We Match Our Vintage Jewelry to Actress Norma Shearer’s Jewelry

When the movie The Women was remade in 2008 starring Meg Ryan, Eva Menendez and Annette Bening, it may have entertained many but didn’t come close to the original made in 1939 starring “the First Lady of MGM,” Norma Shearer. Co-stars in the original movie included Rosalind Russell, Joan Fontaine and MGM rival Joan Crawford. 

Norma Shearer was born on August 10, 1902 in Montreal, Quebec and christened Edith Norma Shearer at birth. Perhaps she received her MGM Nicknames, including “Queen Norma” and “the First Lady of MGM” because of her marriage (1927-1936) to Irving Thalberg, head of MGM’s production department. The marriage certainly didn’t make Joan Crawford very happy—also an MGM actress who complained that Norma always “got the good roles.”

To those of us who love Old Hollywood films where one “imagined” what happened behind closed doors, Norma Shearer remains a shining star in our hearts. With almost 60 films to her credit and dogged determination, Norma prevailed through some pretty tough happenings in Hollywood including her rigorous training prescribed by an eye doctor to aid in strengthening a weak eye.

After Thalberg’s death in 1936, she married again (1942-1982) to ski instructor Martin Arrouge who remained beside her until her death in 1982.

Beyond The Women, there are many fan favorites including Marie Antoinette, Romeo & Juliet, The Barretts of Wimpole Street and the movie for which she would win the Oscar, The Divorcee. She was often cast for her “girl-next-door” quality but she also played roles that were challenging, off character and stood her ground on the set. In fact, she refused to remove her wedding band when filming, preferring to hide it with skin-colored tape.

Interesting tidbits include how she turned down the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind and the title role in Mrs. Miniver (Greer Garson). She also turned down the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (Gloria Swanson) and was a major influence on the life of Eva Peron, after Peron saw her in the role of Marie Antoinette. She also converted to Judaism in 1927 to marry Irving Thalberg and was a conservative Republican active in the presidential campaign of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Although she left Hollywood and films behind in 1942, some of her quotes include:

“Scarlett O’Hara is going to be a thankless and difficult role. The part I’d like to play is Rhett Butler.” She also said, “I get whatever placidity I have from my father. But my mother taught me how to take in on the chin.” Lastly and her most famous, “Never let them see you in public after you’ve turned 35. You’re finished if you do!”

Because Peter Suchy Jewelers are experts at vintage and estate jewelry, here again we bring you another in our series of matching Hollywood starlet jewelry to some of the pieces we sell in our showroom located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford, Connecticut.

So, let’s match some of our jewelry to Norma Shearer’s jewelry and let us know what you think!

The Marie Antoinette Ring

 

Playing Marie Antoinette in 1938—which had an unprecedented budget close to two million dollars and filmed on location at the Palace of Versailles, Norma wore a stunning 2.24 carat synthetic emerald ring surrounded by 16 brilliant clear cut (CZ diamonds).

Our match to this emerald diamond ring? Our estate cabochon bezel natural emerald diamond 2.00 carat 14K yellow gold ring. Although our ring is not surround by as many diamonds as Norma’s ring, the color and yellow gold aid in promoting their similarity and beauty.

The Private Lives Ring

 

It was a French pearl ring Norma wore in the film Private Lives that include one 4.8 carat pearl surrounded by 12 (CZ) diamonds. Gorgeous on the screen and on her finger.

Our match to this pearl diamond ring? This stunning 1960s 14K yellow gold 7.5mm Akoya pearl baguette diamond ring. As with Norma’s ring, 12 diamonds come with this lovely ring totaling .24 carats in a lovely channel setting.

The Barretts of Wimpole Street Ring

 

In 1934, Norma starred in and was nominated for a best actress Oscar for The Barretts of Wimpole Street. Although she didn’t win, in the film, Norma wore a stunning poet ring that consisted of 5.12 carats in a marquise cut center stone, two smaller clear (CZ) diamonds flanked on the side and framed by clear (CZ) diamonds that extended halfway around the band.

Our match to this poet ring worn by Norma Shearer? This vintage princess knot style 14K yellow gold swirl round baguette diamond ring. Sure you may say the round and marquise cuts are clearly different, but the sparkle of the four round diamonds and yellow gold made up choose this vintage ring.

We love matching our jewelry to that of old Hollywood starlets and if you have an actress you’d like us to focus on, let us know!

We also hope you’ll head on over to our eBay store where our pieces seen here are available for sale—at least until they are sold!

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