One of the top-grossing romantic comedies of all time, the affable “Pretty Woman” launched Julia Roberts’ career and popularised the modern romantic comedy. 

Thirty-one years on from its release, Fred, the French high-jewellery company, has announced a collection inspired by the iconic film.

Like Holly Golightly’s Tiffany collier in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Titanic’s Heart of the Ocean necklace, Pretty Woman’s pièce de resistance is a diamond and ruby necklace given by Richard Gere’s Edward to Julia Roberts’ Vivian. 

However, there is an interesting story behind the necklace that lives on today. According to Fred, the luxury French Maison that made the necklace, it was the only jeweller to agree to create a piece for the film. Other more established jewellers at the time had been approached, but due to the film’s controversial nature, had declined the offer. This turned out to be their loss and Fred’s gain. 

“When we were approached by the producers to make this necklace, we had no idea of what the film would become,” says Fred artistic director Valérie Samuel, granddaughter of founder Fred Samuel. “Nowadays, it would be a huge financial transaction, and it would be product placement. But this was almost like we were doing them a favour.”

Now, over three decades after their first piece for the film, Fred has released a high jewellery collection and a fine jewellery range in honour of the collaboration.

 Named “Pretty Woman” and flush with diamonds and rubellites, the 22 piece jewellery range is in stores now, including at the company’s recently opened Sydney flagship. In a stroke of providence, the face of the collection is Emma Roberts, actress and niece of Julia herself.

“[Emma] was the natural choice,” says Samuel. “It was our intention to create joy with this collection, and I think she, like her aunt, encapsulates that.” 

The high jewellery range is not what one would expect as the term usually describes bespoke one-of-a-kind pieces, whereas these are available in-store and online to all who can afford them. However, the collection is uniquely romantic, with a heart motif in crimson red rubellite at the centre of everything from pendants to bracelets to brooches.

Similarly, the fine jewellery collection is also heart-focused, albeit younger and edgier, with mixed metals and fewer gems.

“When I came to the company four years ago, I wanted to create a collection around the Pretty Woman necklace. Now, it feels even more important to do that. I wanted to represent love in a very playful, expressive way. I wanted it to be free of convention – it’s 22 pieces of jewellery that you can mix and match exactly as you want, so you can create your own look depending on the style you love.”