Tiffany & co by Elsa Perreti Open Heart Silver Sterling Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1980
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Please note this item is in good condition with minor wear consistent with age and use. (please enlarge images to see all details on photos).
- Seller Location:Paris, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU187221694522
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
In an era of social upheaval, venerable Tiffany & Co. designer Elsa Peretti reimagined diamonds as jewelry that working women bought for themselves rather than receiving it from a suitor.
By the time the Italian-born Peretti (1940–2021) arrived in New York City, she’d already studied design in Rome, worked for a Milanese architect and taught Italian, French and skiing in Switzerland. She settled on interior design as her potential career path but then chose an altogether different route: modeling. Peretti modeled in Barcelona, Spain, and on the advice of Wilhelmina Cooper — a former model who’d by then founded Wilhelmina Modeling Agency — moved to Manhattan in 1968. When she relocated, Peretti was inspired to pick up jewelry design.
After modeling for designer Halston, the undisputed fashion king of Studio 54, Peretti became his close friend and collaborator, eventually creating jewelry and teardrop-shaped perfume bottles for him. By way of her association with Halston, Peretti took to the disco scene, flourishing in a social circle that included artist Andy Warhol and fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.
It wasn’t long before models on di Sant’Angelo’s runway were donning two-inch sterling-silver vases, complete with a rose stem, suspended on leather thongs around their necks. The accessory was Peretti’s inaugural piece of jewelry — she designed it in 1969 after finding a flower vase at a flea market. It was hardly the only time that Peretti found motifs in nature and in organic forms. In the years that followed, her Bean pendant necklace, Starfish earrings and other sensuous accessories would draw on human emotion as well as the natural world around her. Each evocative and wholly versatile design is universally adored decades later, and each was made for a storied American jewelry house with which Peretti would be associated for nearly 50 years.
It was Halston who introduced Peretti to Tiffany & Co. She had her own boutique at Bloomingdale’s by 1972, and her partnership with the firm, which signed the venturesome and unorthodox designer to an exclusive contract in 1974, would cement her place in the lofty annals of jewelry legend. Peretti’s simple but sophisticated designs — the Teardrop collection, her minimalist Diamonds by the Yard necklace and Open Heart ring, to name a few — elevated sterling silver, previously considered unsuitable for fine jewelry, and created an enthusiastic young audience for Tiffany’s offerings. In 1977, Peretti’s designs earned the jewelry house more than $6 million. (In some years, her work has accounted for 10 percent of the company’s sales.)
In 2012, Peretti signed a 20-year, $47.3 million contract with Tiffany & Co., but she passed away in 2021, at age 80. Today, her designs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum.
Find an exquisite collection of Elsa Peretti jewelry today on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Paris, France
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Christian Dior Gold-Tone Heart NecklaceBy Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRDior rhinestone-embellished heart-charm necklace featuring heart charm, white and red rhinestone embellishment, small logo charm, thin chain, adjustable fit, spring-ring fastening. L...Category
1990s French Chain Necklaces
- Christian Dior Gold-Tone Padlock Pendant NecklaceBy Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRChristian Dior Gold-tone padlock pendant necklace featuring a front gold-tone and strass padlock medal, a logo fastening, an adjustable fit, spring-ring fastening. Length: 16.9in (43...Category
1990s French Chain Necklaces
- Christian Dior Black Statement-Pendant NecklaceBy Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRDior black polished statement-pendant necklace featuring faux-pearl detailing, rhinestone embellishment, signature CD logo charm, adjustable fit, rope chain, lobster claw fastening....Category
Vintage 1980s French Chain Necklaces
- Christian Dior Gold-Tone Medal NecklaceBy Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRChristian Dior Gold-tone medal necklace featuring a large center strass medal, a logo fastening, an adjustable fit, spring-ring fastening. Length: 16.54in. (42cm) Circa: 1980s In goo...Category
Vintage 1980s French Chain Necklaces
- Christian Dior Gold-Tone Bow-Pendant NecklaceBy Christian DiorLocated in Paris, FRDior gold-tone rhinestone-detailing bow-pendant necklace featuring bow pendant, heart charm, rhinestone detailing, signature CD logo charm, adjustable fit, rope chain, lobster claw f...Category
1990s French Chain Necklaces
- 1980s Yves Saint Laurent YSL Cassandre-Logo Pendant NecklaceBy Yves Saint LaurentLocated in Paris, FR1980s Yves Saint Laurent gold-tone "Cassandre-logo" pendant necklace featuring a flat snake chain, a signature Cassandre logo, a statement pendant, a polished finish and a lobster c...Category
Vintage 1980s French Chain Necklaces
- 1.1 Carat Rubellite with 1.7 Carats VS G Color Diamonds Rose Gold NecklaceBy Leo MilanoLocated in Milano, MIThis beautiful pendant made of 18 carat rose gold for 9.12 grams boasts a central rubelite of 1.1 carat and 332 VS G color diamonds for a total of 1.7 carats. the lenght of the neckl...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Rubelite, Rose Gold
- PANIM 19.23 Carat Diamond Rosecut & Ruby 18K White Gold Tassel NecklaceBy PANIMLocated in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong KongPANIM 19.23 Carat Diamond Rosecut & Ruby 18K White Gold Tassel Necklace Mesmerizing approximately 20cts finely crafted Diamond Rosecuts with a melange of Natural Rubies weighting up...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
- PANIM 18K White Gold Diamond Beads & Diamond Illusions Hexagon NecklaceBy PANIMLocated in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong KongPANIM 18K White Gold Diamond Beads & Diamond Illusions Hexagon Necklace In this necklace Beads diamonds are evenly spaced on a white gold chain. This piece can be worn everyday, alo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, White Gold
- Artemis Macedon Ancient Silver Coin Medallion 18 Karat Yellow Gold NecklaceBy DUBINILocated in London, GBThis DUBINI coin necklace from the 'Empires' collection features an authentic Macedon coin from 168-148 B.C. set in 18K yellow gold with bullet am...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsTopaz, Peridot, Garnet, Citrine, Amethyst, Yellow Gold, Silver, 18k Gold
- Dubini Ancient Ariarathes VII Coin Aventurine Medallion 18 Karat Gold NecklaceBy DUBINILocated in London, GBThis DUBINI coin necklace from the 'Empires' collection features an authentic Ariarthes VII Philometor minted circa 116-101 B.C. silver coin set in 18kt gold with aventurine disc. D...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsAventurine, 18k Gold, Gold
- Dubini Constantine Ancient Bronze Coin Rose Quartz Medallion 18K Gold NecklaceBy DUBINILocated in London, GBThis DUBINI coin necklace from the 'Empires' collection features an authentic Roman bronze coin minted circa 307-337 A.D. set in 18K yellow gold with rose quartz disc. Disc diameter...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Greek Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsQuartz, 18k Gold, Bronze