Tiffany & Co. is one of the most prominent purveyors of luxury goods in the United States, and has long been an important arbiter of style in the design of diamond engagement rings. A young Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed to his future wife, Eleanor, with a Tiffany ring in 1904. Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Astors and members of the Russian imperial family all wore Tiffany & Co. jewelry. And Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis preferred Tiffany china for state dinners at the White House.
Although synonymous with luxury today, the firm started out rather modestly. Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young founded it in Connecticut as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” in 1837, at a time when European imports still dominated the nascent American luxury market. In 1853, Charles Tiffany — who in 1845 had launched the company’s famed catalog, the Blue Book, and with it, the firm’s signature robin’s-egg blue, which he chose for the cover — shifted the focus to fine jewelry.
In 1868, Tiffany & Co. gained international recognition when it became the first U.S. firm to win an award for excellence in silverware at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. From then on, it belonged to the pantheon of American luxury brands.
At the start of the Gilded Age, in 1870, Tiffany & Co. opened its flagship store, described as a "palace of jewels" by the New York Times, at 15 Union Square West in Manhattan. Throughout this period, its designs for silver tableware, ceremonial silver, flatware and jewelry were highly sought-after indicators of status and taste. They also won the firm numerous accolades, including the grand prize for silverware at the Paris Exposition of 1878. Among the firm’s glittering creations from this time are masterworks of Art Nouveau jewelry, such as this delicate aquamarine necklace and this lavish plique-à-jour peridot and gold necklace, both circa 1900.
When Charles Lewis Tiffany died, in 1902, his son Louis Comfort Tiffany became the firm’s design director. Under his leadership, the Tiffany silver studio was a de facto design school for apprentice silversmiths, who worked alongside head artisan Edward C. Moore. The firm produced distinctive objects inspired by Japanese art and design, North American plants and flowers, and Native American patterns and crafts, adding aesthetic diversity to Tiffany & Co.’s distinguished repertoire.
Tiffany is also closely associated with diamonds, even lending its name to one particularly rare and exceptional yellow stone. The firm bought the Tiffany diamond in its raw state from the Kimberley mines of South Africa in 1878. Cut to create a 128.54-carat gem with an unprecedented 82 facets, it is one of the most spectacular examples of a yellow diamond in the world.
In a broader sense, Tiffany & Co. helped put diamonds on the map in 1886 by introducing the American marketplace to the solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular engagement-ring styles. The trademark Tiffany® Setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light. A lovely recent example is this circa-2000 platinum engagement ring. Displaying a different design and aesthetic (but equally chic) is this exquisite diamond and ruby ring from the 1930s.
Find Tiffany & Co. jewelry, serveware and decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
CARTIER 1970 Modernist Double Panthère Necklace In 18Kt Yellow Gold And Steel
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A very rare Panthère necklace choker designed by Cartier. This is a very rare modernist Panthère necklace-choker created by the prestigious French jewelry house of Cartier, circa 19...
Gold, Yellow Gold, Steel, 18k Gold
Georg Jensen 1961 Nanna Ditzel Rare Necklace 18Kt Gold Vermeil Sterling Silver
By Georg Jensen and Nanna Ditzel
Located in Miami, FL
Geometric necklace designed by Nanna Ditzel (1923-2005) for Georg Jensen. Very rare geometric piece from the Scandinavian design, created in Denmark, by Nanna Ditzel back in the 1960's. Crafted with beautiful precision in solid .925 sterling silver with a 18 kt gold vermeil. This geometric sculptural necklace is composed by 15 semicircular curved elements attached with circled links and suited with a discrete push lock with a hinged safety figure 8 for extra security, Has a total weight of 273.5 grams, and an inside measure of 18 inches 45.75 Cm). The width measure is 30 mm (1.19 inches). Stamped, with the post 1945 Georg Jensen cartouche, the assay hallmark and signed, "GEORG JENSEN NJ 925S 129". Nanna Ditzel, born in 1923. Was a Danish designer graduated from the furniture department of the School of Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen. Has been studying under prof. Kaare Klint at the Royal Academy of Copenhagen. Nanna Ditzel is working with experimental and industrial design furniture, textiles, silver, faience and glass. Has experimented with the use of split-level living for indoors and outdoors. The ideas have been carried through in playgrounds, children libraries and showrooms. Freelance designer, she has a design office and showrooms in London. Nanna Ditzel started independent design office in 1946 together with Jorgen Ditzel. The co-operation lasted until the death of Jorge Ditzel in 1961. Nanna Ditzel created many designs for Georg Jensen, mostly jewelry although she also created some