Now that we’re only a few days away from the Philippine premier of Ocean’s 8, the all-girl spin-off from Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s trilogy, let’s talk about first the pivotal “character” in the film—the target of the heist.
The film, directed and co-written by Gary Ross, follows Debbie Ocean (played by Sandra Bullock), the estranged sister of Danny Ocean. After serving time in prison, Debbie gathers a crew of women (Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kailing, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, and Awkwafina) to pull off a heist at New York City’s star-studded Met Gala.
The target of the con is the Toussaint—a legendary diamond necklace worn by actress Daphne Kluger (played by Anne Hathaway).
Impress your friends and movie buddies with these five facts about that necklace.
It was made in only eight weeks in Paris
Cartier mobilized the resources of its High Jewelry workshops on rue de la Paix in Paris. The best jewelers were required to accomplish this feat in no more than eight weeks, a demanding task on top of their everyday assignments.
The original necklace was a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint
The necklace is a tribute to Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s creative director in the 1930s, whose role was decisive in establishing the maison’s stylistic identity. According to Cartier, she was the first woman to embody the brand’s bold and fearless spirit. Throughout her career, she favored Indian style as a source of inspiration among others, paying homage to the splendor and opulence of the Maharajas.
The original necklace was designed in 1931
Jeweler Jacques Cartier designed the necklace in 1931 for the Maharaja, or the ruler, of Nawanagar, an Indian princely state. Described as “the finest cascade of colored diamonds in the world,” it was, according to Cartier, “a superb realization of a connoisseur’s dream.” This jewel no longer exists, however, Cartier preserved in its archives a design drawing and photographs of the piece and its owner. The sketch was used as a reference for the realization of the Toussaint necklace used in the film.
It was reduced to fit Anne Hathaway
Since the necklace was made for a man, it was adjusted to Hathaway’s measurements and reduced by 15 to 20 percent of the original size. Dismountable bezels were devised to successfully adapt the jewel to match the actress’ proportions. Thanks to Cartier jewelers’ expertise, the necklace fit her perfectly when she wore it for the first time in New York.
It was not made of diamonds
In the film, the Toussaint is said to be made of flawless, colorless diamonds. However, the Toussaint used for the film was made with zirconium oxides, a natural material, mounted on white gold. Meticulous attention was paid to the finishing of the settings and polishing, to make it look authentic in close-up shots.
