Honestly, if you grew up watching Sex and the City, that tiny script nameplate is probably burned into your brain as the ultimate symbol of New York cool. It’s more than just jewelry. It’s a whole mood. But there’s a lot of lore—and a fair bit of misunderstanding—floating around about the carrie from sex and the city necklace.
Most people think it was some high-end designer commission. It wasn't. Not even close.
The Secret History of the Nameplate
The story goes that Patricia Field, the show's legendary costume designer, actually spotted the style on "neighborhood kids" in New York City. We’re talking about the Black, Latino, and Italian-American youth culture of the 80s and 90s. For those communities, the nameplate was a rite of passage. It was a way of saying "I’m here" in a world that often tried to ignore them.
Field saw the power in it. She decided Carrie Bradshaw—a woman who lived for self-expression—needed that same grit. So, she didn't head to Tiffany & Co. She basically found it at a small shop in the city.
Rumor has it the original piece cost around $100. Just a simple gold-plated pendant on a thin chain.
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Why That One Scene in Paris Broke Us
Remember the series finale? Carrie is in Paris with Aleksandr Petrovsky, and she’s miserable. She’s literally losing her identity in that giant museum of a life he built. Then, she realizes she lost the necklace.
It was devastating.
When she found it again, tucked into a hole in the lining of a vintage Dior bag, it wasn't just about the jewelry. It was Carrie finding Carrie again. Petrovsky had tried to replace it with a $55,000 diamond necklace from Fred Leighton. It was stunning, sure. But it wasn't her. The "Carrie" necklace represented her independence, her friends, and her life in the West Village. You can't buy that with five figures and some platinum.
The Real Fred Leighton Piece
Funny enough, the "replacement" necklace Petrovsky gave her—the one she eventually tossed aside—was actually a real masterpiece. It featured nine diamond beads on a platinum chain. Because the show needed to film a scene where she "breaks" it during a fight, Fred Leighton actually had to create a crystal and silver "stunt double."
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Imagine being the jeweler told your $55k piece is getting "replaced" by a $100 nameplate in the script. Talk about a plot twist.
The Cultural Impact and the "Ghetto Gold" Controversy
We have to talk about the term Carrie used for it: "ghetto gold." Looking back from 2026, that line has aged like milk. It’s a perfect example of how the show, while groundbreaking, often cherry-picked from street culture without fully acknowledging where it came from.
Critics and fashion historians have pointed out that while Carrie made the nameplate "mainstream," she didn't invent it. She popularized a style that had been a staple in communities of color for decades. Today, brands like Documenting the Nameplate work to remind people that this wasn't just a 90s trend; it’s a deep-rooted cultural signature.
Buying the Look Today
If you're hunting for your own version, you've got options.
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- The Budget Route: You can find "Carrie font" nameplates on Etsy for $30 to $50. Most are gold-plated stainless steel.
- The Investment: Brands like Abbott Lyon or NamePlateDepot offer 14k solid gold versions that won't tarnish when you're sweating in a New York summer. These usually run between $300 and $500.
- The Specific Details: To get the authentic Carrie look, you want a cursive script where the "C" is slightly oversized and the "i" is dotted with a small circle (or sometimes a tiny diamond/crystal if you’re feeling fancy).
Is It Still Relevant in 2026?
Sarah Jessica Parker recently posted a photo of the original necklace to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary. The comments went wild.
People are still obsessed.
In the revival series And Just Like That..., we don't see the necklace as much. Some fans think it's because Carrie is older and her style has evolved. Others think it’s a deliberate choice to show she’s moved into a different chapter of her life. But for the rest of us? That gold script is the ultimate "fuck you" to boring fashion.
If you’re going to buy one, don’t just get "Carrie." Get your own name. Or your dog's name. Or a word that makes you feel like you can conquer a city in four-inch heels. That’s the real legacy of the necklace. It’s about owning who you are, even when you’re lost in a literal or metaphorical Paris.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Metal: If you want it to last, skip the "gold-toned" mystery metals and go for 14k Gold Filled or Solid Gold.
- Font Matters: Search for "Cursive Script" or "Old English" depending on which era of NYC you’re channeling.
- Layering is Key: Carrie rarely wore it alone in later seasons. Mix it with a long pearl strand or a diamond solitaire to keep it from looking like a costume.