Tiffany & Co.’s tribute to Jean Schlumberger continues with a new ‘bird on a gem’ capsule high jewellery collection, this time with pearl.
Following the Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany ‘Bird on a Rock’ Watch releases at LVMH Watch Week and earlier high jewellery pieces with the emblematic bird, Tiffany & Co. now presents the Bird on a Pearl High Jewellery Capsule Collection.
Jean Schlumberger was a major French jewellery designer, mainly known for his work at Tiffany & Co. He created amazing jewels inspired by flora and fauna, from sea to sky. The most famous ones are the Bird on a Rock pieces. The design conceived in 1965, after Schlumberger encountered a yellow cockatoo on his travels in Asia and the Caribbean. His bird was decorated with diamonds and tiny paillonné enamel pieces. Ever since, the bird motif has perched on the world’s most remarkable diamonds and coloured gemstones, on high jewellery pieces and watches. (More about his work here.)
In 2023 the House unveiled creations with pearls, reimagining the bird design. This year the capsule collection includes new interpretations under the creative direction of Tiffany’s Chief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille.
Outstanding high jewellery creations require exceptional materials – the Bird on a Pearl designs feature everything from baroque natural saltwater pearls to grey natural saltwater pearls and other very rare pearls. The pearls were sourced in the Gulf region by Mr. Hussein Al Fardan, a globally recognised authority on natural saltwater pearls. The brand’s founder, Mr. Hussain Ibrahim Alfardan, grew in a family well known and respected for their centuries-long passion for pearls.
Mr. Hussein Al Fardan’s private collection of natural saltwater pearls is the largest from the Gulf region (Rizzoli published a high-end volume about the history and details of the collection in 2023). Al Fardan opened his doors to Tiffany & Co. for the third consecutive year to hand-select some of his favourite pearls for this exclusive collection—an incredibly rare opportunity among high jewellery houses. (An other extraordinary collaboration with the Al-Fardan family was created with Fabergé.)
The novelties showcase Tiffany’s bird in dynamic new poses, and different additional patterns. The Acorn and Oak Leaf pieces draw inspiration from Jean Schlumberger’s archives, with acorn and oak-leaf motifs adorning necklaces and earrings, complemented by large scale autumnal pearls. The Cascade pieces are homage to Jean Schlumberger’s fascination with nature’s unexpected forms and flora’s beautiful asymmetries. One ring features a grey drop natural saltwater pearl nestled in diamond leaves with a distinct Jean Schlumberger shape and texture.
Source: press release. Photo credits: Tiffany & Co.
All registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
All rights reserved.
