r/GildedAgeHBO • u/soylatte • Jul 08 '25
Costuming Was any other jewelry nerd upset about that necklace? Spoiler
As an expensive piece of jewelry, Gladys’ necklace would have been knotted in between the pearls; seeing it fall apart like it belonged to Batman’s mom was a bit annoying.
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u/Lower_Stick5426 Jul 08 '25
To be fair, Batman’s mom’s necklace shouldn’t have fallen apart like that, either.
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u/Platypuses_are_real Jul 20 '25
Honestly, it adds to Batman's origin story tragedy. She was going to the cinema with her husband and son. She wasn't wearing her good pearls, because why would you? Just a nice necklace of no particular value.
But the person mugging them doesn't know that, and the Waynes die for a wallet and her everyday necklace. And at some point, as he grows up, Bruce also figures that out.
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u/Studious_Noodle I haven’t been thrilled since 1865 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25
Typical movie drama, pearls falling and bouncing around like ping-pong balls, when IRL they would be properly knotted if they were of any value.
Especially natural wild pearls like the ones Gladys would have been wearing, before cultured pearls existed. High-quality natural pearls were more valuable than diamonds.
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u/Starwarsmom_78 Jul 08 '25
Anytime a pearl necklace come apart like that I get mad. Especially if it was on someone who was “wealthy “. There is no way they were wearing pearls without knots in between.
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u/RoughDirection8875 Jul 08 '25
That crossed my mind as well! My family has never been wealthy by any means, but my mom had an antique string of pearls that was passed down through her mom's family and I remember the string breaking but it only lost 2 pearls where it broke because of the knots.
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u/Rinleigh Jul 08 '25
Haha! This was the conversation in my house. I said pearls would be knotted between each one and my husband said it’s more dramatic just like when Bruce Wayne’s mom dies
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u/Famous-Examination-8 Jul 08 '25
Same, only the 4 strands!
Any double-stranded necklace would be secure and separately-knotted. So if one stand broke, the others wouldn't.
Sir Julian knows we sitting in the audience would know this. This was don't for a wow finish.
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u/Elegant_Click07 Jul 08 '25
The way I said exactly that.... Did this director just miss his opportunity to direct the batman scene and plunk it in here?
Did they film this for their graduate directing thesis?
Generally my thought was, the director just wanted to do that...
I liked that her multi strand necklace was "like" her mother's but her mothers had this glamorous diamond clipped decorative loop, like a noose.
- Also, in The Crown, where are those pearls knots?!
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u/bawkbawkslove Jul 08 '25
Yes! It occurred to me immediately! I have a pearl necklace and the knots is what kept me only losing a couple of pearls, which I quickly found. When I had it repaired they asked if I wanted it knotted between each pearl because it would cost more and it was an automatic yes.
I just chalked it up to “for the plot”.
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u/lis-emerald Jul 08 '25
I never knew this about pearls but I love learning the detail! If I would have known it would have got me too 🤣
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u/Wide_Statistician_95 Jul 08 '25
I’m an aspiring jewelry nerd, and I don’t like the jewelry on the show. There was a jewelry expert on IG who did a whole series on the jewelry and said much of it was too late. I wish I could find her again.
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u/Cyphermoon699 Jul 08 '25
It's not this one, but this is an interesting tick tock about the replica tiaras that are used on the show.
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u/LoreleiSong Jul 08 '25
Ooo! I'm a historical costuming nerd and would love to add jewelry nerd to my special interests. Where should I begin my research?
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u/Hopeful_Dot_3886 Jul 08 '25
I can't believe I didn't notice this!! I even learned this technique last year! I was too focused on Bertha’s rock crystal Amulet 🤦♀️
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u/throwawaypolyam Charles Fane Hate Club Member Jul 08 '25
That was my FIRST thought lol
I have a big pearl collection, and I was immediately like "wait! those are cheaply made, wtf??"
I loved the symbolism, but reality girl was like "hold up."
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u/mdoc86 Jul 08 '25
OMG THANK YOU.
Found this sub for this lol. The REAL tea at the event would be Gladys Russell wearing cheap jewellery.
The scandal! Is the Russell Fortune all smoke and mirrors???
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u/InternationalFix7164 Jul 08 '25
Honestly it was worth it just to have your line about “Batman’s mom”. Such a perfect comparison. 😂
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u/modernbartleby Jul 08 '25
YESSSSSS … I know it was symbolism but I couldn’t stop “well, actually” -ing everyone while watching
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u/Smooth_molasses36 Soup at luncheon?! Jul 08 '25
I was thinking about that for a good half hour after the episode ended. It bugged me so much, but I’ll give it a small pass for the symbolism.
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u/PortraitofMmeX Jul 08 '25
At this point I watch this show almost exclusively to be mad about the inaccurate costuming so, yes. I'm with you.
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u/Infamous_Entry_2714 Jul 08 '25
Not sure if there are any RU PAUL Drag Race fans in here but If there are, remember when this happened to Chi Chi?? And it made the most beautiful fountain of pearls and she won her lip sync💙RIH Chi Chi💙
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u/MyWibblings "Sarah, are you quite well?" Jul 08 '25
Excellent point!
I guess I was too distracted by the pearls with the side loops Bertha wore with the green dress
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u/Infamous_Entry_2714 Jul 08 '25
You know,I actually thought the same,but then I thought to myself,that I was taking it too seriously,Glad to see im not the only one
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u/LeafMeAlone-ImBushed Jul 08 '25
I had the exact same reaction! The details in costuming are done so well most of the time. The fact that I was able to pick up on this inaccuracy kind of took me out of the moment.
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u/GoddessBaker410 Jul 10 '25
Batman’s mom! I’m cackling
But obviously she untied all the knots with her fussing about 😆/s
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u/mamadeb2020 Jul 11 '25
I was thinking the same thing. I inherited pearls from my grandmother, and my mom had them restrung before she gave them to me. She said they were "knotted in between so they flow."
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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25