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Diamonds in Reverse: The Backwards Necklace Is All The Rage

When it comes to backwards diamond necklaces, we hate to see you go, but love to watch you walk away.

By Hannah Militano | August 29, 2024

EARRINGS IPPOLITA • NECKLACE TABAYER • BRACELET ROSARIO NAVIA • RING ENGELBERT FROM BROKEN ENGLISH • DRESS MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION (Alexandra Shipp Photographed by AB+DM for Only Natural Diamonds)

One jewelry style hack has seen a renewed interest of late: the backwards necklace. Turning around a necklace and wearing your natural diamonds in reverse turns tradition on its head for a transitional, versatile, and transformative look. The perfect accessory to a backless gown, wearing a necklace in reverse is timeless, yet subversive and unexpected.

Turning their backs on convention, Michelle Yeoh and Margaret Qualley showed off a their backwards necklaces from Chanel High Jewelry and Boucheron Fine Jewelry, respectively.

But you can’t just turn any necklace backward. For maximum impact, the jewel must have an organic clasp for a seamless front-facing look to achieve the ideal “business in the front, party in the back” situation.

Diamonds in Reverse: The Backwards Necklace Is All The Rage — Margaret Qualley at the 97th Oscars on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Getty Images)

An infinite strand of consistent diamonds will do the trick, scooping or draping down the spine. A Y-shaped lariat necklace will gracefully dangle between the shoulders, preferably with a provoking diamond pendant dripping down the nape of the neck.

Nicole Kidman attended the Academy Awards in 2008, wearing a waist-length necklace created by L’Wren Scott that formed a front-and-back curtain of 7,645 individual diamonds for a 360-degree look. Kate Hudson arrived at the 2010 SAG Awards in a white backless Emilio Pucci gown with a Cartier diamond Sautoir Spotlight necklace swinging from behind her.

When Jennifer Lawrence and Anne Hathaway took home the Oscars for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively in 2013, and both chose to wear their necklaces in reverse. J.Law even followed suit again the following year. Rita Ora, Jaime King, and Lashana Lynch have all turned their Bulgari Serpenti necklaces around so that their diamonds (literally) snaked down the back.

Here, Only Natural Diamonds has rounded up our favorite red carpet moments with style stars wearing their diamond necklaces in reverse throughout the years.

Anya Taylor-Joy Wore an Archival Tiffany & Co. Backwards Necklace at The Gorge Premiere

Anya Taylor-Joy stepped out for the premiere of her new film The Gorge in Los Angeles, with a major business in the front, party in the back situation. Styled by Ryan Hastings, the actress teamed her fluttering Christian Dior frock with an archival Tiffany & Co. necklace dangling down her back. The Art Deco masterpiece was created between 1905 and 1920.

Sabrina Carpenter Wore a Diamond Chopard Backwards Necklace to the 2025 Grammy Awards

Sabrina Carpenter adorned a baby blue satin feathered halter custom JW Anderson dress at the 2025 Grammy Awards, held up by a string with 18.97-carats of pear-shaped diamonds from Chopard. Then, a 50-carat D-flawless brilliant-cut diamond sautoir pendant elegantly dangled from her back, surrounded by pear-shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds. The piece is from the Garden of Kalahari Collection.

Taylor Russell Wore a Diamond Tiffany & Co. Backwards Necklace to the 2024 Venice Film Festival

Taylor Russell glistened at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, wearing a cream-colored strapless Loewe gown with a chiffon shawl draped around her neck, à la Princess Diana at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Although her clavicle was covered, Russell didn’t miss the opportunity to creatively drip in diamonds. Styled by Jahleel Weaver, the actress adorned a resplendent Tiffany & Co. natural diamond pendant necklace, worn backwards, with a pear-shaped diamond of over 11 carats sitting between her shoulder blades.

Backwards Necklaces at Auction

In June 2024, Sotheby’s hosted the Magnificent Jewels auction in New York City. A Van Cleef & Arpels Art Deco diamond ‘tie’ necklace sold for $3.6 million, fetching three times its estimated value. The bauble rested on the model’s collarbone and dangled down her back.

Alexandra Shipp Wore A Tabayer Backwards Necklace For Only Natural Diamonds

Photographed by AB+DM for Only Natural Diamonds, Barbie actress Alexandra Shipp teamed her backless green Michael Kors dress with a Tabayer diamond knot pendant necklace, worn backwards.

Brie Larson Wore a Diamond Chanel Backwards Necklace to the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

Styled by Samantha McMillen, actress Brie Larson wore a Chanel diamond necklace featuring the camelia flower, turned around, dangling down her back at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.

Lashana Lynch Wore a Diamond Bulgari Backwards Necklace to the 2023 BAFTA Awards

Lashana Lynch got creative with her Bulgari Serpenti necklace, wearing it backwards so the tail dripped down the back of her gown at the 2023 BAFTA Film Awards. She paired the High Jewelry necklace with Serpenti Viper drop earrings in White Gold with 2.08 carats of diamonds and the Serpenti Viper band in White Gold with 8.91 carats of diamonds.

Katherine Langford Wore a Diamond Piaget Backwards Necklace to the 2022 Cannes Film Festival

Actress Katherine Langford attended the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, wearing a silver sequined Prada gown and a piece from Piaget’s high jewelry collection – a mixed-cut diamond necklace with an emerald center stone in reverse.

