Penelope Cruz on Good Jewelry, Bali, and the Importance of Treating Yourself

For Penelope Cruz, each piece of jewelry has to count. On the red carpet, the Spanish Oscar winner is known for her glamorous personal style—Chanel gowns and vampy Versace are in constant rotation—but day to day she favors a less is more philosophy, particularly when it comes to accessories. Though she collects pieces with personal significance—the wedding band given to her by husband Javier Bardem, pearl earrings saved from childhood—she’s not the sort to overdo it with baubles. “I don’t have a lot actually,” admits Cruz on the phone from Madrid, where she’s enjoying a break after filming Pedro Almodovar’s latest, Pain and Glory. “I’m not out buying diamonds for myself, I’m interested in things you can wear every day with jeans and a T-shirt!

Cruz’s affinity for everyday pieces meshes well with her latest role as brand ambassador for the Bali-based brand John Hardy. Front and center in the latest Made for Legends campaign shot by Josh Olins, Cruz follows in the footsteps of Adwoa Aboah and Julianne Moore. Resplendent in the images, Cruz views the partnership as more than just another celebrity endorsement. She is choosy when it comes to what she’ll lend her image to, but Cruz didn’t have to hesitate when the Hardy team reached out. “I said yes immediately,” she says. “We share values and I’ve been a very big fan for a long time. I love what they do: this mixture of rock and roll and elegance.” The sustainable, hand-crafted nature of the designs appealed to her too. “Every time you look at one of these pieces, it feels like you know the history behind them. They are creating beautiful things while respecting their community,” says Cruz, who was impressed by the use of sustainably sourced stones and recycled metals. “[Bali] is just this celebration of nature. You see and feel that everywhere, it was overwhelming. ”

Sentiment and craftsmanship matter more than bling when Cruz is selecting gems for herself. “[Jewelry] doesn't have to be something expensive. It's not about that. It's about the gesture or emotion behind it,” she says, noting the baubles she picked up at Parisian flea markets and the garnet ring passed down from her grandmother as personal favorites. “The emotional connection that piece held for my sister and I is huge,” she says. “It could never be replaced.”

An earring lover, she switches between delicate gold loops and oversize platinum pieces studded with precious stones depending on her mood. “I wear hoops almost daily in my everyday life,” says Cruz. “I’m lucky, I get to wear the most amazing variety in all shapes and sizes.” Bangles like the ones she wears in the ads are also a must, especially when layered in stacks of contrasting metals. Apt to mix vintage finds with haute couture when it comes to that final touch, Cruz doesn’t mind wearing costume creations. “Sometimes I like collecting things that aren’t real,” she says. “You’ve got to appreciate a beautiful piece of jewelry—even if you’re buying it for yourself.”