First introduced in the 1970s, the cuffs designed by Elsa Peretti marked a revolution in Tiffany & Co's history
American jeweller Tiffany & Co’s storied heritage and its trove of archival pieces have no shortage of jewellery icons that have made their mark in history, but one classic piece remains relevant today, with no sign of its popularity waning.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the house’s Elsa Peretti Bone Cuffs—originally available in gold, rose gold, and sterling silver—are now available in a special edition collection reimagined in vibrant red, blue and green finishes over copper, a nod towards the now 80-year-old designer’s love of colour.
The iconic Bone cuffs were first conceived by Peretti in the 1970s, in the early days of her jewellery design career. Formerly a fashion model in Barcelona and New York, Peretti began creating jewellery for a number of fashion designers in Manhattan in 1969. Her first designs for American fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo were an instant success and cemented her signature style—one that primarily toys with silver and organic forms.
By the time Peretti joined Tiffany & Co as an independent designer in 1974, she already had a number of accolades to her name, including the 1971 Coty American Fashion Critics’ Award for Jewellery. Her debut collection sold out on the day it was launched, elevating sterling silver to luxury status overnight.
“The day Elsa Peretti became a part of Tiffany & Co was the day we entered a new era in our history of design innovation,” describes Michael J. Kowalski, former chairman and CEO of the jewellery house.