As one of fashion’s biggest nights, it takes something really special to steal the show at the Met Gala – and at this year’s event, Priyanka Chopra ensured all eyes were on her in one of the most beautiful (and expensive) looks of the evening.
The actress took to the red carpet in a monochrome Valentino gown, which was a fitting tribute to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld – the subject of this year’s theme.
But far from her dress, it was Chopra’s Bulgari diamonds that were the focal point of her look. She wore glittering earrings and a high jewellery necklace, made from platinum and diamonds, which paid homage to Rome, the birthplace of the iconic jeweller. It captures the Italian city with its interlocking diamonds, which take inspiration from the bay laurel wreaths once worn by emperors.
The necklace features a single stone – the Bulgari Laguna Blu diamond – worth an incredible $25 million (about £22.8 million). The 11.16-carat gem, which gets its name thanks to its vibrant oceanic blue colour, was originally set as a ring in 1970 and is the largest Bulgari blue diamond to ever have been offered for sale by Sotheby’s.
Blue is one of the rarest coloured diamonds, with fewer than 10 blue diamonds over 10 carats coming into auction worldwide in the past few decades, making Chopra’s necklace a truly historic piece.
Her stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray praised the piece for its extraordinary colourful impact: “Absolutely enchanting to behold, the Bulgari Laguna Blu captures the essence of Bulgari’s exuberant style, a legacy that has been interwoven with Hollywood glamour since the 1950s. It also nods to Bulgari’s birthplace of Rome, capturing the brand’s ancient heritage in the most modern way.”
