History of... Tiffany & Co. - Insurance news and advice for clients

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Updated 14th November 2024

“If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s, I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name.”

Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Luxury brand Tiffany & Co. is more than a jeweller’s: it’s a cultural icon. Since its founding nearly two hundred years ago, Tiffany’s forward-thinking creations have done more than just dazzle – but have changed the face of modern jewellery itself.

Sparkling beginnings, and Tiffany Blue

Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany and J.B Young. Though originally a ‘fancy goods and stationery’ shop, Charles Tiffany took sole ownership in 1853 and pivoted the company’s focus to jewellery.

The company found success as people came to recognise the brand not only for the quality of their goods but also their innovation for design. Tiffany’s move in 1851 to create all their jewellery with .925 sterling silver heralded a nationwide shift, with other jewellers shortly following suit. To date, .925 sterling silver remains the jeweller’s standard in the US.

Prior to 1886, the diamond in an engagement ring was held in place by a clearly visible bezel, which hugged the stone. Tiffany’s introduction of a new design, where the stone was elevated to centre stage with a minimally visible six-prong clasp, revolutionised the market. The new look, known as the Tiffany Setting, remains the standard engagement ring design today.

But despite the brand’s penchant for innovation, one thing has remained constant throughout the years: the iconic blue box. The robin’s egg blue first debuted in 1845 on the cover of the Blue Book, the first ever direct-mail catalogue in the USA, before being selected as the colour for Tiffany’s jewellery boxes. Since 1886, every piece of Tiffany’s jewellery has come housed in the immediately recognisable blue box. The shade even has an official name: Tiffany Blue.

The many faces of Tiffany’s

Tiffany’s prestige has earned it a number of public endorsements, including from the American political elite. Abraham Lincoln, the Roosevelt family and Jackie Kennedy are all famous purchasers of Tiffany’s. Naturally, the brand was already a household name by the time Breakfast at Tiffany’s was released in 1961. The romcom features Audrey Hepburn as main character Holly Golightly, a high-society girl with an affinity for Tiffany’s jewellery. In the promotional poster, and in what would become one ofthe most famous photographs of the 20^th century, Hepburn poses while wearing the legendary Tiffany Diamond.

The Tiffany Diamond, a 128.54-carat yellow stone, is undoubtedly the most famed of Tiffany’s collection. Originally purchased by founder Charles Tiffany in 1877, the Tiffany Diamond has, to date, only been worn by four women, including Hepburn.

In modern times, celebrity endorsements have continued to play an important role in Tiffany’s prestige. Gal Gadot, Anya Taylor-Joy and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are just a few of the brand’s many celebrity ambassadorships.

Last year, Tiffany’s was announced as the official jeweller for pop icon Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour. While performing, the singer could be seen wearing a gilded cowboy hat, a diamond-encrusted mesh dress, and even a 4.5-carat diamond in-ear audio monitor – all Tiffany’s creations.

More than jewellery

Tiffany’s continues to be more than a jeweller in today’s world. Their commemorative trophies are further proof of the jeweller’s cultural reach in America and beyond.

In their own words, Tiffany’s has ‘created the most revered symbols of athletic achievement in nearly every notable field of sport.’ The Super Bowl, World Series and PGA Tour victories are all commemorated by custom Tiffany’s trophies.

Creators of the trophies, which Tiffany’s calls ‘Makers’, use traditional tools and techniques from the 19^th century to handcraft each and every trophy. Perhaps more than any of their creations today, these trophies exemplify the spirit of Tiffany’s: roots that are planted firmly in history, and hands that celebrate the present.

Timeless Tiffany’s

Don’t put your timeless Tiffany’s piece in just anyone’s care. At Stanhope, we provide robust insurance to suit your lifestyle and protect your treasured possessions.