Every year, the Met Gala delivers fashion's most theatrical night. But for those of us who live and breathe fine jewellery, it is the stones that tell the real story. This year's theme — Costume Art — invited guests to treat their entire look as a work of art, and the jewellery responded in kind. From archival pieces predating the Second World War to extraordinary diamonds worn with quiet, devastating restraint, the 2026 Met Gala carpet was one of the most jewel-intensive in the event's history.
Here are the moments that stopped us in our tracks — and what they tell us about the jewellery trends shaping 2026.
Rihanna — vintage diamonds and rose-cut brilliance
Rihanna wore a Victorian rose-cut diamond bangle from Joseph Saidian and Sons alongside a 1930s diamond ring by Suzanne Belperron with a 3-carat diamond centre stone. The choice of rose-cut and antique diamonds was significant — it spoke directly to the growing desire for diamonds with history, character and a story that modern brilliant cuts simply cannot replicate. Rose-cut diamonds are one of the most exciting jewellery trends of 2026, prized for their soft, romantic glow and the way they feel genuinely personal rather than simply spectacular.
Beyoncé — Chopard diamonds at 342 carats
Beyoncé paired her diamond-encrusted Chopard ensemble with the 'Queen of Kalahari' necklace — named after a 342-carat diamond divided into 23 stones to create Chopard's Garden of Kalahari high jewellery collection. She further elevated her look with a bold diamond cuff featuring a large cabochon emerald and layered Chopard Precious Lace earrings. The lesson here is timeless — when in doubt, let extraordinary stones speak for themselves.
Emily Blunt — half a million dollars of wearable art
Emily Blunt arrived on the Met steps in a Mikimoto pearl body necklace valued at $500,000 — featuring a 21.85-carat pear-shaped morganite surrounded by 45.97 carats of diamonds, with strands of fine Akoya pearls that wrapped and dressed the body rather than simply adorning it. The piece was not jewellery in the traditional sense — it was a garment in its own right, perfectly embodying this year's Fashion Is Art theme. Blunt herself said "when we saw this extraordinary creation from Mikimoto, we knew it was perfect — it feels like wearable art and captures the idea of jewellery becoming part of the garment."
Two things stand out here for fine jewellery lovers. First, the morganite — a soft, peachy-pink gemstone that is having a remarkable moment in 2026, prized for its gentle warmth and the way it photographs beautifully in every light. Second, the pearl — which is back with extraordinary force.
Hailey Bieber — minimalism as a statement
Hailey Bieber opted for minimalism at the 2026 Met Gala, choosing rings and earrings from Belperron whose aesthetic echoed classical Greek jewellery — aligning seamlessly with the dialogue between fashion and art that defined the evening. Against a striking Saint Laurent gold armour-inspired bodice and cobalt blue skirt, the restraint of her jewellery choices was entirely deliberate — a reminder that sometimes the most confident jewellery statement is knowing exactly when to let the piece breathe.
Belperron is one of the most revered names in jewellery history — a French designer whose sculptural, asymmetric pieces from the 1930s and 1940s are among the most sought-after in the vintage market today.
Rosé (BLACKPINK) — the art of restraint
Of all the jewellery moments of the evening, Rosé's was perhaps the most instructive for anyone who loves fine jewellery done properly. She wore the Tiffany Palm Necklace from the Blue Book 2026 Hidden Garden collection — set in platinum and centred on a 4.26-carat cushion-cut diamond graded E colour and VS1. Against a sleek black Saint Laurent gown, the necklace made its case entirely through quality rather than quantity. It is a reminder that an exceptional stone in an exceptional setting, worn with complete confidence, will always outshine spectacle for its own sake.
Amanda Seyfried — the oval cut diamond moment
Amanda Seyfried completed her pink Prada gown with a 5.74-carat oval-cut diamond ring with additional diamond accents — and in doing so, confirmed what we have been seeing in our own Harrogate showroom all year. The oval cut is having its most significant moment in a generation. Its elongated silhouette is breathtaking on the hand, its brilliance extraordinary, and its ability to appear larger than its carat weight suggests makes it one of the most compelling choices in engagement jewellery right now. If you have been considering an oval cut engagement ring, the Met Gala carpet just gave you every reason to go for it.
Isha Ambani — the most extraordinary jewellery story of the night
The centrepiece of Isha Ambani's custom Lorraine Schwartz choker was a 50-carat Colombian emerald whose previous life included being set as a ring worn by Angelina Jolie to the 2009 Oscars — reset as the anchor of a magnificent choker surrounded by three rows of round-cut diamonds. Her ensemble also incorporated over 200 old mine cut diamonds woven into her couture bodice, with a further 250 carats of old mine cut diamonds in two graduated necklaces. The old mine cut diamonds are particularly significant — their chunky, hand-polished facets and warm, romantic glow represent exactly the kind of vintage-inspired diamond that collectors and connoisseurs are increasingly drawn to.
Image by Peoples Magazine
Jisoo (BLACKPINK) — 121 years of Cartier history
Jisoo's accessories represented 121 years of Cartier history — a choker dating to 1905 and foliate ear clips from 1948, both from the Cartier Collection, the archive of historic works the maison preserves and loans rather than ever places for sale. The 1905 choker predates the First World War. For a theme concerned with the relationship between art, time and the body, it was among the most intellectually precise jewellery choices of the entire evening.
Anna Wintour — Van Cleef & Arpels and the 1920s
Anna Wintour matched the mint green feathers of her Chanel gown to a rare sautoir necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels, an ode to the transformable jewels of the roaring 1920s. The sautoir — a long, elegant necklace that can be worn multiple ways — is one of the most versatile and enduring pieces in fine jewellery and a style we expect to see more of as the year continues.
What does it all mean for 2026 jewellery trends?
Looking across the carpet as a whole, five clear themes emerge.
Coloured gemstones are having a genuine moment. Emeralds, sapphires, aquamarines and morganite all featured prominently — and not as secondary stones, but as the centrepiece of some of the evening's most extraordinary pieces. If you have been considering a sapphire or gemstone engagement ring, the timing has never felt more right.
Vintage and antique cuts — rose-cut diamonds, old mine cuts, old European cuts — continue their remarkable resurgence. These stones carry a warmth and character that modern brilliant cuts simply cannot replicate, and the appetite for them is growing.
The oval cut diamond is firmly established as the dominant engagement ring shape of 2026. From Amanda Seyfried's breathtaking ring to countless other carpet moments, the oval's elongating elegance was everywhere.
Pearls and morganite emerged as the surprise heroes of the carpet — not as delicate, traditional pieces but as bold, sculptural statements. Both represent a growing appetite for gemstones with warmth, softness and a romantic quality that feels deeply personal. We expect to see both everywhere in the second half of 2026.
Quality over quantity was the defining philosophy of the best-dressed. Rosé's single extraordinary diamond necklace made more of an impression than looks piled with multiple statement pieces. One exceptional stone, perfectly set, always wins.
And finally — intentionality. The jewellery that truly resonated on the 2026 carpet was chosen with purpose and meaning. Not just to look beautiful, but to say something. That is, when you think about it, exactly what the best fine jewellery has always done.
Inspired by what you saw?
Whether you're drawn to the oval cut, the romance of a vintage-style setting, or the idea of a coloured gemstone centrepiece, our team at Harrogate Jewellers would love to help you explore your options. Book your appointment at our Harrogate showroom via the link below — or browse our collections online at harrogatejewellers.com. 🤍