Tiffany is one of the most recognizable brands in jewelry.

Known for its impeccable style, cultural significance, and history of fine craftsmanship, Tiffany is an icon few fail to recognize.

But with all the products Tiffany makes, which ones are worth it?

Who do you trust for information on Tiffany? Tiffany & Co. has been around for nearly two centuries, and for good reason.

There are a few factors that contribute to its success.

Today, we’ll look at the Tiffany brand, its history and products, and whether or not Tiffany is a good fit for you.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

While most of us know the brand as Tiffany’s, the actual legal name is Tiffany & Co., and most of the brand’s employees (including theformer andcurrent CEOs) refer to the company as simply “Tiffany.” In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffanyco-founded Tiffany, Young, and Ellis, a stationery and gift store in New York City.

File:Charles Lewis Tiffany.png By 1853, Tiffany had renamed the store Tiffany & Company and eliminated other product lines to focus on jewelry.

Until his death in 1902, Tiffany built name recognition with a number of publicity feats.

The company won a prize at the 1867 Paris World’s Fair for silver craftsmanship, being the first American company to adopt the British standard of 92% sterling silver.

In 1878, Tiffany acquired what is now known as the Tiffany Diamond, one of the largest ever mined.

And in 1887, Charles Tiffany once again made headlines by buying one-third of the French Crown Jewels.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Continuing Charles Tiffany’s headline-making legacy, Tiffany & Co. has established many of the cultural icons representative of the United States.

The original Tiffany & Co. building is an iconic landmark on Fifth Avenue.

In addition, Tiffany has been a pioneer in the industry,releasing a mail-order catalog 43 years before Sears and Roebuck and essentially inventing the modernsolitaire diamond engagement ring.

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The company’s design credits also include theLombardi Trophy, World Series rings, the current redesign of theGreat Seal of the United States, theYankees interlocking “NY” logo, and the clock atGrand Central Station.

But the biggest cultural icon? A film.ring.

Source: Glamour.com

In addition, Tiffany has been a pioneer in the industry,releasing a mail-order catalog 43 years before Sears and Roebuck and essentially inventing the modernsolitaire diamond engagement ring.

Based on the novella by Truman Capote, director Blake Edwards cast Audrey Hepburn as party girl Holly Golightly.

Supporting roles in the 1961 filming include George Peppard as Paul Varjack and Mickey Rooney in a controversial role as Japanese landlord Mr. Yunioshi.

The film won an Oscar for the original song “Moon River” written by Henry Mancini.

Its iconic looks forever cemented Hepburn’s black dress and the Tiffany brand as fashion statement fixtures of the upper-class party scene.

Source: Behind the Name

The film became such a cultural phenomenon, it even sparked a resurgence in the first name “Tiffany.”

Source: Professional Jeweler

The brand has maintained its lore long since the film.

Tiffany’s has been featured in innumerable songs, movies, and TV shows—fromAriana Grande’s “7 Rings” toFriends.

Tiffany has also been in the news for the aforementioned

Tiffany Diamond,one of the largest and most valuable on earth, weighing in at 128.54 carats.

Tiffany Diamond Workshop Images 2

The diamond has only been worn three times—by diplomat Mary Whitehouse in 1957, by Audrey Hepburn promoting

Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961, and by Lady Gaga at the 2019 Academy Awards.

Since 2000, the company has also run theTiffany & Co. Foundation, focusing on responsible mining and conserving coral reefs.

Source: Tiffany.com

As you might imagine, Tiffany’s main product line consists of fine jewelry made from precious metals like gold, rose gold, platinum, and silver.

The most common gemstone is of course diamond, but they also offer jewelry made from pearls and over70 other varieties of gemstones.

Expect to find all types of pieces at Tiffany & Co., such as engagement and wedding rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

Tiffany also offers accessories like tableware, watches, and fragrances.

If you go to the flagship store on Fifth Avenue, this is what you’ll find. However, these are only the pieces available on the publicly-accessible sales floor.

The flagship Tiffany & Co. store—which accounts foras much as 10% of the brand’s worldwide net sales—also has anappointment-only showroom for select high-spenders.

In addition to offering one-of-a-kind pieces, the showroom serves as a consulting room, where Tiffany designers work with clients to create bespoke jewelry—pieces that are typically crafted in the little-knownworkshop on the 10th floor of the building.

And, of course, every purchase comes in signature Tiffany packaging.

Now that you have a good understanding of what Tiffany offers, should you make the investment?

Buying any type of jewelry is a personal choice.

But it’s even more important to consider when you’re looking at a piece of jewelry from a brand like Tiffany.

In addition to carefully considering the luxury-level prices you should expect to pay, buying from Tiffany & Co. is an investment in an iconic brand.

So, what makes the most sense for you?

Source: Tiffany.com

The single biggest perk of buying from Tiffany may seem silly: the color blue.

Tiffany Blue—a light blue with a touch of green—was trademarked in 1998 and remains a key element of Tiffany’s branding.

While a single color shouldn’t be the only deciding factor in a jewelry purchase, the reality is that Tiffany Blue speaks to far more than just a color.

If you’re giving a piece as a gift, the box says almost as much as what’s inside. And if you’re making a purchase for yourself, the Tiffany & Co. packaging delivers instantly-recognizable allure.

Its classic look—whether for Instagram or your own private knowledge—needs no introduction.

Tiffany has a reputation for a reason.

While there are a number of fine jewelry dealers, few have the kind of luxury fame of Tiffany.

Making a purchase here is buying a piece of a multi-generation cultural institution.

And the luxury buying experience is like no other.

Tiffany salespeople are true experts at their craft.

Instead of pushing you towards a purchase, they’ll take the time to educate you to find a piece you truly love.

You’ll be treated with respect, courtesy, and a level of professionalism you’ll be hard-pressed to find at any other retailer—of jewelry or otherwise.

Finally, Tiffany guarantees a perfect purchase.

Most jewelers have a broad range of prices and quality, and it takes a savvy buyer to make an intelligent decision.

Not at Tiffany.

Pick a piece at random and you’re guaranteed a high-quality item that can hold its own against anything on the market.

As far as quality goes, you can’t make a mistake with Tiffany jewelry.

That said, Tiffany isn’t perfect.

The most prominent disadvantage of Tiffany’s jewelry is also its chief advantage—its brand. You won’t find a piece of “bad” jewelry at Tiffany.

But you’ll be paying a hefty price for the privilege of using its brand.

For anauthentic review of Tiffany & Co., diamond expert Michael Fried visited the flagship store on Fifth Avenue, purchased a ring, and compared to similar pieces available elsewhere.

His comparison of rings showed that, on average, a ring from Tiffany & Co. costs three times as much as a ring from other retailers.

His conclusion?“Tiffany & Co Engagement Rings are, of course, very high quality.

But they are also extremely expensive.” If you’re looking for a stunning and valuable piece of jewelry without high margins or iconic packaging, you should look elsewhere.

When it comes to fine jewelry, few brands have the luxury appeal of Tiffany & Co.

Its generations of impact on American cultural icons and world-renown celebrity associations have made it a brand few can forget.

Few brands can claim brand recognition from something as simple as a robin’s egg blue color to an ampersand, making Tiffany distinctive.

Its products are famous, yet often prohibitively expensive for the same reason that makes them so iconic.

Do you have any Tiffany products? Any great stories to share with the rest of us? Let us know in the comments below.