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RED CARPET JEWELRY

H. Stern photo

Eva Longoria-Parker in two diamond Sutra bracelets made into a necklace

Costume Institute Gala in NY

Bold colour, overscale designs are the night's top jewelry trends

The holy trinity of the modeling world – Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington – seemed conspicuously absent from The Model As Muse - the Costume Institute Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4.

Major jewelry statements, however, were not - from the classic ruby on Victoria Beckham’s finger to the glittery salamander hanging down Ashley Olsen’s back.

Beckham’s ruby ring by Chopard added a hit of colour to a black and taupe ruched mini with floor-length train by Marc Jacobs, one of the evening's co-chairs.

Chopard also dressed Marion Cotillard, whose blush-coloured Christian Dior gown was prettily-topped with a 10 carat fancy yellow pear shape diamond necklace. Cotillard also wore a 6 carat fancy brown pear shape diamond cocktail ring set in cognac diamond micropave.

Many stars went with gems from major houses. Liv Tyler’s royal blue sequined Stella McCartney gown got even more dazzle from three diamond Cartier bracelets totaling more than a cool million. Eva Longoria-Parker transformed two diamond Sutra bracelets from the Diane Von Furstenberg collection by H. Stern into an eye-popping choker. And Diane Kruger, Karen Elson and Kirsten Dunst all wore Chanel Fine Jewellery with their Chanel Couture.

Leave it to fashion renegade Madonna to unearth new talent. Her ruched teal cocktail frock by Louis Vuitton was paired with gems from Anna Hu, a former cellist who has a boutique in New York's Plaza Hotel. The 6 carat D-colour diamond cross pendant and “Icy Grapes” sapphire, emerald, ruby and diamond earrings were from Hu’s Giverny Garden collection inspired by Monet.