In Cannes, High Jewelry Takes the Stairs

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7pm, the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival opens its doors. On the steps of the Palais des Festivals, Demi Moore steps forward in a sculptural white sequined dress by Jacquemus. But this ceremonial attire is only part of the equation. The rest plays out on her neck, ears and fingers with a Chopard set composed of a five-row bib necklace of more than 226 carats, paired with diamond earrings and two rings totaling over 260 carats. The Festival has just begun, and the red carpet already says it all: high jewelry has become, just like the outfits and the smiles of the actresses and actors in the photographers' flashes, an indispensable part of the Cannes language. Between Sophia Loren ascending the steps in 1955 and Demi Moore in 2026, an entire history of glamor has been invented. A history in which high jewelry has ultimately become the most brilliant narrative, with a presence that has continued to assert itself over the decades, notably thanks to the arrival of Chopard as the official partner of the Festival in 1998 combined with the rise of social media, making each appearance an instant editorial event. /public-objects/5da8fcdc-94d4-4440-ac03-3deaec1f47dc-621e31f8-543c-4601-98c5-d433bcc67f51-Demi%20Moore%20in%20Chopard_12%20May_%C3%82%C2%A9Valery%20Hache_AFP%202026.webp Image sélectionnée The Glamor Myth The first time Sophia Loren graced the steps of the Palais in 1955, she was adorned in a white lace dress by Emilio Schuberth, opera gloves, and a swirling diamond necklace enhanced with droplets of emeralds. That same year, Cannes saw the birth of the Palme d'or, then designed by jeweler Lucienne Lazon, and welcomed a young Grace Kelly, who was yet to discover that she would meet Prince Rainier there. The codes of Cannes glamor were just being established. At that time, high jewelry on the red carpet was already quite present, without necessarily being a result of strategic placements by the major houses. The jewelry was sometimes personal, sometimes chosen in complicity with a trusted jeweler friend. Bulgari accompanied the Italian actresses, while Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels dressed the French. In 1984, the red carpet made its debut in Cannes, initiated by journalist Yves Mourousi, who was tasked with reorganizing the ritual of the stair climb. Directly inspired by the Oscars, this 60-meter crimson ribbon unrolled on the 24 steps of the Palais des Festivals would become the backdrop, now mythical, of Cannes moments, and an infinite canvas for luxury houses dressing and adorning the stars. With the advent of the new millennium, red carpet jewelry would reach its zenith. Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Marion Cotillard, Léa Seydoux and many others became the faces of the jewelry and the houses that created them. In 2016, we all remember Julia Roberts climbing the steps barefoot in protest against the obligation for women to wear heels, her neck adorned with a Chopard necklace set with over 40 carats of diamonds and a pear-shaped emerald of more than 50 carats. In a single appearance, the actress imposed the image of high jewelry on the red carpet that no longer merely accompanies a woman, but thanks to her, writes a story. The story of glamor and dreams. Global Showcases Cannes is no longer the only one proclaiming glamor and high jewelry. The Venice Film Festival, Oscars, MET Gala, Golden Globes, BAFTAs: each event on the social calendar has become, in its own way, a showcase where houses orchestrate their collections and unfold their narratives. At the 2019 Oscars, Lady Gaga donned the Tiffany Yellow Diamond, a cushion-cut 128.54 carat gem, marking the historic stone's first red carpet appearance since it was acquired in 1878 by Charles Lewis Tiffany. Before her, only two women had worn it in 140 years: socialite Mary Whitehouse at the 1957 Tiffany Ball, and Audrey Hepburn in 1961 for the promotion of Breakfast at Tiffany's . The appearance turned into global coverage: in one evening, the house wrote what no advertising campaign ever could. And yet, Cannes retains its uniqueness. Where every other event takes place in one night, the Festival stretches over nearly two weeks, with its daily red carpet ascents: as many appearances, as many adornments, as many opportunities for houses to unveil their creations. Cannes is an annual narrative, written in multiple voices, where high jewelry does not merely illustrate cinema, but converses with it. Chopard, the Cannes Essential As the official partner of the Festival since 1998, when Caroline Scheufele, co-president of the house, redesigned the Palme d'Or at the request of Pierre Viot, then president of the event, Chopard embodies Cannes like no other house. The delicate branch has never changed its design since its overhaul. Every year, it is crafted in Chopard's Geneva workshops: 40 hours of work, five craftsmen, and the age-old technique of lost-wax casting. In 2014, the Palme was forged in 18-carat Fairmined-certified yellow gold; to this day it remains the only cinema trophy made from ethical gold. It weighs 118 grams, and rests on a rock crystal cushion. A safety clasp was added after the day Danish director Lars von Trier accidentally dropped it on the stage of the Palais. /public-objects/226849a5-c0d5-490b-b76d-48efa29f8788-6ff224ad-08f9-435a-b35e-0a2c8ef9bbd1-1.