The legendary Tiffany & Co. is a luxurious jewelry brand headquartered in New York City. From manufacturing to selling, the company has established itself as an expert in the making of high-end jewelry, crystals, fragrances, watches, personal accessories, sterling silver, and leather goods.
Tiffany & Co. also known as Tiffany’s, was initially founded in 1837 as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” by Charles Lewis Tiffany in Brooklyn, Connecticut. The brand would have to wait until the early 20th century to reveal its uniqueness to the masses when Louis Comfort Tiffany, the son of the founder, came into the directing position. The brand was however purchased by LVMH in January 2021 for a whopping $15.8 billion.
Tiffany & Co. – From a $1000 Loan to a $15.8 Billion Deal
As already mentioned, Tiffany & Co was purchased in January 2021 by LVMH – the French giant luxury conglomerate for approx. $16 Billion. After almost two centuries of outfitting jewelry lovers all around the planet with perfect bedazzled gems, one of America’s most loved jewelry houses was acquired under the umbrella of LVMH.
However, you would be surprised to find out that Tiffany’s had a humble beginning that even the founder would not expect to get this far. In 1837, Charles Louis Tiffany asked his father for $1000 in advance to open the jewelry shop. Together with John B. Young, the store was opened and operated as “Tiffany, Young & Ellis” until 1853, when the name was shortened to what it is known today as Tiffany & Co.
The luxury jewelry brand has since opened stores in major cities worldwide. In 2019, Tiffany operated 326 stores from the United States to Japan, from Canada to Europe, and from Latin America to Pacific Asia regions. What did I learn so far? If my son asks for $1000 in advance to open his jewelry shop, I’ll just give it to him. No questions!
What is so special about Tiffany & Co?
When buying a piece of jewelry from Tiffany’s, you are also paying for the craftsmanship and the values the brand stands for. The company has been around for almost two centuries now and the name of the brand is deeply embodied in the heart of the luxury world.
Tiffany & Co is respected and recognized by jewelry lovers all around the world for the inventions they have brought to life and the high standard of craftsmanship that accompanies every bracelet, earrings, watch, or engagement ring from them. And yes, luxury means expensive. But the price is somehow reasoned after achieving to maintain a global reputation for exceptional quality and unique designs for over 180 years. At those times, the Statue of Liberty was yet to arrive in the United States and Coca-Cola hadn’t appeared on the grocery shelves yet.
Tiffany & Co. Milestones
Diamond Engagement Ring Mania
130 years from today, the founder of Tiffany & Co, Charles Louis Tiffany brought to life the Setting, to praise a solitaire diamond as a symbol of everlasting love. The iconic design revolutionized the engagement rings, changing this way, the idea of how they should be appraised for good.
What Mr. Tiffany was lifting a round-shaped diamond with six prongs above a slender gold band. The chic engineering was a departure from other engagement rings of the time that held a stone close to the band. With Tiffany’s Setting is was different. The light could pass through the ring prongs and between the diamond, heightening its brilliance.
The iconic ring debuted in 1886 and its timeless design has remained steadily in demand for over a century. Honoring the significance of buying an engagement ring, a diamond master carefully described the qualities of the stone and the cured details of the Tiffany Setting.
Tiffany’s Blue Box
The Tiffany’s Blue Box that will never be worth as much as its content, is still unique and has a beautiful and everlasting story of its own. Its distinctive color called “1837 Blue” or forget-me-not blue was picked by founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and was selected for the cover of the Blue Book, Tiffany’s annual collection of handcrafted jewels first published in 1845.
After the brand presented the Tiffany® Setting, its unique engagement ring in 1886, its blue box became as popular as the actual ring. Individuals would go to the store requesting to purchase the boxes, however, Charles Lewis Tiffany wouldn’t sell them at any cost. He proudly revealed to The New York Sun in 1906 that he would joyfully give you one free of charge, as long as you chose a piece of jewelry to place in it.
Considering the admiration and the popularity Tiffany’s blue had, it got trademarked in 1998 to eventually make it one of the most protected colors in branding.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
For the ones who haven’t got the chance to watch it yet, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a romantic comedy film released by Paramount Pictures in 1961. It was based on the short novella with the same name written in 1958 by Truman Capote. It involves Paul – a struggling writer who moves into a new apartment in New York.
He then meets Holly, a beautiful socialite, and hopelessly falls in love with her. It is called Breakfast at Tiffany’s as Holly loves the store so much and has the belief that only good things happen there. And if you’re wondering if you too can enjoy a breakfast at Tiffany’s, you now actually can at Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store in midtown Manhattan or at the Blue Box Cafe at Harrods in London. You can sit down for breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea while catching a glimpse of the precious jewelry.
Rolexes with the Tiffany Dials
Although no longer in production with Rolex, Tiffany & Co has had a long relationship with the iconic Swiss watch manufacturer. In the 1960s the Tiffany’s was selling Rolexes in its retail locations and they wanted to have their name on the dial as a symbol of God knows why.
However, it resulted in a sanity deal as co-branded luxury watches (specifically Tiffany dials) are today so coveted in the world of watch collecting. Co-branding with Rolex was interrupted in the 1990s however, Tiffany & Co is proud to hold its name on some of the world’s rarest Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet timepieces. It is worth mentioning that in 1851, Tiffany & Co became the first jewelry retailer to sell Patek Philippe watches in the US. A relationship that continues to this day.
Tiffany Yellow Diamond
Some say $5 million, some say $30 million. At that point, does the price really matter? It would be the same as negotiating the price of ice cream from $5 to $30. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond was unearthed in 1878 from the Kimberley mine in South Africa. It is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever discovered and belongs to Tiffany & Co after being obtained in 1979 by Charles Louis Tiffany. After being cut in a cushion shape, its original weight of 287.42 carats (57.484 g) was reduced to 128.54 carats (25.108 g).
In over a century above the earth, the Tiffany Yellow diamond has been worn only 4 times by women. Audrey Hepburn had the chance to wear the diamond in 1961 during publicity photographs for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Lady Gaga also had the chance to wear the diamond set on a necklace in 2019 during the 91st Academy Awards.
Over the years, the luxury jewelry brand established itself as the “world’s diamond authority”, thanks to its diamond experts introducing the brilliance of the gems to shoppers around the world.
Jewelry Inventory of Tiffany & Co.
Maybe Tiffany and Co’s most remarkable item is its excellent, upscale jewelry. The social tip-top has been buying Tiffany jewelry for quite a long time including the brand’s significant frill classes for their present stock.
Designer Jewelry– The brand often cooperates with top designers like Frank Gehry, Paloma Picasso, Elsa Peretti, and Jean Schlumberger, to make remarkable jewelry for their top customers.
Engagement rings – Tiffany offers wedding bands in a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, cuts, and settings.
Wedding rings – Everlasting and made at the highest standard of craftsmanship, Tiffany wedding rings are rich and solid.
Men’s Jewelry – From leather necklaces to watches to titanium jewelry, Tiffany has its focus on adoring men as much as it does with women.
Silver – From dinnerware to jewelry, the brand is notable for its different silver items.
Pearls – The brand offers various sorts of conventional pearl adornments.
Charms – Tailor-made for their more youthful customer base, the US-based brand sells gold charms in shapes like apples, cameras, birthday cakes, and much more.
Still Here?
Let a piece of jewelry from Tiffany’s adorn your life and bring a bloom in your eyes. Surf through the brand’s endless jewelry inventory until you find that piece that you will love wearing. Whether be a wedding ring for your best half or a new set of earrings in platinum covered with diamonds, you can’t go wrong with Tiffany.
