little guys who would have lost out on the Oscars millions . Big-name jewelry designers like Chopard traditionally dress the stars . Kate Winslet , Charlize Theron and Hilary Swank are among their successful models at the Academy Awards . Last year , Helen Mirren wore a 55 carat diamond flower bracelet along with a 62 carat diamond brooch worth $ 4m dollars to accept the Best Actress gong . It is estimated that having a celebrity pictured in an item of jewelry or an outfit can be worth $ 1m in publicity for a jeweler or fashion house . With hundreds of celebrities strutting the red carpet on Oscars night , the scope for generating revenue is seemingly endless . But even Chopard 's famous sparkle was tested by the uncertainty surrounding this year 's event . `` Leading up to the Oscars business for the whole of Rodeo Drive was a little sketchy . Everyone was thinking , what 's gon na happen ? '' Wes Carroll , Chopard spokesman , told CNN . `` We felt for the writers , we felt for the studios and we wanted a great outcome for everyone . We would have
LONDON , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At a time of economic uncertainty in the U.S. , the writers strike cast a dark cloud over the eternal sunshine of the Californian mindset and its most glittering awards ceremony . Oscar winner Helen Mirren dazzled in Chopard diamonds last year and gained masses of publicity for the jeweler Up until a fortnight ago , the million dollar question was whether the Oscars would go ahead as stars refused to cross the picket line . Make that the 400 million dollar question . According to the pundits and bean-counters , that 's how much the strike would have cost Los Angeles and the industry if Hollywood 's most glamorous evening had been cancelled . Not only would the stars have been robbed of their moment to shimmer along the world 's most famous red carpet , but a whole hinterland of ancillary trades would be affected . Limo drivers driven to despair , caterers with no-one to cater for , make-up artists struggling to make up lost earnings and security teams facing an insecure future -- and the paparazzi would have no-one to focus on . But it 's not just the