. In keeping with this custom, Bollywood films, who ooze bold and colorful song and dance numbers, hardly wait for wedding scenes to bring out the jewelry. As seen in this still from the epic 2002 film Devdas, women are completely adorned for Durga Puja.

Tell us about your favorite piece of movie jewelry! Feel free to send us a pic!
We'd love to hear about it!