Tiffany & Co

Tiffany & Co. began not with diamonds, but with a dream of redefining American luxury. In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany and his business partner, John B. Young, opened a small stationery and fancy goods store in New York City with a mere $1,000 loan. At a time when European craftsmanship dominated the world of fine jewelry, Tiffany saw an opportunity to create something distinctly American—elegant, precise, and timeless. The company gained fame in 1848 when it acquired a collection of rare French diamonds, earning Charles the nickname “The King of Diamonds.” But it was the introduction of the Tiffany Setting in 1886—a revolutionary six-prong solitaire engagement ring that lifted the diamond to capture maximum light—that cemented its legacy. This wasn’t just jewelry; it was romance, status, and storytelling, all wrapped in the unmistakable shade of robin’s egg blue.

Tiffany’s influence stretched beyond jewelry counters. By the early 20th century, it was designing everything from White House china to the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy, embedding itself into the cultural fabric of America. Hollywood elevated its mystique, with Breakfast at Tiffany’s turning its Fifth Avenue flagship into a symbol of aspiration and elegance. But like any legacy brand, staying relevant required adaptation. The 21st century brought new challenges: shifting consumer tastes, evolving definitions of luxury, and the digital revolution. Tiffany responded with modern designs, sustainability initiatives, and high-profile collaborations, all while preserving the heritage that made it an icon. Now under the ownership of LVMH, the brand stands at the crossroads of tradition and reinvention, proving that true luxury isn’t about the past—it’s about making history in every era.