Text by Yanni Tan
In the 1960s and 70s, she was a fashion model, a regular at Studio 54, and part of New York City designer Halston’s troupe of clotheshorses nicknamed the Halstonettes. Those in the Italian tastemaker’s sphere knew Elsa Peretti to possess such a natural flair for style that she was roped in for silver jewellery design work in Manhattan, and even opened a boutique in Bloomingdale’s.
1974 would be the defining year when Tiffany & Co. entrusted the creation of its silver jewels to her, marking the first time in 25 years that the brand would showcase the material in its collections again. Her arrival sparked a revolution, in not just elevating sterling silver to luxury status, but pioneering a resolutely modern and organic aesthetic, and launching what would become acclaimed house icons.
Tiffany & Co.’s Diamonds by the Yard chains, Bone cuffs, Bottle pendants, and Open Heart pendants? Yes, they’re all her. However, Peretti was also responsible for debuting a new serpent motif that began with an enormous necklace she’d first worn herself. Over the decades, the Elsa Peretti Snake necklace has regularly reared its smoothly sculpted head, which acts as a clasp over a streamlined body composed of oblong links — in sterling silver and gold.
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Snake ring (Photo: Tiffany & Co.)
Commemorating the five decades since the designer lent her brilliance to the house, Tiffany & Co. has launched special editions in the most appropriate hue, rose gold, for this lunar year. Still as versatile and comfortable as their creator intended, the bangle and ring take a continuous fluid and flexible form. Each creation is accentuated with another Peretti signature, bezel-set diamonds, on the tail.
Talking about timeless icons, the maison has also introduced the Tiffany Lock Ruby Pendant as a symbolic gesture for Chinese New Year. Crafted with rose gold, the lock motif now flaunts an arc of radiant hand-set rubies, weighing a total of 0.1 carats, on the top hinge.
The Tiffany Lock Ruby pendant (Photo: Tiffany & Co.)
These season-perfect designs are among a bevy of new rose gold beauties that blend Tiffany & Co.’s heritage icons with a stylishly contemporary expression. Other such pieces include the Tiffany Knot and Tiffany T T1 narrow creations, as well as the gorgeous Tiffany HardWear watch.
This article was first published in The Peak Singapore.
