Sarah Jessica Parker Has Worn and Re-Worn Carrie Bradshaw’s Diamond Chandelier Earrings
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has kept her ‘Sex and the City’ diamond earrings in her jewelry rotation.
The ultimate fashion-obsessed sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw has had countless fan-favorite style moments in Sex and the City, but only a select few remain as memorable as this. In the season four episode, “Change of A Dress,” Sarah Jessica Parker’s beloved character stands in front of a fountain in Central Park with her fiancé Aidan Shaw. Wearing a white strapless Badgley Mischka gown with her diamond engagement ring around her neck, Carrie and Aiden break off their engagement. Ironically, Carrie looks as bridal as ever, with her golden locks swept up in a dramatic updo to better show off the real star of the scene: a dazzling pair of Fred Leighton natural diamond chandelier earrings.
Creative Director of the legendary Fred Leighton estate and contemporary jeweler in New York, Rebecca Selva told Only Natural Diamonds, “These diamond earrings by Fred Leighton are amazing!” She says, “The fringe of diamond briolettes gave them their unique character – lightness, movement, and incredible sparkle as the diamond briolettes catch the light from every angle.”
Briolettes are one of the earliest diamond cuts, and these vintage-inspired earrings by Fred Leighton were both ahead of their time and influenced by the past. Selva explains, “They had a 19th century and also Indian inspiration.” She says, “Sarah Jessica wore them on numerous occasions on the red carpet, imbuing the earrings with her incredible style.”
The earrings became a lucky charm for the actress off-screen. After wearing the earrings to the season three premiere of the HBO series in New York City, SJP made a habit of wearing them to several award ceremonies – where she often took home the prize.
In 2000, SJP wore the Fred Leighton sparklers with a beaded taupe Richard Tyler gown to the Golden Globes, where she accepted the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical) for her role in Sex and the City. She wore them again the next year with a cotton candy pink Emanuel Ungaro dress, and won the same award for her portrayal as Carrie Bradshaw. Just months later, Parker took home the SAG Award for Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series, wearing a black beaded Prada two-piece ensemble and, of course, her lucky Fred Leighton earrings.
A recurring staple in her jewelry rotation, Parker went on to adorn the dazzling, dangling earrings to Broadway shows and after-parties alike on loan from Fred Leighton.
Known to channel her character’s iconic fashion sense, Parker told Vogue that she “kept every single solitary thing” from the series. Airing on HBO for six seasons between 1998 and 2004 before its two feature films, Parker told the outlet she has all the original costumes in her own storage, organized according to episode and scene.
Styled by costume designer Patricia Field, Sex and the City was known for its immaculate designer wardrobe. Fred Leighton continuously lent jewelry to the series as well as the sequel films, and now, Molly Rogers’ costume department on And Just Like That. “It’s an incredible relationship,” says Selva. “Seeing how the jewelry adds to the character and adds to the moment and expresses the character’s style and personality has been wonderful.”
A noted fan of Fred Leighton, Parker has worn the brand to several red carpets, multiple Met Galas, and beyond. Selva described working with the actress as “magical.”
“She loves jewelry and appreciates the unique character of pieces,” says Selva. “She’s very much thinking forward and inspires many. It is magical to have a relationship like that and to see the jewelry worn so beautifully by Sarah Jessica.”
While we’ll have to wait for the next season of And Just Like That to air in 2025, filming has commenced in New York City. As for me, I’ll be keeping out an eagle eye for any diamond Fred Leighton jewelry moments on set. Who knows, maybe these earrings will make another starry appearance.
