Taylor Swift’s Sparkling Statement Earrings at the Grammy Awards

Long-time readers of The Court Jeweller will know that I’m always interested to see the jewels that pop up on a celebrity red carpet. Unlike the royal jewels we usually discuss, they’re usually new pieces, and most often loaned from the jeweler. But it’s such a fun way to see the way that people are styling contemporary pieces—and Taylor Swift’s use of major earrings last night at the Grammys was definitely in the “fun” category!

With a spangled two-piece evening gown from Roberto Cavalli, Taylor wore jewelry made by the designer Lorraine Schwartz. A fixture on the red carpet circuit, Schwartz designs pieces with lots of pop and impact, usually set with incredible, colorful gemstones. The jewelry that she loaned to Taylor for this year’s Grammy Awards is reportedly valued at nearly $3 million.

The loaned jewelry included multiple pieces, including rings, but the biggest showstopper moment came courtesy of the earrings that Taylor wore for the ceremony. The modern girandole earrings feature kite-shaped bejeweled panels.

I initially presumed that the dark purple stones in the earrings were amethysts—February’s birthstone, so very appropriate and timely—but it turns out they were something else entirely! The earrings, according to jewelry journalist Laurie Brookins, are set with “136 carats of natural purple sapphires, paraiba tourmalines and diamonds.” The sapphires provide the purple hues in the earrings, while the tourmalines add the blue-green accent tones.

These kinds of modern jewels aren’t to everyone’s taste, but I really love seeing mega sparkle happening at events like this one. And Taylor wasn’t the only one to provide some major dazzle at the event. I couldn’t license any photos to share, but be sure not to miss Jay-Z’s big jewelry moment from the event. He did wear a February-appropriate amethyst for the ceremony—set in one of Jean Schlumberger’s iconic Tiffany & Co. “Bird on a Rock” brooches!