Charles Lewis Tiffany did not merely create a luxury jewelry and accessories powerhouse; he built a timeless narrative that binds emotions, stories, and memories together.
A symbol of enduring brilliance and grandeur, Tiffany & Co. stands among the first great companies to define the concept of American luxury. Over nearly two centuries, the House has evolved into the most refined and elite representative of the American jewelry tradition. Today, it continues to hold its global leadership position through unwavering values, uncompromising quality, timeless design elegance, and masterful craftsmanship. The journey began in 1837 with a small stationery and fancy goods store on Broadway in New York. Charles Lewis Tiffany, just 25 years old, and his partner J. B. Young founded the shop under the name Tiffany & Young. On its very first day, sales totaled only $4.98. From that modest figure, a great luxury empire would rise. In 1845, Tiffany & Young took a revolutionary step for its time by publishing the first direct mail order catalog, presenting its distinguished designs to a wider audience. The iconic Blue Book was not merely a product listing but the first comprehensive showcase of the Tiffany aesthetic. By 1853, Charles Lewis Tiffany assumed sole ownership, refocused the company exclusively on jewelry, and renamed it Tiffany & Co. Beginning with silver and expanding into precious materials, the House launched its first handcrafted collections. This marked the true beginning of its transformation into a global luxury force.
First American Master of Silver
Thanks to Charles Lewis Tiffany’s visionary outlook, far ahead of his era, the company achieved its first major international recognition at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle. Winning a bronze medal for silverware marked the first time an American design house had been honored by a European jury. By adopting the British silver standard, Tiffany & Co. formally established its commitment to quality on an international scale. The company’s silver studio functioned as America’s first true school of design. Apprentices were encouraged to observe nature, sketch relentlessly, and draw inspiration from the vast collections assembled by Edward C. Moore, the celebrated silversmith and head of the Design Department. In 1866, Tiffany introduced its first stopwatch, the Tiffany Timer. In 1868, it expanded its creative language by launching gold fashion jewelry. These milestones demonstrated that the House was not merely producing jewels but shaping the rhythm and form of luxury itself. By 1870, Tiffany & Co. had become America’s premier silversmith and purveyor of jewelry and timepieces.
Priceless Stone: The Tiffany Diamond
In 1878, Charles Lewis Tiffany acquired one of the world’s largest and most extraordinary yellow diamonds from the Kimberley mines of South Africa. Under the supervision of Dr. George Frederick Kunz, the House’s esteemed gemologist, the stone was cut from 287.42 carats down to 128.54 carats with an unprecedented 82 facets to maximize its fire and brilliance. Named the Tiffany Diamond, this legendary gem became the ultimate symbol of the House’s craftsmanship. It has never been offered for sale. Only four women in history have had the honor of wearing it. Socialite Mary Whitehouse became the first in 1957, wearing the stone set in a specially designed necklace at the Tiffany Ball in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1961, Audrey Hepburn wore the diamond in a Jean Schlumberger–designed necklace for promotional campaign of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In 2012, for the House’s 175th anniversary, the diamond was remounted into a breathtaking necklace featuring over 140 carats of white diamonds. In 2019, Lady Gaga wore it to the Academy Awards. Most recently, in 2021, Beyoncé became the fourth person and the first Black woman to wear the Tiffany Diamond in the About Love campaign.
Sole Authority on Diamonds
Continuing to acquire extraordinary gemstones from European aristocratic families, Charles Lewis Tiffany further solidified the House’s dominance. In 1887, he purchased a portion of the French Crown Jewels, elevating the company’s authority in precious stones to its peak. It was during this era that he was crowned the “King of Diamonds.” As international exhibitions flourished across Europe and America, Tiffany earned the highest honors at every venue. The numerous awards led to the House being appointed official jeweler not only to U.S. Presidents and European royal families but also to the Ottoman Sultan and the Czar of Russia.