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/114b2e60-e88c-464c-951e-c6b6848777a1-b3fcf688-8975-4913-ba6c-cd2411900caf-2.webp Image sélectionnée Beyond the trophy, Chopard presents a Red Carpet high jewelry collection each year, specifically crafted for the event. This year, 79 pieces make up the collection named Miracles , inspired by the discreet wonders of everyday life. The centerpiece: a necklace in ethical white gold centered around a majestic 88-carat Royal Blue cushion-cut sapphire, extended with cascades of sapphires and aquamarines. The house's signature miniature bestiary is also on display, in a phoenix brooch mixing emeralds and multicolored sapphires, a carp brooch with scales set with sapphires, and even a secret butterfly watch whose wing pivots to reveal the dial. /public-objects/bec708c3-2609-479f-b9f8-6350aca7edc4-107cf1d2-92c1-4675-9d4c-ffa58bbe59cb-3.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/a8b8df70-ad48-4b3e-b371-76603382f4a1-17a99951-d1bb-407b-ac79-64fdc8a0d889-900151-9001_Red%20Carpet%20Collection%20Brooch%20(1).webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/db8a6d0e-4490-4c65-a66e-e2f0e1af1e97-e651a53c-0501-43ae-808c-e941a2d49f3b-900119-1001_Red%20Carpet%20Collection%20Brooch.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/3606014f-3462-4fc6-afcb-7467dab57373-f8dadd5e-dd89-4aa9-a941-c7e992c25999-134977-9001_Red%20Carpet%20Collection%20Watch%20(1).webp Image sélectionnée Cannes 2026, the Red Carpet Live Since its opening on May 12, the 79th edition has not deviated from the norm. Eye Haïdara, the mistress of ceremonies, opened the ball wearing Messika: a high jewelry Totem necklace in white gold and a Mille Feux bracelet, complemented by a Joy solitaire and studs. The same evening, Ruth Negga joined Demi Moore on the steps in Chopard, while Jane Fonda showcased Pomellato's script by wearing a stunning Iconica necklace around a milky aquamarine cabochon cut (46.34 carats), enhanced by over 2,000 diamonds set in white gold links. At her side, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, the global ambassador of the house, unveiled a preview of the new high jewelry collection 2026, including a semi-rigid choker set with 21 pear-cut Paraíba tourmalines. For his part on the Croisette, Lucas Bravo wore a brooch from Fred's Heritage Collection for the first time — a '70s piece in gold, platinum and diamonds, complemented by a Force 10 Rise ear cuff and a Pain de Sucre ring in chrysoprase. An appearance that, in its own way, celebrates the jeweler's 90th anniversary. /public-objects/299d864b-f0f5-444f-b3a3-25ac39093572-84f5c66c-d1e4-4389-bb7e-b9a18a9f0a50-Eye%20Ha%C3%83%C2%AFdara%20in%20Messika%20-%20Cannes%20Film%20Festival%20-%20052026%20%C3%82%C2%A9GettyImages.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/30719c4f-8bd5-4875-92a9-e4712e04c7d8-6457a742-2378-475d-9e43-0c7a9ac5b9b3-Sans%20titre-2.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/60242caa-d8b1-4766-bad7-6f6eaab996cb-20264452-10a5-4fc2-acc6-dea83ec10e57-Sans%20titre-2.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/11fbbfba-1923-4cb6-8bae-ff79ab597b3d-1baa6d3e-3580-4561-a369-85c2b387f858-Sans%20titre-2.webp Image sélectionnée A few days later, Isabelle Huppert ascended the stairs in Chopard, adorned with titanium and platinum earrings set with brilliant and pear-shaped diamonds, and a cuff bracelet from the Red Carpet 2026 collection, made of 18-carat ethical white gold centered around a majestic 50.99-carat cabochon emerald. At her side, Barbara Palvin (now Sprouse) notably wore a Papillon ring in ethical white gold set with rose, pear, and brilliant-cut diamonds. /public-objects/4b2302a6-c9fe-4b40-a5bf-9f36dcd86bc2-d87c5c29-3081-44a6-8335-83983464c9f9-Isabelle%20Huppert%20in%20Chopard_14%20May_%C3%82%C2%A9Sameer%20Al-Doumy_AFP_JP.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/7ca6894b-15fb-4208-a7ca-4dbd56ec45c2-954a6b30-fd61-4167-aff7-f572e1f9f841-Barbara%20Palvin%20and%20Dylan%20Sprouse%20in%20Chopard_14%20May_%C3%82%C2%A9Valery%20Hache_AFP%202026.webp Image sélectionnée Kelly Rutherford also dazzled the start of the fortnight with the Gioia del Mare necklace from Damiani, and Araya A. Hargate unveiled the impressive Le Col necklace from Boucheron, from The Power of Couture collection. We also caught a glimpse of Laetitia Casta adorned with the Divine Enigma necklace from Messika, centered around a 45-carat emerald-cut tanzanite. Géraldine Nakache also chose the Parisian house, wearing the Totem necklace from the Terres d'Instinct collection, set with a 5-carat cushion diamond. Alongside them, Monia Chokri, president of the Caméra d'Or jury, was decked out in Fred creations: a bracelet and a Force 10 Winning Spirit ring set with Hero Cut diamonds, and Chance Infinie earrings. /public-objects/c3dc9857-ef52-421b-8de0-6b63a11c73ce-5c843eaa-e511-4fda-8f50-2807b287c50c-Sans%20titre-2.webp Image sélectionnée /public-objects/4d1c84c4-1c72-4c41-86b6-81579aecd16b-be2c79bf-d851-460e-845a-66c61d0c19e3-FRED%20x%20Monia%20Chokri%20-%202026.05.12%20-%202.webp Image sélectionnée Constance Jablonski, on the other hand, ascended the steps adorned with the new Maillon Perle collection from Dinh Van. /public-objects/b6f79de7-445b-49e5-a9cc-5cb0f5b41a03-ef677672-3bce-409b-a821-a69bfa1c05f3-Constance%20Jablonski%20Best%20Image.webp Image sélectionnée Just a sample of the upcoming ascents yet to come before the closing on May 23rd...