6 Top Jewelry Moments from the Tonys

Vintage and antique jewels, with a couple of contemporary looks, were the evening’s stars.

Ashley Davis Ashley.Davis@nationaljeweler.com

Sarah Paulson wore these Irene Neuwirth 18-karat rose gold earrings with rose-cut rainbow moonstone and diamond pave to the 71st annual Tony Awards on Sunday.

After a week of being inundated with some of the world’s most fabulous jewelry at the Las Vegas trade shows, it’s not easy to come back down to earth.

I’m embarking on the process gradually, my first step being to pick my favorite jewelry looks from Sunday night’s Tony Awards show.

Overall, the jewelry styling seriously lacked in creativity, but the evening was redeemed by a few stellar vintage and antique jewelry moments.

Here are the pieces that stood out among an otherwise demure group of necks, wrists, fingers and ears.

Cynthia Nixon in Fred Leighton


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Actress Cynthia Nixon took home a Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for “The Little Foxes” and likely gave back this Fred Leighton 18-karat yellow gold and diamond necklace from the 1950s after playing dress-up for the night.

If I was her, I’d attempt to trade the statue for the necklace but that’s why I write about jewelry for a living—I have a one track mind when it comes to diamonds and gems.

She also sported Fred Leighton yellow gold and diamond rings, not pictured.

Rachel Bay Jones in Cadar


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Rachel Bay Jones was a vision in 18-karat yellow gold and diamond jewels from Cadar.

The actress wore the Couture Design Award-winning brand’s ring, bracelet and earrings, as she claimed an award for Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in “Dear Evan Hansen,” the most celebrated Broadway show of the night.


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Wearing Cadar’s exquisite designs was a full-circle moment for Bay Jones, who recounted in her acceptance speech that her grandmother had sold her engagement ring to finance the actress’ move to New York to pursue theater.

Uma Thurman in Fred Leighton


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Brava to Uma Thurman for delivering exactly the type of bejeweled drama worthy of the biggest night on Broadway.

Thurman was at the Tonys to present and kept her outfit toned down, which made her statement Fred Leighton jewels stand out all the more.

She wore a dazzling 19th century amethyst rivière and cross pendant, accompanied by a 19th century diamond star bracelet and Edwardian three-stone diamond and platinum ring, not pictured.

Sarah Paulson in Irene Neuwirth


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Those waiting for their Irene Neuwirth awards show red carpet fix weren’t disappointed. The always impeccably attired Sarah Paulson wore a pair of Neuwirth earrings that complimented her white lace Rodarte gown.

Set in 18-karat rose gold, the earrings featured

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rose-cut rainbow moonstone, accented with diamond pave.

Condola Rashad in Fred Leighton


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Not to sound like a broken record but, clearly, Fred Leighton had a bit of a monopoly on Sunday night’s best jewelry looks.

Case in point is actress Condola Rashad, who was nominated in the Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play category for her role in “A Doll’s House, Part 2.”

Rashad sported a veritable stash of Leighton treasure, the most prominent being her 18-karat yellow gold pendant earrings with diamond and black enamel, which complimented her gold-embellished hairstyle.

Jenna Lyons in Buccellati


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Jenna Lyons made headlines when she parted ways with J. Crew this year, but it seems the designer won’t be shrinking away from public view.

Lyons loves her loungewear, and I adore how she paired her robe with exquisite Buccellati jewels.

Lyons piled on 18-karat yellow and white gold diamond cuffs and rings accented with diamonds, and topped off her entire look with a show-stealing 18-karat white gold and diamond necklace, which retails for $145,000.