About Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. is arguably one of the most recognizable jewelry brands in America and beyond. In 1837, Charles Louis Tiffany and Teddy Young opened a small fancy goods store in New York City called Tiffany, Young and Ellis which quickly became a meeting ground for magnates, socialites and heads of state. Charles Tiffany took control in 1853 and, in 1878, he acquired a 287-carat fancy yellow rough diamond that he cut to 128.54 carats and named the Tiffany Diamond. In 1886, Tiffany introduced the Tiffany Setting diamond ring, a brilliant solitaire on a simple platinum band. (The U.S. would later adopt Tiffanys standards for platinum purity, or 95 percent, as the national standard). By 1887, Tiffany had acquired pieces from the French Crown Jewels which solidified a prominent position for Tiffany & Co. in the jewelry market, and Charles Tiffany himself was dubbed the king of diamonds. In the 1890s, Georg Kunz traveled far and wide to acquire rare gemstones, and Tiffany was a pioneer in bringing new gemstones to market. By the 1900s, Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of Charles, becomes the first official design director, and is widely considered one of the masters of the Art Nouveau style. Jean Schlumberger joined the company as designer in 1956, paving the way for a long line of designers who would collaborate with the house, including Elsa Peretti, Angela Cummings, and Paloma Picasso.

About Retro

The jewelry period dating from 1935 to 1950, often referred to as Retro, was set against the backdrop of economic depression and World War II. As women entered the workforce and the clothing moved to a more subdued and simple place, jewelry stepped into fill the fashion void. Retro jewelry was all about bigger, bolder, and brighter. Taking cues from the fantasy and glamour of Hollywood, jewelry was created on a larger scale than it had been for decades. With platinum reserved for the war effort, gold resurged in popularity, and different colors of gold were created in shades of rose and green. With the limited supply of diamonds and precious gemstones, jewelers looked to citrine, amethyst, topaz, and aquamarine to bring color and character to a piece. Bold cocktail rings with large rectangular cut gemstones, oversized gold bracelets with links and buckles, and whimsical charm bracelets were the signature pieces of the period. Common motifs included birds, flower baskets, dancers, bows and shells.

About Vintage Jewelry

As curators of 3 centuries of design, we look at jewelry with a discerning eye to find the most inspired, exquisitely crafted pieces. We are proud to share the world’s most renowned vintage jewelry from the greatest design periods the world has ever known.