Diamonds Sparkle at 41st NAACP Awards

The 41st NAACP awards at the Shrine last Friday brought out a good many of Oscar's hopefuls and a bevy of beauties who opted for over-the-top jewelry looks instead of understated elegance. Is this a harbinger of Oscar opulence on the carpet this year? Or just an excuse to get out the gaudy? You be the judge.

Escaping the gauche fest was the evening's host, Anika Noni Rose, who sported a subdued pair of diamond teardrop earrings to bedazzle her cream Ysa Makino mermaid frock. Classic. Love it.

(Click here to grab a similar pair on Jewelry.com).

Joining Miss Anika in the winner's circle was Best Supporting Actress shoe-in, Mo'nique, who sported simple Swarovski jewels with her winter white Tadashi Shoji number.

And while I am always a fan of making a jewelry statement on the carpet, these choices left me longing for simpler times. What do you guys think? Is it possible maternity leave made me 'more' hardened? Or maybe I'm just sharpening my quills for Sunday's Oscar blitz...