Anya Taylor-Joy Wore Tiffany & Co. Diamonds Down Her Back to the 2021 Emmys

Styled by Paul Burgo, Anya Taylor-Joy arrived at the 2021 Emmy Awards, wearing a butter yellow Dior backless halterneck gown, teamed with draped strings of Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard and a golden opera coat.

Vanessa Kirby Wore a Diamond Cartier Backwards Necklace to the 2021 Oscars

Nominated for Best Actress thanks to her role in Pieces of a Woman, Vanessa Kirby wore a sleek platinum and natural diamond Cartier collar to the 2021 Oscars. The perfect compliment to her pale pink plunging Gucci gown, the jewel, set with over one thousand diamonds and totaling 27.45 carats, featured a diamond pendant draped down the nape of her neck for dramatic effect.

Gillian Anderson Wore a Diamond Tiffany & Co. Backwards Necklace to the 2020 Golden Globes

Gillian Anderson stepped out at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, wearing a pure white Dior gown with a sweeping low-cut back – the ideal canvas for her Tiffany & Co. platinum and diamond Circlet necklace, worn backward. She teamed her ensemble with the jeweler’s Victoria diamond earrings.

Cynthia Erivo Wore a Diamond Roberto Coin Backwards Necklace to the 2020 SAG Awards

Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for Harriet, Cynthia Erivo attended the 2020 SAG Awards, wearing a bright red and hot pink custom Schiaparelli gown and a diamond serpentine Roberto Coin necklace that slithered down her back to great glistening effect.

Jane Fonda Wore a Diamond Gismondi 1754 Backwards Necklace to the 2017 Emmys

At the 2017 Emmy Awards, Jane Fonda teamed her hot pink Brandon Maxwell gown with contrasting diamond and emerald jewels, courtesy of Gismondi 1754. The legendary actress wore the Italian jeweler’s Rugiada necklace backwards for a choker effect in the front, and a dangling detail in the back. Worth $1.75 million, the piece comprised of 26.61 carats of pear-shape white diamonds, 24.42 carats of navette-shape diamonds, 18.84 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds, and 82.88 carats of pear shape emeralds. Styled by Tanya Gill, Fonda matched the show-stopping necklace with emerald and diamond chandelier earrings.

Jennifer Lawrence Wore Diamond Chopard & Neil Lane Backwards Necklaces to the 2013 & 2014 Oscars

Winning Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence famously tripped over her voluminous Christian Dior Couture ivory number while climbing the ceremony steps to receive her Academy Award in 2013. The actress took her memorable look a few steps further with loads of Chopard natural diamonds. Lawrence wore 12-carat diamond drop earrings and a captivating ring, but what really completed the ensemble was her thin, traipsing necklace with 74 carats worth of diamonds, draped along her clavicle. With 150 diamond links, the long necklace cascaded down her back.

The following year, Lawrence kept the trend going. Nominated for her role in American Hustle and acting as a presenter, the star wore a bold red strapless Dior gown with $3 million worth of Neil Lane diamonds, including an infinity necklace that scooped down her back, similar to last year’s style playbook.

Anne Hathaway Wore a Diamond Tiffany & Co. Reverse Necklace to the 2013 Oscars

Anne Hathaway won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2013 for her turn as Fantine in Les Misérables, wearing a soft pink Prada gown, diamond stud earrings, and a victory-worthy Tiffany & Co. floral diamond necklace that elegantly dangled down her back. The jewel looked just perfect with the crisscross strap detailing of her gown.

Kate Hudson Wore a Diamond Cartier Backwards Necklace to the 2010 SAG Awards

While this look may be from the 2010 SAG Awards, the Cartier jewels are truly timeless. Kate Hudson opted to wear the long Sautoir Spotlight necklace down her back for a dramatic, sensual look. The necklace features a cluster of cascading diamond tassels that are absolutely divine and beautifully complement the earrings. Hudson also wore diamond chandelier earrings that added a touch of glamour to her crisp white boatneck Emilio Pucci gown.

Nicole Kidman Wore a Diamond L’Wren Scott Curtain Necklace to the 2008 Oscars

With a knack for exemplary Oscars jewelry, Nicole Kidman wore a black Balenciaga gown at the 2008 ceremony, that acted as a canvas for her mind-blowing diamonds. The actress was covered in a dramatic piece, created by L’Wren Scott, with 1,399 carats of rough diamonds in various cuts, shapes, and sizes – 7,645 individual diamonds to be exact.

Iman Wore a Diamond De Beers Curtain Necklace to the 2003 Cannes Film Festival

When De Beers and Iman announced their partnership at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, Iman posed for a photocall, where she displayed De Beers’ “first diamond necklace” valued at over $100,000 at the time. The floral diamond jewels were auctioned off at the Cinema Against AIDS gala to benefit amfAR. The following year, Iman wore an uber-exaggerated version of De Beers’ “first diamond necklace” at the 2003 amfAR gala. Walking the red carpet in a slinky fuchsia Dior gown, Iman wore an elaborate wildflower couture neckpiece that covered her chest and extended down her back, featuring over 500 diamonds at 56 carats. She paired her bespoke necklace with a $2 million 5.5-carat emerald-cut rare pinkish-orange diamond ring, also from De Beers.