Love’s Architectural Form: The Tiffany Setting
Among Tiffany & Co.’s most revolutionary innovations, those that firmly established the House’s association with love and marriage, the Tiffany Setting, introduced in 1886, stands as one of its greatest legends. Designed by Charles Lewis Tiffany, this iconic ring elevated the diamond on a six-prong mount, allowing the stone to interact with light at its fullest potential. Departing radically from the traditional practice of embedding the gem into the band, this design approach secured its place in jewelry terminology and created an entirely new and enduring aesthetic language centered on the brilliance of the diamond. The Tiffany Setting did more than transform the codes of engagement ring design; it became a universal benchmark of timeless elegance and impeccable craftsmanship.
Beyond a Color: The Tiffany Blue
The first appearance of Tiffany Blue dates back to 1845, when the House’s annual Blue Book catalog debuted in the distinctive hue. The catalog quickly gained widespread attention, marking a milestone in American retail history and signaling the brand’s relationship with exclusivity. Customers were not simply purchasing jewelry; they were entering a lifestyle, a dream, and a complete aesthetic universe. Following this success, Tiffany began presenting its jewelry in boxes of the same signature shade. Tied with a white ribbon, the Tiffany Blue Box soon became as desirable as the treasures it held. By the late 19th century, these boxes symbolized wealth, elegance, and refined taste. The Tiffany Blue Box was more than packaging; it was an emblem. By associating the color with quality and exclusivity, Tiffany made the shade inseparable from its identity. In 1998, the company officially trademarked the color as Tiffany Blue, cementing its status as a proprietary symbol of heritage and prestige.
Immortalized by Cinema
The 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, adapted from Truman Capote’s novel, forever linked the House with elegance, romance, and the pursuit of dreams. The Tiffany & Co. store was portrayed as a place where nothing bad could ever happen, reinforcing the brand’s emotional resonance and romantic idealism. Whether in film or in real life, Tiffany continues to bear silent witness to countless love stories, celebrations, and milestones. Through every collection, it places love, joy, and commitment at its center, sustaining a relentless pursuit of aesthetic refinement, master craftsmanship, and timeless beauty.
Iconic Designers of the Tiffany World
Following the passing of Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1902, his son Louis Comfort Tiffany became the company’s first Creative Director. Even as a young designer, Louis Comfort had already established a distinguished reputation. In 1882, at the invitation of President Chester Arthur, he undertook the redecoration of the White House and was widely recognized as a figure of refined taste and artistic vision. With his deep knowledge of art and artistic movements, he succeeded in reflecting elegance and timelessness throughout the brand’s collections in an exceptional way. As the new century progressed, Tiffany designs masterfully captured the spirit of each era. From the opulent grandeur of the 1920s to the restrained modernism of the 1930s, and on to the streamlined aesthetics of the 1940s and 1950s, this stylistic evolution was clearly felt across the collections. Tiffany china brought refinement to White House state dinners, while Tiffany jewels completed the elegance of some of the world’s most captivating women, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Vreeland. When the remarkable designer Jean Schlumberger joined the House in 1956, his imaginative and highly original creations elevated interest in Tiffany and Co. to an entirely new level. Schlumberger’s jewels pushed the boundaries of their time with bold forms and sculptural details. Designs such as Bird on a Rock, which swiftly achieved iconic status, continue to shine as powerful symbols of Tiffany’s design heritage. Another transformative chapter in the Tiffany story began in 1974 with its collaboration with Italian model and designer Elsa Peretti. Peretti’s organic and minimalist lines demonstrated that fine jewelry could become part of everyday style. Deeply devoted to the House’s values of quality, design precision and meticulous craftsmanship, she created a groundbreaking universe that reshaped the course of Tiffany’s history. Paloma Picasso’s first collection for Tiffany and Co. was launched in 1980. The daughter of the world renowned painter Pablo Picasso, she drew inspiration from the graffiti that covered New York buildings in the 1970s. Her Graffiti collection reinterpreted the energy of street art in precious materials, translating it into jewelry form. With her graphic and bold aesthetic, she introduced a strong artistic reference to the brand. The Paloma era marked a turning point in which Tiffany evolved from aristocratic luxury to a modern design driven vision of luxury.
