We may all feel familiar with the legacy of Tiffany & Co., but beyond the iconic shop windows on Fifth Avenue in New York, recognisable engagement rings and covetable robin egg blue boxes with white ribbon is the jewellery house’s Blue Book collection – a stunning annual collection of one-of-a-kind jewellery creations, just waiting to be discovered and treasured.
As the brand’s greatest showcase, Tiffany & Co.’s Blue Book collection places the house’s craftsmanship, access and history at the fore. Created by design director Francesca Amfitheatrof, the pieces incorporate the finest and most vibrant gems for truly extraordinary results. Viewed by appointment and only available to Tiffany & Co.’s most prized customers, the collection of unique pieces are highly sought after for good reason.
For 2016, the collection continues to explore themes in nature. Titled ‘The Art of Transformation’, Amfitheatrof’s second Blue Book collection builds upon the underwater motifs she explored in her first.
‘In this collection, we are taking you on a journey through nature,’ she says. ‘From the deep ocean, we float to the edge of the water where stillness reigns. In this world, cocooned in calm, transformation occurs. Life changes, and nature reaches to the surface and takes its first breath of air. It’s a story about evolution and all that is possible in silence and peace, where nature plays its magic and creates the mysteries of the world we live in.’
To this end, stunning pieces that resemble seaweed glisten underwater, a pair of starfish cuffs and even a pearl octopus broach festooned with diamonds and blue sapphires speak to Tiffany & Co.’s age-old tradition of crafting veritable art pieces in gem form. There are plenty of more abstract pieces to appreciate too, including a pendant featuring a 22.11 carat yellow sapphire and white diamonds reminiscent of the glowing sun surrounded by swirling clouds, and an incredibly geometric diamond bracelet made from round, pear-shaped, emerald-cut, oval, marquise, square-cut and trilliant diamonds that are invisibly set to mimic the movement of rivers rushing into the sea.
Of course, there’s no beating the diamonds. Consistently the most sought-after pieces in each Blue Book collection, this year’s offerings include several diamond pendant necklaces boasting otherworldly, 40 carat stones. The effortless mingling of different cut stones not only speaks to the skills of Tiffany’s artisans, but articulates a contemporary design ethos as well.
A cushion cut green tourmaline with round diamonds (left) and a baroque pearl octopus with diamond tentacles is finished with bands of blue sapphires (right)
A pair of platinum fish earrings (covered in blue cuprian elbaite tourmalines and diamonds), leap into an ocean of cushion cut tanzanites totaling 13.04 carats (left), and a 27.08 carat pink spinel ring with blue cuprian elbaite tourmalines (right)
A pendant comprised of a 22.11 carat emerald-cut yellow sapphire, and matching earrings, evoke the sun’s rays. These stones are set in 18 carat yellow gold, and are surrounded by hand-cut diamonds that are graduated and set in a sweeping rhythm like the ocean tides
This bracelet combines round, pear-shaped, emerald cut, oval, marquise, square cut and trilliant diamonds that are invisibly set to articulate the movement of rivers rushing into the sea (left). At right, a round cut green tourmaline ring decorated with round and marquise diamonds, marquise green tourmalines, aquamarines and blue sapphires
INFORMATION
Tiffany & Co’s Blue Book collection begins travelling in April 2016. For more details, visit the website
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