Red Carpet Awash with Color and Pearls at the 77th Annual Academy Awards

DALLAS, March 7— Some of the biggest stars dazzling the red carpet at this year’s Oscar’s opted for a flash of color or a dash of pearls to drive home the glamour of their look. Best Supporting Actress nominee Laura Linney was a standout beauty in a lengthy pearl lariat wrapped seductively around her neck, antique inspired pearl earrings and Australian South Sea pearl ring, while Cate Blanchette donned a breathtaking color gemstone brooch on the shoulder of her asymmetrical, sunflower yellow gown. Presenters Drew Barrymore, Selma Hayack, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Emily Rossum also selected color in the form of gemstone drop earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. Nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno put the finishing touch on her exotic look with a diamond necklace with an Australian South Sea Pearl drop and diamond and South Sea pearl drop earrings. Even rap artist Jay Z added a little color to his life in the form of a colored gemstone stickpin as he walked his stunning date Beyonce Knowles down the red carpet. Beyonce herself was a virtual rainbow of color during her performance with the American Boys Choir, showcasing dramatic colored gemstone chandelier earrings and bracelet.

In the week preceding the Oscar’s, The American Gem Trade Association played host to a number of stylists and celebrities at their suite in the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. The AGTA showcased a dazzling selection ofjewelry from some of their members, rubbed shoulders with Hollywood’s A-list crowd, and got the message of the AGTA out to a number of print and broadcast media attending the event.

Desperate Housewives’ Tern Hatcher borrowed a ring from Nafco Gems featuring a 19.64 carat sugarloaf shape cabochon rose quartz center stone surrounded by pink sapphires. The decidedly un-desperate Hatcher loved the ring so much she didn’t want to take it off, so Nafco Gems presented it to her as a gift!

Actress Ashley Peldon hit the Oscar’s parties with a colorful gemstone brooch, a prominent feature of her stunning ensemble. The dramatic butterfly brooch, by Paula Crevoshay/Mellika Co., featured a 50.41 carat star rose quartz, amethyst, tourmaline, diamond and tanzanite.

Iconic actress Karen Black wore earrings from Precious Gem Resources featuring 26.39 carats of Burmese rubies and 8.07 carats of diamonds, while actress Julia Verdin opted for a Munsteiner Rutliated Quartz pendant and faceted black pearl earrings by Mark Schneider Designs.