1980s Elsa Peretti for Tiffany Sterling 925 Freeform 10 Bean Toggle Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Weight:26.8 g
- Dimensions:Width: 0.51 in (12.96 mm)Length: 30 in (762 mm)
- Style:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1980's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Maybe polished to restore a high shine. Current owner prefers its patina. Item has been in a family safe for over 20 years.
- Seller Location:Boston, MA
- Reference Number:
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: Boston, MA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- 1980s Donna Karan Gold Pendant NecklaceBy Donna KaranLocated in Boston, MAFrom Donna Karan designer collection in 1980's (not DKNY). Huge embossed gold tone pendant on leather cord. Stamped and copyright DKCo. Approximately 26" long. Flora Kung Lind sil...Category
Vintage 1980s Unknown Artist Pendant Necklaces
- French Mint Museum 18K Maman Amour Pendant necklaceLocated in Boston, MAMom Love or Love Mom? Why not both. From Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint Museum) in France, Stamped Dimension: Almost 1" in diameter. 18" ball chain. Sta...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modernist Pendant Necklaces
Materials18k Gold
- Vintage Triple Sterling 925 Chain 30" Long Modernist Necklace with MasksLocated in Boston, MAUnusual vintage gift. Marked/stamped 925. At selection-coste here on 1stdibs, we love to combine ship - please inquire.Category
Vintage 1960s Unknown Modernist Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Modernist Scandinavian Sterling 925 Vintage 3D Orb Pendant Made in FinlandLocated in Boston, MAPhotos don't do this amazing piece justice! Modernist vintage statement piece. Perfectly engineered, The ball turns in all directions. Signed and stamped 925 sterling with artist/m...Category
Vintage 1950s Mexican Modernist Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Elsa Peretti for Halston Solid Perfume Bean Pendant NecklaceBy Elsa PerettiLocated in Boston, MAHere's an extremely rare, iconic functional pendant with (still!) original solid Halston perfume from the 1980s by Elsa Peretti for Halston. Believe the solid perfume color has darkened over the years - smells wonderful!! About 18" long. This listing is for the bean necklace only. The Elsa Peretti for Halston heart...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Modernist Pendant Necklaces
- CLAUDE LALANNE Silver Leaf Collar Bow Choker heirloom necklace ParisBy Claude LalanneLocated in Boston, MAImportant Jewelry. CLAUDE LALANNE 1980s gorgeous Leaf Bow Choker in Silver. Circa: 1980 Place of Origin: France Artist: CLAUDE LALANNE (French, 1924 - 2019) HANDMADE From the artist'...Category
Vintage 1980s French Modern Choker Necklaces
MaterialsGilt Metal, Silver
- Green-Blue Tourmaline Crystal Beaded Necklace with 18 Carat GoldLocated in Kirschweiler, DEThis Natural Green-blue Tourmaline Crystal Beaded Necklace with 18 Carat rose and white Gold is handmade. Cutting as well as goldwork are made in German quality. The screw clasp is e...Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Arts and Crafts Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsCrystal, Tourmaline, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold
- Green Tourmaline Crystal & Tanzanite Beaded Necklace with 18 Carat yellow GoldLocated in Kirschweiler, DEThis Natural Green Tourmaline Crystal & Tanzanite Rondel Necklace with 18 Carat yellow Gold is handcut and made in German quality. The screw clasp is easy to handle and very secure. ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Arts and Crafts Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsCrystal, Tourmaline, Tanzanite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Grey Moonstone with Rhodochrosite Necklace with 18 Carat Rose GoldLocated in Kirschweiler, DEThis natural grey big size baroque Moonstones with high quality Rhodochrosite round beads and 18 Carat Rose Gold is totally handmade. Hand cutting as well as goldwork are made in Ger...Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Arts and Crafts Chain Necklaces
MaterialsMoonstone, Rhodocrosite, Rose Gold, Gold, 18k Gold
- Green Chalcedony Baroque Bead Necklace with 18 Carat White GoldLocated in Kirschweiler, DEThis natural Green Chalcedony Baroque Bead Necklace with 18 Carat White Gold is hand cut and crafted in Germany. The lobster clasp holds the necklace securely around the neck. Depend...Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Arts and Crafts Chain Necklaces
MaterialsChalcedony, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- Chain Necklace Medal Coin Virgin Mary White Diamond Black Pearl Chunky J DauphinBy J DAUPHINLocated in Los Angeles, CAChain Necklace Medal Coin Virgin Mary White Diamond Black Pearl Chunky J Dauphin White Diamonds Set in Gold Prongs on Bronze Medal Coin Pendant and a Sterling Silver Virgin Mary Fig...Category
2010s American Victorian Chain Necklaces
MaterialsWhite Diamond, Black Pearl, 14k Gold, Gold-filled, Silver, Sterling Silv...
- Pearl Necklace Silver Pearl Tanzanite Choker Necklace J DauphinBy J DAUPHINLocated in Los Angeles, CAPearl Necklace Silver Pearl Tanzanite Choker Necklace J Dauphin "As within so without" Sweet Water Pearl with Tanzanite Necklace 16" ( 40.5 cm ) Hand made in Los Angeles Last two ...Category
2010s American Romantic Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Freshwater Pearl, Tanzanite, Gold-filled