History of James Bond Jewels

History of James Bond Jewels

With the arrival of the new James Bond film; No Time To Die, we thought we would delve into the jewellery world of the films and look back at the most iconic pieces.

  
Perhaps the most famous piece in Bond jewellery history is the ‘Algerian Love Knot’ necklace made by Sophie Harley featured in Casio Royale. Eva Green, who plays Vesper Lynd, is seen throughout the film wearing the necklace and the piece even gets a cameo role in the sequel; Quantum of Solace. The necklace is created from twisted gold and silver rings, layers of chains and complete with Harley’s signature winged heart clasp. The necklace also bears the hallmarks of Harley’s inspiration; ancient symbols and motifs allude to mysterious story telling and myths. Wire work and engravings decorate the pendant using a mix of contemporary and and ancient styles.  Green consistently wears this necklace throughout the film making it the most coveted piece of jewellery in the Bond franchise.
      
Eva Green wearing the  Algerian Love Knot Necklace
   
         
David Morris is the next big name in the Bond films. Maurice Blinder, who is responsible for the opening sequences of the first 16 James Bond films, first used David Morris diamonds for the opening credits of Diamonds Are Forever in 1971, marking a long relationship between the Morris and the Bond films. Morris is also used in The Man with the Golden Gun where Maud Adams is seen wearing a spectacular 60 carat carved jade and diamond pendant set in yellow gold. Another Morris piece is featured in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) when Terri Hatcher wore a scalloped diamond necklace and a 10 carat blue sapphire ring. The jewellery she wore proved so popular that many replicas have been commissioned. All of the jewellery that Denise Richards wears throughout The World is Not Enough is also Morris, including her iconic diamond pendant, earrings and bracelets.
    
     
    
    
Charles De Temple is another long standing jewellery designer whose work is featured throughout the Bond films. He was first commissioned to create the ring Honor Blackman wore to the London premiere of Goldfinger which further secured him a great role in the following film; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service when James Bond married Teresa di Vicenzo, played by Diana Rigg. The piece was a bi-colour wedding ring which spelt out the words ‘All the Time in the World’ and allegedly brought De Temple some considerable success by having just over 50 of the same designed commissioned after the film. One of two originals were sold at Sotheby’s in London in 2019 fetching £52,000 from an anonymous fan.
    
      
    
Another top name featured in the films is Fabergé. Asprey worked on the 1983 film Octopussy where production designer Peter Lamont commissioned Asprey to make two Fabergé eggs. Although many variations of the design were created, the final choice was a replica in the style of the Imperial Coronation Egg made in 1897. The egg features green enamel and is encased by gold trellis, blue sapphires and pearls with a large diamond at the top and a miniature replica of the coronation carriage of Tsar Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna inside.
Our next Bond jewellery feature sees the name of Swarovski and Stephen Webster. In 2012’s Skyfall, Bérénice Marlohe wears a dress adorned with 60,000 Swarovski crystals designed by Stephan Webster. In celebration of the collaboration four film based pieces were realised by Stephan Webster and Swarovski. The pieces released were: Black Bamboo, Heat Seeker, Love Knot and Queen Cobra.
    
     
In the most recent James Bond film No Time to Die, we see the long standing continuation of Omega watches. For 20 years, since first being seen on Piers Brosnan in Goldeneye, James Bond has worn Omega watches. The latest watch was actually designed with the help of Daniel Craig himself. Naomie Harris also is seen wearing an Omega watch, steel De Ville Prestige Omega with extra diamonds, who is returning as Miss Moneypenny. Lashana Lynch who plays Nomi, is seen wearing a Seamaster Aqua Terra.
    
    
    
Although she has a small role, Ana de Armas, who plays Paloma in No Time to Die wears some exquisite jewels. Three Haute Joaillerie pieces from Chopard. Known as the Green Carpet Collection there’s a whopping 139 carats of brilliant and pear cut diamonds featured in her necklace, bracelet and earrings.
  
   
   
Currently the Burlington Arcade, where we are based, has an Omega watch shop and a Bollinger champagne bar. Bollinger have released a limited edition Bond-themed Cuvée named 007. You can shop this bottle and get yourself a glass of fizz in the arcade. The Omega watch shop houses a lookalike office of the character M seen in the films. The shop showcases artefacts and props from the Bond archive including several of the watches worn by Bond in previous films. Crockett and Jones are also based in the Arcade - they are the official shoes of James Bond and have worked on Skyfall, Spectre and most recently, No Time to Die. To feel like an MI6 agent and play the role of Bond come and visit us in the Burlington Arcade!
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