One of my family’s big traditions every Sunday morning is to watch CBS News Sunday Morning. This Sunday was no exception as I was home recovering from my 5th wisdom tooth removal and I was delighted to see that Tiffany & Co. was on the broadcast. The story was fascinating: about the history of Tiffany & Co., the legacy of the brand, and how different family members ran the company and prioritized different kinds of artistry in the studios.
[YouTube link to the story here, as embedding was disabled by CBS.]
Something I learned from the story: Why the now-infamous Tiffany blue? CBS News Sunday Morning said:
“[It] was chosen because it was the favorite color of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. “She was also considered the most stylish woman in the world,” said Loring [John Loring, the company’s historian/former design chief]. “She was the supermodel fashion plate – fashion arbiter of the universe.”
And since it is the 175th anniversary of the brand, the store has done something special to mark the occasion: a [mostly] new, spectacular showpiece.
Photo Credit: © Tiffany & Co.
A priceless, 128.54 carat yellow diamond, which was bought by Charles Lewis Tiffany for $18,000 in 1878 after it was discovered a year earlier in South Africa as a 287.42-carat raw stone. This diamond has been mounted in a necklace setting with white diamonds totalling more than 120 carats.
Photo Credit: © Tiffany & Co.
The news release from Tiffany and Company states:
The Diamond has been set on four previous occasions, two of which involve original designs by Jean Schlumberger, Tiffany’s renowned jewelry designer. The stone was set in Schlumberger’s Ribbon Rosette necklace to promote the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s; and it was mounted in Schlumberger’s Bird on a Rock setting for the designer’s 1995 retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
Photo Credit: © Tiffany & Co.
Can you imagine what this diamond must feel like around your neck? The pure weight of the object must be incredible.
What do you think of this Tiffany & Co. showpiece? Is it too big? Are you a Tiffany’s fan, or do you like a different jewelry brand?
Or, maybe you are a Tiffany Studios lamp fan? Then you might enjoy this story from 2007:
See more photos of Tiffany’s former Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall, here. And Wikipedia here.
Wow that necklace is amazing. I did a case study on the company when I was in school. Love all their stuff. That actually would have been interesting to watch!
I cannot get over the necklace, either! I bet that case study was fascinating! Did you blog about it?
That's so interesting! I love all the history behind the company. It's such an icon!
The history really is fascinating, I love it all too. It definitely is an iconic brand.
Wow that necklace is amazing! And loved hearing the story behind Tiffany Blue 🙂
LOVE That necklace. So cute. xo
Interesting to learn about the history of 'Tiffany Blue', thanks Doll! xo
So interesting post!!
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Fun post! I love Tiffany's! That necklace is amazing! Could you imagine wearing that? To die for!
xx
Giovanna
http://www.oliveandanarrow.com
Isn't it an amazing necklace? I really loved the Tiffany explanation too!
Sara- I know right? Maybe I heard it a long time ago but I had definitely forgotten!
Thank you so much – you have a great blog
I cannot imagine wearing it but I am sure I would enjoy it!
I LOVE this post! Favorite movie, favorite store…it's what dreams are made of 🙂
Thank you so much! I love the store and movie, too 🙂
Isn't the necklace GORGEOUS? xo
Oh my goodness….. this is one of our favorite shows too. I have fond memories of my dad watching this growing up and my husband and I have continued the tradition by DVRing it and watching it on Sunday nights. I loved the piece on Tiffany.