- Avarna Jain,
Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media
The actress marked her 22nd appearance at the film festival with custom Manish Malhotra sari and jewels…

After making fashion enthusiasts around the world wait with bated breath, Aishwarya Rai finally made her appearance at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The actress marked her 22nd appearance on the iconic red carpet in a custom Manish Malhotra look.
Aishwarya Rai broke her recent streak of wearing gowns on the red carpet by wearing a handwoven kadwa sari by Manish Malhotra. The ivory and gold sari featured a long sheer train with intricate gold embroidery and sequin details, along with handwoven brocade motifs and zari detailing in real silver.

While the ivory and gold sari was a moment on its own, the actress’s accessories from Manish Malhotra Jewellery had all our attention.
The Ponniyin Selvan actress wore a layered necklace comprising of 500 carats of Mozambique rubies and uncut diamonds set in 18k gold. She also added a statement ring adorned with rubies to complete the look.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in the popularity of coloured gemstones, especially emeralds and rubies, in the bridal jewellery market.
A 2024 report by the Swiss Gemological Institute confirmed the fact that there’s a marked increase in interest in coloured gemstones over natural diamonds.
A report by Rapaport, an international organisation for the ethical and efficient development of the diamond and jewellery market, claimed that the market share of coloured gemstones rose to 15% in 2024.

“Gemstones are selling at a higher price than a year ago, while polished diamonds have gone down. High-end jewellers make a margin on gemstones of about 80%, but for fancy-coloured diamonds, the retailer’s margin is about 40%,” reads the report.
The recently released Annual Pinterest Wedding Trends Report for 2025 claimed that Gen Z is turning away from traditional jewellery styles towards more personalised options, like coloured gemstones and unique settings. Couples are opting for more precious and unique coloured stones that suit their personal aesthetics rather than traditional diamond options.
Aishwarya Rai’s Mozambique ruby and diamond necklace could be a marker for what’s to come this wedding season, with more and more brides opting for coloured gemstone jewellery than more traditional options.