hollowware. The relationship between the couple and the Silversmith began when Nanna decided to start designing jewelry as something she could do at home while her children slept. Soon after, a jewelry competition sponsored by A. Michelsen arose, and her designs had won first prize. Later on, in 1954, Finn Juhl, who was developing the 50th anniversary exhibition, passed the design work off for the exhibition to the Ditzels. Five pieces of jewelry were created for this exhibit, which were very well received. Further jewelry designs were created, and many of these pieces would go on to win various awards and prizes. In 1968, Nanna Ditzel remarried to Kurt Heide and relocated to London where they continued to work in the realm of design, establishing their own company Nanna Ditzel Productions Ltd. In 1986, her second husband passed away, and she moved back to Denmark, continuing her work. In recent years, Ditzel has focused mainly on furniture design, such as the Trinidad chair in 1993, however this design has also led to the further refinement for her jewelry pieces such as the bracelet #389 in 1994. Ditzel has won many major awards during her long career and has had her work exhibited all over the world. She received the silver and gold medals at the Milan Tirennale (1954 and 1960), the Lunning Prize (with Jorgen Ditzel in 1954) and a gold medal at the International Furniture Design Competition in 1990, and the Thorvald Bindesboll Medal in 1999. She has also taken on the title of Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog, Honorable Royal Designer ( 1996). From Georg Jensen Hollowware...
Gold, Yellow Gold, Vermeil, Sterling Silver, Silver
BETTY COOKE 1980 Geometric Semi-Circles Necklace In 14Kt Yellow Gold
By Betty Cooke
Located in Miami, FL
A necklace designed by Betty Cock. (1924-2025) This is a fabulous a rare geometric necklace created by the artist-jeweler Betty Cooke. The sculptural necklace has been crafted with ...
Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
CHANTECLER 1960 Textured Twisted Necklace In 18Kt Gold With 5.15 Ctw In Diamonds
By Chantecler
Located in Miami, FL
A necklace designed by Chantecler of Capri. Fabulous statement twisted necklace, created in the island of Capri in Italy by the jewelry house of Chantecler during the mid century pe...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
TIFFANY & CO. 1970 Schlumberger Long Rotini Necklace Sautoir In 19Kt Yellow Gold
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
A long chain designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. This is a one-of-a-kind long necklace sautoir created by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co., back in 1970's. This rare ...
Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
TIFFANY & CO. Vintage Links Necklace In .925 Sterling Silver & 18Kt Yellow Gold
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
A modernist links necklace designed by Tiffany & Co. A beautiful modernist necklace created by the renowned jewelry house of Tiffany & Co. in 2001. This substantial and bold...
Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings 18k Gold Diamond Collar Necklace, Vintage 1970s Design
By Angela Cummings
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A bold, dramatic and fanciful 18k gold vintage collar necklace signed by noted designer Angela Cummings. Intriguing graduated concentric circles of twisted gold tipped with sparkling...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Jose Hess 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Collar Necklace, Circa 1980s, 1.75ct
By Jose Hess
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A signature creation by renowned designer Jose Hess, this striking collar necklace is crafted in rich 18 karat yellow gold. The triple-row collar design is adorned with 63 round bril...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Robert Lee Morris Gold Plated Brass Concave Collar for Donna Karan, 1991
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
In 1991, Robert Lee Morris collaborated with Donna Karan on her Fall collection and this concave collar was one of the key signature elements shown with the clothes. This was a futur...
Gold Plate, Brass
Tiffany & Co. 1960's 14 Karat Yellow Gold Vintage Tubogas Collar Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Collar necklace is comprised of flexible tubogas style chain Grooved with yellow gold segments With high polish finish Completed by press release clasp closure Stamped for 14 karat g...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Fan-Link Collar Necklace, 1970s
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
A striking vintage necklace crafted in 18 karat yellow gold, featuring a series of open fan-shaped links connected by twisted rope-style detailing. Each fan element is accented with ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 80s Tiffany & Co Paloma Picasso Diamond 18k Gold Choker Necklace
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A sublime, sleek, and elegant vintage Tiffany & Co. gold and diamond choker necklace by renowned designer Paloma Picasso. The wide ribbon of high karat 18k yellow gold, designed ...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
The actress and Benny Blanco tied the knot with style in Santa Barbara over the weekend.
Diamonds and sapphires still played a starring role, but less popular stones popped up too.
