The very mention of Tiffany’s is enough to make women’s eyes dreamy. Is there a woman passionate about jewelry who doesn’t share the sentiments of Holly Golightly sometimes? Tiffany’s is a synonym for impeccable taste and if you are thinking of giving your loved one (including yourself) a Tiffany floral ring, a Tiffany engagement ring, or anything from Tiffany’s collections, you’ll definitely rock their world, so to speak. The story behind Tiffany’s is no less impressive than the mesmerizing pieces they make.

Avant-garde from the beginning

Tiffany & Co. was born in 1853 when Charles L. Tiffany took over a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” called Tiffany, Young and Ellis. It was at this moment of takeover that the company decided to focus primarily on jewelry. There were two things about Tiffany & Co. that set it apart from other similar stores at the time. First, all the goods in the store had clearly marked fixed prices which could not be haggled over. Second, the store accepted cash only, unlike the majority of then stores that accepted payments on credit.

The legendary Blue Book

In 1845, Tiffany & Co. printed their first mail order catalog. It was one of the few catalogs of the time that were printed in full color. The famous Blue Book long remained the company’s primary advertising channel. It is still printed today.

Setting the sterling silver and platinum standards

Do you look for the well-known 925 stamp when you take a piece of silver jewelry? It was Tiffany & Co. that set this standard of purity for sterling silver as far back as 1851. In 1926, the U.S. also adopted Tiffany’s standard of 95 percent for platinum. Testimony to Tiffany’s uncompromising commitment to excellence is the fact that they only worked with the best-in-class. One such individual was George Kunz, a renowned gemologist, who played a part in the introduction of carat as the international unit of measure for gemstones.

Tiffany’s flagship store

The store that appeared in the cult movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s opened in 1940 at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57^th Street on Manhattan. In 1955, Gene Moore redesigned the windows of this store into theatrical displays.

The most acclaimed jewelry designer of 20^th century

In 1902, Tiffany’s got its first official design director. It was the founder’s son, Louis C. Tiffany, who was a world leader of the Art Nouveau movement. Even though Tiffany has worked with Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso and the noted Frank Gehry, Jean Schlumberger is undoubtedly the most renowned designer of Tiffany’s. He joined the company in 1956 and took the world of fashion by storm. Jacqueline Kennedy adored his gold-and-enamel bracelets and donned hers so much, that bracelets finally got the nickname “Jackie bracelets.” Schlumberger was also the designer at the time that Breakfast at Tiffany’s was filmed and he designed the famous ribbon necklace that showcased the mesmerizing Tiffany yellow diamond.

The diamond of the morning sun

In 1878, the famous Tiffany Yellow Diamond was found in the mines of South Africa. It’s a diamond of 128.54 carats that weighs 25.708 g. Ever since it was first displayed on exhibitions in Paris, its enchanting radiance and beauty has magnetically attracted visitors. The diamond has never been sold and it’s on permanent display in Tiffany’s flagship store. Its first setting was the glorious necklace designed by Schlumberger, but later he designed a new setting called Bird on Stone. For Tiffany’s 175^th anniversary, the setting was changed again into an astonishing, brilliant necklace which was made over a period of more than one year.

Get your Tiffany floral ring or engagement ring at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelry & Engagement Ring Store

Leo Hamel Fine Jewelry & Engagement Ring Store is a renowned jewelry store that boasts the largest retail location in San Diego. With our vast and extremely varied selection of authentic vintage Tiffany & Co. jewelry including engagement rings, you are sure to find something that will perfectly match what you desire.