Backstories of Kamala Harris’ and Nicki Minaj’s Met Gala Jewels

While speculation continues to swirl about whether Kamala Harris might make a bid to be governor of California, the former vice president showed some love for her home state at Monday’s Met Gala.

Harris donned triple drop emerald link earrings in 18-karat yellow gold and emerald rings from the Los Angeles-based company Irene Neuwirth to wear with her Off-White gown. Shoppers would need to shell out $134,620 for the earrings and the rings, which are also one-of-a-kind emeralds, and are priced upon request and start at upward of $10,000. But like many of the other notables on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harris borrowed the baubles for the night.

The 60-year-old Democrat, who was born in Oakland, Calif., was said to have discovered Irene Neuwirth jewelry at Barneys, when it was still welcoming shoppers to its San Francisco store. Harris has since chosen to wear Irene Neuwirth for other key occasions including for former President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration.

An Irene Neuwirth spokesperson declined to say whether the designer had donated to Harris’ campaign. The spokesperson described Harris’ decision to wear the brand to the Met Gala “a high honor, as an independent fine jewelry brand deeply rooted in California.”

The former vice president’s earrings were a focal point for some political watchers last fall, during her presidential run against Donald Trump. Harris’ choice of pearl earrings for their first debate last September caused a swirl on social media. After the showdown, conspiracy theorists floated claims of Harris having worn earrings that were embedded with audible devices. Some on social media alleged that they were similar to Nova’s H1 audio earrings.

The multi-Grammy nominee Nicki Minaj also wore loaner earrings to the Met Gala — an 18-karat gold pair with rare yellow diamonds from Samer Halimeh New York. They were meant to accent the golden adornments in her body-hugging pinstripe Thom Browne attire. (Having dressed multiple celebrities for Monday’s event, Browne was having a golden moment of his own.)

Halimeh connected with Minaj through her stylist Law Roach, who was on the lookout for jewels to play up Browne’s gold accents. Halimeh described collaborating with Minajas“an extraordinary experience” and said the chosen pieces “not only complemented her stunning dress but also highlighted her dynamic presence on the red carpet.”