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.
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Gris St. Anne Marble and Ormolu Pedestal Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Gris St. Anne marble and ormolu pedestal clock. The rectangular shaped pedestal clock is raised by ormolu topie shaped legs below a mottl...
Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble, Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Clock
By Jean A. Rennes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble, ormolu and patinated bronze clock, signed Jean, A Rennes. The clock is raised by four fine topie s...
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Marble and Finely Chased Ormolu Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A magnificent and very high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. marble and finely chased ormolu clock. The clock is raised on six ormolu topie shaped feet below the white Carrara marble base with scrolled foliate ormolu mounts and beaded border. Perched above is a charming winged cherub holding up an arrow. At each side are lovely ormolu maidens draped in classic attire with their flowing hair, holding up a floral wreath. Centered is the ormolu clock with paw feet fluted and scrolled designs at the base and swaging foliate garland. Above the enamel dial is decorated with a winged cherub bust...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Marble and Ormolu Portique Clock
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exquisite and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. white Carrara marble and ormolu Portique clock, signed "Tiffany'. Raised by a marble base with ormolu topie shaped supports. Above are two columns decorated by finely chased floral ormolu mounts. The columns are flanked by two fluted tapering ormolu design elements. The enamel dial has a foliate garland at the center and ormolu pendulum. At the top crown is an ormolu floral basket with two lovebirds...
Carrara Marble, Ormolu
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Patinated Bronze, Ormolu and Marble Clock
By H. Luppens & Cie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. patinated bronze, ormolu, and white Carrara marble clock signed H Luppens & Cie. The clock is raised by five topie shaped feet with f...
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French 19th Century Neoclassical St. Vert Patricia Marble and Ormolu Clock
By Jollet & Cie
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century neo-classical st. Vert Patricia marble and ormolu clock, signed Jollet & Cie. The clock is raised by a square stepped base with a finely chased pierced...
Marble, Ormolu
1920's Antique French Marble Bronze Mantel clock
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This elegant French mantel clock, crafted during the 1920s, is a superb example of the enduring appeal of the Louis XVI Revival style that remained highly fashionable in France well ...
Marble, Bronze
20th century French Louis XVI Marble and Gilded Bronze Mantel Clock, 1940s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Louis XVI-style clock in marble and gilt bronze. Refined details include a delicate dial, decorative birds, and floral ornaments. Perfect for a classic interior or a collection. Acce...
Marble, Bronze
French 19th Century Louis XVI Gilded Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Vilnius, LT
Antique 19th century French Louis XVI style gilded bronze and white marble mantel clock. The circular case is decorated with a floral elements and surmounted by the figures of Venus...
Marble, Bronze
French Patinated Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
French Patinated Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, late 19th century, the circular dial, with timepiece movement, surmounted by a cherub playing a triangle, on a tapering pedestal and...
Marble, Bronze
Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, Late 18th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, late 18th century, of architectural form, the pediment surmounted by an Apollo portrait bust, supporting by tapering columns, centered ...
Marble, Bronze
Antique French Louis XVI Marble and Gold Bronze Clock, Circa 1880-1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Louis XVI Style Finest Quality Marble and Gold Bronze Clock, Circa 1880-1890.
Marble, Bronze
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.
