In an era of social upheaval, venerable Tiffany & Co. designer Elsa Peretti reimagined diamonds as jewelry that working women bought for themselves rather than receiving it from a suitor.
By the time the Italian-born Peretti (1940–2021) arrived in New York City, she’d already studied design in Rome, worked for a Milanese architect and taught Italian, French and skiing in Switzerland. She settled on interior design as her potential career path but then chose an altogether different route: modeling. Peretti modeled in Barcelona, Spain, and on the advice of Wilhelmina Cooper — a former model who’d by then founded Wilhelmina Modeling Agency — moved to Manhattan in 1968. When she relocated, Peretti was inspired to pick up jewelry design.
After modeling for designer Halston, the undisputed fashion king of Studio 54, Peretti became his close friend and collaborator, eventually creating jewelry and teardrop-shaped perfume bottles for him. By way of her association with Halston, Peretti took to the disco scene, flourishing in a social circle that included artist Andy Warhol and fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.
It wasn’t long before models on di Sant’Angelo’s runway were donning two-inch sterling-silver vases, complete with a rose stem, suspended on leather thongs around their necks. The accessory was Peretti’s inaugural piece of jewelry — she designed it in 1969 after finding a flower vase at a flea market. It was hardly the only time that Peretti found motifs in nature and in organic forms. In the years that followed, her Bean pendant necklace, Starfish earrings and other sensuous accessories would draw on human emotion as well as the natural world around her. Each evocative and wholly versatile design is universally adored decades later, and each was made for a storied American jewelry house with which Peretti would be associated for nearly 50 years.
It was Halston who introduced Peretti to Tiffany & Co. She had her own boutique at Bloomingdale’s by 1972, and her partnership with the firm, which signed the venturesome and unorthodox designer to an exclusive contract in 1974, would cement her place in the lofty annals of jewelry legend. Peretti’s simple but sophisticated designs — the Teardrop collection, her minimalist Diamonds by the Yard necklace and Open Heart ring, to name a few — elevated sterling silver, previously considered unsuitable for fine jewelry, and created an enthusiastic young audience for Tiffany’s offerings. In 1977, Peretti’s designs earned the jewelry house more than $6 million. (In some years, her work has accounted for 10 percent of the company’s sales.)
In 2012, Peretti signed a 20-year, $47.3 million contract with Tiffany & Co., but she passed away in 2021, at age 80. Today, her designs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum.
Find an exquisite collection of Elsa Peretti jewelry today on 1stDibs.
Elsa Peretti For Tiffany and Company Sterling Money Clip
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sterling Silver Money Clip by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., 1980s An elegant and sculptural sterling silver money clip, designed by the legendary Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. in...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Company Elsa Peretti Vintage Sterling Thumbprint Cuff Bracelet
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980 Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Company .925 Sterling Silver Thumbprint Cuff Bracelet, measuring 3/4 inch wide with an inside measurement of 5 1/2 inches with a 1 1/8 inch open...
Sterling Silver
$395
H 1.26 in W 1.26 in D 0.4 in
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Key holder Like new, Never used Box & Pouch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Huntington, NY
A fine vintage key holder. Like new Never used By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. One of the ball shaped terminals is threaded and can be removed to add/remove keys from the ring....
Sterling Silver
Vintage Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Polished Money Clip with Pouch #24943
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Polished Money Clip with Pouch An authentic Tiffany money clip featuring a classic smooth polished finish. Includes Tiffany pouch. Weighs a...
Sterling Silver
$595
H 1.58 in W 1.7 in D 0.4 in
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Heart Shaped Perfume Flask & Funnel w Original Box
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine silver perfume flask and funnel. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. The perfume flask is in the shape of the heart and accompanied by...
Sterling Silver
Vintage Elsa Peretti Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Mesh Tassel Evening Bag
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Created in the late 1970s to early 1980s by legendary designer Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., this exceptional sterling silver mesh evening bag...
Tiffany & Company Frank Gehry wide Sterling Tube Bangle Bracelet
By Frank Gehry for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2000 Frank Gehry for Tiffany & Company .925 Sterling Silver Bangle Bracelet, 1/2 inch wide Hallow Tube design different size Bean shape openings. Wrist size 8 inches. Very uniq...
Sterling Silver
$320Sale Price|20% Off
Tiffany & Co 'Return To Tiffany' Sterling Silver Key Ring
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Item specifics Condition “comes with the original box” Brand Tiffany & Co Type Key Ring Department Men Color Silver Base Metal Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Company Sterling Alligator Texture Cuff bracelet
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1990s Scarce Tiffany & Company Sterling Silver cuff Bracelet, measuring 7/8 inch wide at the center and tapering to 5/8 inch, having a very life like Alligator Reptile finish, ...
Sterling Silver
$2,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.25 in W 3.25 in
CELESTE HOLM Tiffany & Co. Silver Envelope Compact Songwriter's Hall of Fame
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
We are thrilled to offer the Tiffany & Co. Silver Envelope Compact belonging to legendary Oscar Winning actress CELESTE HOLM which was given to her and inscribed by the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. The stylized envelope is of brushed silver, opening to reveal a powder mesh and puff signed Estée Lauder, with inner top flap engraved 'Songwriter's Hall of Fame March 8, 1977'. The compact is signed Tiffany & Co., Sterling 925, Italy. Celeste Holm (April 29, 1917 – July 15, 2012) was an American stage, film and television actress. Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's Gentleman's Agreement (1947), and was nominated for her roles in Come to the Stable (1949) and All About Eve (1950). She also is known for her performances in The Snake Pit (1948), A Letter to Three Wives (1949), and High Society (1956). She is also known for originating the role of Ado Annie in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! (1943) and the Soap Opera Loving. We have other pieces of Jewelry from the estate of Celeste Holm including a Riviere Necklace as well as her Tiffany Jewelry Box. We also have fabulous pieces of jewelry belonging to Lauren Bacall, Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, opera singer Jessye Norman...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Venezia Goldoni Pendant Necklace
By Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Hope, PA
This Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co. pendant necklace is named the Venezia Goldoni design. The pendant is composed of seven stylized hearts forming the openwork circular design...
Sterling Silver
Elsa Peretti Sterling Silver Eternal Circle Pendant Necklace
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Hope, PA
This Elsa Peretti sterling silver Eternal Circle necklace is in pristine condition with the original Tiffany Blue box and felt bag. The pendant is suspended from a sterling silver c...
Sterling Silver
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. 1975 Sterling Silver Infinity Buckle and Belt
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Hope, PA
This classic sterling Infinity buckle designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. in 1975 is in fabulous condition and it is fully signed. The buckle has been retired by Tiffany b...
Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Somerset Bracelet
Located in New Hope, PA
The Somerset Collection from Tiffany & Co is made from a finely woven mesh, in this example it is sterling silver. Named for the English county the style is classic and very wea...
Sterling Silver
Jean-Louis Scherrer 1980s Black Rhinestone Plastic Disc Clutch
By Jean-Louis Scherrer
Located in New Hope, PA
A chic envelope style clutch from Jean Louis Scherrer is made of small round plastic disks outlined in shiny black patent leather with a border of rhinestones.
Paloma Picasso Chocolate Brown Studded Clutch or Crossbody Bag
By Paloma Picasso
Located in New Hope, PA
Paloma Picasso designed this chic clutch or crossbody bag with metal studs on the front in two different sizes, creating a series of X designs. The interior of the bag is lined in a ...
