Tiffany & Co. Kashmir Sapphire Necklace, 10.25 Carats

About the Item

Crafted by the legendary Tiffany & Co., this enchanting necklace is a rare and unique masterpiece of early 20th-century American jewelry design. Delicately handcrafted, the one-of-a-kind creation is set with two stunning examples of Kashmir sapphires weighing 5.65 and 4.60 respectively. These gemstones are certified by the American Gemological Laboratories as Kashmir in origin and completely untreated, an extreme rarity for Kashmirs. Dozens of sparkling white diamond accents complement the brilliant blue stones in a romantic, winding 18K yellow gold setting. These incredible sapphires would have been sourced by George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany & Co.'s expert gemologist, who selected only the finest gemstones for the firm's unique creations. The sapphires in this necklace are truly superior examples. Kashmir sapphires were first unearthed in the early 1880s after a landslide in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. They are celebrated not only for their rarity, but also for the softness of their distinctive blue hue. Boasting incredible color and brilliance, untreated Kashmir sapphires of this quality are scarce, especially within an antique Tiffany setting. Since the firm's inception in 1837, Tiffany & Co. has been at the forefront of luxurious design and craftsmanship, especially in the realm of fine jewelry. Founder Charles Lewis Tiffany was constantly in search of the very best, one-of-a-kind jewels to offer with his firm's innovative, fashionable designs. This tradition continues to this day, and both antique and contemporary Tiffany jewelry remains highly coveted. Signed "Tiffany & Co." Late 19th century Pendant: 1 1/2" length Chain: 14" length

Creator:
Tiffany & Co.
Metal:
Gold,18k Gold
Stone:
Diamond,White Diamond,Sapphire
Stone Cut:
Rose Cut
Weight:
10.25 ct
Dimensions:
Length: 14 in (355.6 mm)
Style:
Edwardian
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Late 19th Century
Condition:
Seller Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 31-55721stDibs: LU13516197302

Shop All Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. is one of the most prominent purveyors of luxury goods in the United States, and has long been an important arbiter of style in the design of diamond engagement rings. A young Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed to his future wife, Eleanor, with a Tiffany ring in 1904. Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Astors and members of the Russian imperial family all wore Tiffany & Co. jewelry. And Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis preferred Tiffany china for state dinners at the White House.

Although synonymous with luxury today, the firm started out rather modestly. Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young founded it in Connecticut as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” in 1837, at a time when European imports still dominated the nascent American luxury market. In 1853, Charles Tiffany — who in 1845 had launched the company’s famed catalog, the Blue Book, and with it, the firm’s signature robin’s-egg blue, which he chose for the cover — shifted the focus to fine jewelry.

In 1868, Tiffany & Co. gained international recognition when it became the first U.S. firm to win an award for excellence in silverware at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. From then on, it belonged to the pantheon of American luxury brands.

At the start of the Gilded Age, in 1870, Tiffany & Co. opened its flagship store, described as a "palace of jewels" by the New York Times, at 15 Union Square West in Manhattan. Throughout this period, its designs for silver tableware, ceremonial silver, flatware and jewelry were highly sought-after indicators of status and taste. They also won the firm numerous accolades, including the grand prize for silverware at the Paris Exposition of 1878. Among the firm’s glittering creations from this time are masterworks of Art Nouveau jewelry, such as this delicate aquamarine necklace and this lavish plique-à-jour peridot and gold necklace, both circa 1900.

When Charles Lewis Tiffany died, in 1902, his son Louis Comfort Tiffany became the firm’s design director. Under his leadership, the Tiffany silver studio was a de facto design school for apprentice silversmiths, who worked alongside head artisan Edward C. Moore. The firm produced distinctive objects inspired by Japanese art and design, North American plants and flowers, and Native American patterns and crafts, adding aesthetic diversity to Tiffany & Co.’s distinguished repertoire.

Tiffany is also closely associated with diamonds, even lending its name to one particularly rare and exceptional yellow stone. The firm bought the Tiffany diamond in its raw state from the Kimberley mines of South Africa in 1878. Cut to create a 128.54-carat gem with an unprecedented 82 facets, it is one of the most spectacular examples of a yellow diamond in the world.

In a broader sense, Tiffany & Co. helped put diamonds on the map in 1886 by introducing the American marketplace to the solitaire diamond design, which is still among the most popular engagement-ring styles. The trademark Tiffany® Setting raises the stone above the band on six prongs, allowing its facets to catch the light. A lovely recent example is this circa-2000 platinum engagement ring. Displaying a different design and aesthetic (but equally chic) is this exquisite diamond and ruby ring from the 1930s.

Find Tiffany & Co. jewelry, serveware and decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.