24 MARCH 2003
While understated jewellery seemed to be a red carpet trend at the Oscars this year, there was plenty of glitz to go around with the stars who celebrated the Academy's 75th year in dazzling diamonds.

Leading the jewel-bedecked pack was best supporting actress nominee Queen Latifah, who seemed to take her cue from the glittering costumes she wore in Chicago. The rapper-turned-actress topped off her fitted satin gown with nearly $3.5 million in Harry Winston jewels. Draped around her neck was a $1.45 million diamond cascading waterfall necklace with pear-shaped diamond drops, while million-dollar art-deco diamond earrings and a $750,000 ring completed the look.

Latifah's fellow nominee Kathy Bates sparkled in a marquise and radiant cut diamond necklace, which had a 27-carat pendant as its centrepiece. Along with her 39-carat earrings and 11-carat ring, the value of her jewellery alone topped $3 million. Calista Flockhart, who arrived on the arm of her handsome boyfriend Harrison Ford, also chose a stunning necklace for the night, a pink and white diamond creation by Harry Winston.

The famed jeweller is a red carpet favourite, a fact clearly demonstrated by the more than $40 million-worth of Winston rocks worn on Oscar night. A-list actresses Renee Zellweger, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry – who donned her own chocolate brown diamond stud earrings – all sported baubles by the exclusive designer.