Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) is a U.S. jewelry and silverware company founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City in 1837. Tiffany & Co has since opened stores in major cities all over the world.
Diamonds
Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co., was dubbed “the King of Diamonds” by New York City newspapers. In the spring of 1887, Tiffany bought the French Crown Jewels.
Tiffany designs were worn by such famous US families as the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and the Morgans. Athletes, Hollywood stars, and even European royalty adored these diamonds. Museums valued the Tiffany designs, which ranged from the Art Nouveau period to Art Deco to today’s modern styles.
The 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow Tiffany Diamond is usually on display in the New York City flagship store.
Flagship Store
Their current flagship store (since 1940) is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th street in Manhattan, New York City. It’s polished granite is well known for their tiny window displays.
Tiffany’s in popular culture
* The flagship store is prominent in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn.
* In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Marilyn Monroe, Tiffany’s is mentioned in the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”.
* The song “Hotel California” by the Eagles contains the lyric “her mind is Tiffany-twisted…”.
* The New York jewelry store was shut down when Sweet Home Alabama was shot inside. The store was not shut down, however, during any of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
* Tiffany boxes, bags and other items sport the Tiffany Blue color, which is a registered trademark.
* The first Tiffany catalog, known as the “Blue Book”, was first published in 1845 and is still being published.
* In 1853 Charles Tiffany took control of the company and renamed it Tiffany & Co.
* In 1862 Tiffany & Co. supplied the Union Army with swords, flags and surgical implements.
* In 1867 Tiffany & Co. was the first U.S. firm to win an award for the excellence in silverware at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
* The company revised the Great Seal of the United States in 1885.
* A Tiffany’s gemologist was instrumental in the international adoption of the metric carat as a weight standard for gems, and the Tiffany standard for sterling and platinum have been adopted as United States Standards.
* In 1968, U.S. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson commissioned Tiffany to design a White House china service, which featured 90 flowers.
* Tiffany & Co.’s business division also produces trophies. In addition to a number of standard designs, they have also produced custom trophies including:
o The World Series Trophy (Major League Baseball)
o The Nextel Cup Trophy (NASCAR)
o The Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy (National Basketball Association)
o The Vince Lombardi Trophy (National Football League)
o The Central League Trophy (of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball)
o The FedEx Cup Trophy (PGA Tour)
