6 Times Jewels Stole The Scene

Mar 2

Our favorite jewelry heist movies—no spoilers!

Whether you call the genre “heist,” “caper,” or “crime,” flicks about filching jewelry—with their high stakes and higher payoffs—have stolen our hearts for decades. The action-packed antics and mega-wattage stars (Grace Kelly! Cate Blanchett! Rihanna!) would be eye-catching enough on their own, but it's the jewelry, naturally, that outshines them all. Here’s how to get your hands on the goods, no safe-cracking required.

Ocean’s 8

The plot of Ocean’s 8 may be all (fictional) fun and games, but the necklace at the heart of it all is very real. Sort of. The actual Toussaint necklace, designed by Jacques Cartier in 1931 and named for the house’s creative director, Jeanne Toussaint, weighed in at a whopping 500 carats and is said to have been worth $150 million. For the film, Cartier craftspeople painstakingly recreated the original piece in zirconium oxide instead of diamonds.

Iradj Moini “Crystal Twist” choker with rock crystal and Swarovski crystal, $1,988 at Iradj Moini

To Catch a Thief

Grace Kelly wears an iconic necklace in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief in an attempt to lure a former jewel thief, played by Cary Grant. Grant studies the necklace and says, “You know as well as I do this necklace is an imitation,” and he’s correct, both on screen and IRL. Legend has it the costume necklace was rented for the film for a total of $75 (and you can score a similar one for even less than that—talk about a steal).

Cristabelle bib necklace, $45 at Nordstrom

Titanic

If you haven’t seen Titanic since it came out over twenty years ago (let that one sink in), here’s a reminder: the blockbuster begins with modern day treasure hunters looking for the Heart of the Ocean, an enormous blue diamond that once belonged to Kate Winslet’s character, Rose. While Jack and Rose’s storybook romance is just that—a story—the jewel is based on an actual necklace worn by the very real Kate Florence aboard the Titanic, and called the Love of the Sea.

Vetements blue crystal heart necklace, $775 at SSense

The Great Muppet Caper

Much like a famous member of it’s ensemble Muppet cast, this movie is absolutely Gonzo, with hijinx, puns, and silliness aplenty. The necklace that Lady Holiday wears—and loses to a jewel thief—is seriously stunning, however. It’s safe to assume the sparkling statement piece isn’t real, but that doesn’t stop us from wanting it.

Miu Miu crystal detail necklace, $1,650 at FarFetch

A Fish Called Wanda

In this late-80s classic, it’s not jewelry that’s stolen, but jewels themselves, before double-crossing and hilarity ensue. While the stolen diamond loot may be worth a lot—£13 million, to be exact—instead of imagining what that sum could buy, we’re dreaming of all the fabulous custom jewelry we could make.

The Diamond Room by Spektor .31 carat loose round diamond, price upon request at The Diamond Room by Spektor

Pink Panther

Maybe one of the most archetypical films of the heist genre, the original Pink Panther spawned a 10-film series, a modern-day remake, and a cult-favorite 90’s cartoon. At the center of the franchise? An enormous pink diamond, with a flaw at its center said to resemble a leaping panther. This fictional stone also has a real-life counterpart—the Pink Star diamond, valued at over $70 million. Fancy color diamonds this size are extremely rare, but if you’re thinking pink, perhaps a sapphire will do?

Bayco pink sapphire and diamond ring, $80,000 at Bergdorf Goodman

Editor: Samantha Durbin
Wordsmith: Rebecca Daly

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