A Brief History of Tiffany & Co

Widely known as one of the world’s most iconic jewellery brands, Tiffany & Co dates back as far as 1837, when founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and his friend John Young opened a small stationary and fancy goods store inNew York City.

The store quickly established itself as the go-to place for women in search of jewels and timepieces, and was the firstAmericacompany to take on the British silver standard of using metal that was 92% pure. However, it was in 1867 at the World’s Fair inParisthat Tiffany received worldwide recognition, where it won the grand prize for silver craftsmanship. It was eleven years later that the link between Tiffany jewellery and the world’s finest diamonds was etched into history.

The year was 1867 when the company acquired a 287.42 carat rough yellow diamond from mines inSouth Africa. The gem was polished and cut into a 128.54 carat diamond that was set into a necklace and worn by Audrey Hepburn in the famous Breakfast at Tiffany’s photos in 1961. The diamond was named after Tiffany, and it really helped to cement the jewellery brand’s reputation of sheer luxury.

Tiffany hasn’t only been known for its beautiful diamonds though, as it has also introduced a stunning selection of previously unknown gemstones to the world. Tiffany unveiled Kunzite in 1902, a purple and pink gem named after Tiffany gemmologist George Kunz. Tiffany also unearthed Morganite in 1910 and named it in honour of one of their most loyal customers- John Pierpoint Morgan. These were followed by the popular tanzanite and tsavorite; gemmologists continue to travel the world to source new and undiscovered gemstones. 

Tiffany & Co has worked alongside a number of fantastic jewellery designers throughout its history, including Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and Jean Schlumberger. Though a high-end jeweller, Tiffany has succeeded in supplying affordable silver collections without diluting the air of exclusivity that continues to attract its high-end customers.

Whilst trends in jewellery may come and go, one thing that has remained constant since the start is the distinctive Tiffany Blue. It is regarded as one of the most recognisable and beautiful packaging in the world; the colour, box and ribbon are all trademarked.

Today, Tiffany has more than 300 stores worldwide that employ over 12,000 people. Tiffany has taken a fresh, new direction whilst still retaining the essence of the iconic brand, including the Tiffany T collection that features minimalist designs with graphic angles and clean lines that are reminiscent of New York City.

Here at Cuttings, we stock a fantastic range of second-hand jewellery, including pieces from Tiffany & Co; take a look at this gorgeous Tiffany & Co Diamond Cluster ring. If you would like more information on this ring or any of the pieces we have available, get in touch today via our contact page.