Tiffany & Co. Eyewear
The powerful legacy Tiffany & Co. built in jewelry entered a new dimension with the brand’s step into the world of eyewear. In December 2006, a global licensing agreement signed with Luxottica Group paved the way for the launch of the first Tiffany & Co. eyewear collection in 2008. At a time when luxury eyewear was rapidly rising as a fashion accessory, the brand’s entry into the sector was regarded as a natural extension of its aesthetic vision. While the initial agreement covered a ten year period, the partnership was renewed in December 2017 and extended through 2027. With EssilorLuxottica partnership, all the Tiffany & Co. eyewear collections carry the same craftsmanship, elegance and design philosophy that define the house’s jewelry into the optical realm. The understated brilliance of the Tiffany Setting and the iconic identity of the Tiffany Blue Box can also be felt in the eyewear designs. Each model offers more than an accessory; it presents a statement of style that reflects the brand’s emotional heritage. Redefining personalized elegance, the designs unite jewelry and eyewear within a single aesthetic language. For Tiffany & Co., eyewear, like jewelry, is not merely a complementary piece but an expression of enduring style, sophistication and an emotional connection.
CHRONOLOGY:
1837
Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young opened a stationery and fine goods store in New York under the name “Tiffany, Young and Ellis.” From its very first day, the brand drew attention with its commitment to quality.
1845
The company introduced its first mail order catalogue, the Blue Book. This pioneering step brought high quality jewelry to a broader American audience.
1853
The company was renamed Tiffany & Co. Charles Lewis Tiffany steered the house toward a clearly defined jewelry focused identity.
1862
During the American Civil War, Tiffany & Co. produced swords, flags and military accessories for the Union Army.
1877
The Tiffany signature appeared on medals designed for the New York Police Department, giving the brand’s design language visibility in the public sphere.
1905
Tiffany & Co. relocated its flagship store to Fifth Avenue in New York, laying the foundation for its now iconic address.
1978
Tiffany & Co. was acquired by Avon Products Inc., and its corporate structure was reshaped.
1987
The brand went public again, gaining momentum in its global expansion.
2000
The Tiffany & Co. Foundation was established. Environmental, artistic and community focused initiatives became central to the company’s corporate responsibility vision.
2002
Laurelton Diamonds was founded, making Tiffany & Co. one of the rare jewelry houses to directly control its diamond supply chain.
2008
In collaboration with Luxottica Group, Tiffany & Co. introduced its first Tiffany Eyewear collection.
2009
The Tiffany Keys collection was unveiled. The key motif became an iconic design symbolizing freedom and possibility in modern jewelry language.
2014
The Tiffany T collection, designed by Francesca Amfitheatrof, was launched.
2016
The Legendary Style campaign brought together iconic names from the fashion world with the Tiffany & Co. aesthetic, highlighting the brand’s modern face.
2017
The HardWear collection was introduced. The bold chain forms reflected the powerful and dynamic spirit of New York.
2019
The Diamond Source Initiative was launched, and Tiffany & Co. became one of the first luxury jewelry houses to commit to transparently sharing the origin of its diamonds.
2020
Through the Diamond Craft Journey, customers were offered detailed insight into the production process of the diamonds they purchased.
2021
Tiffany & Co. joined the LVMH Group. The acquisition was recorded as one of the largest transactions in the history of the luxury sector.
2022
The Tiffany Knot collection was introduced. Themes of connection and unity were interpreted through strong and refined forms.
2023
The New York flagship store reopened after an extensive renovation, redefining the brand experience on an architectural scale.
2024
With experiential projects such as Tiffany Wonder, the brand’s heritage was reinterpreted through the lens of art and design.
2025
A striking sunglasses series inspired by the house’s iconic jewelry collections was introduced. The collection featured Knot by Tiffany, HardWear by Tiffany, T by Tiffany and Tiffany Logo lines.
2026
The brand presented its Valentine’s Day campaign titled “Celebrating Love Stories Since 1837.” Brand ambassador Adria Arjona starred in the campaign.
