She is tiffany: a tribute to Elsa Peretti

Her most famous creation, suitable both for a sweet, shy teenager and for a free-spirited, sensual adult woman, is the elegant, minimalist Open Heart Pendant, currently available at Tiffany & Co. in a variety of metals, in black jade, sky-blue turquoise or gentle pink rhodonite, gem-encrusted or plain, masterfully reshaped into rings, bracelets, even belt buckles.

The fabulous Bone Cuff by Elsa Peretti opened a whole new era in the world of jewelry. Deceptively simple, this ground-breaking piece stole the hearts of many celebrities of the 70s, and continues to do so today. Liza Minnelli, Catherine Deneuve, Naomi Watts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sophia Loren and Angelina Jolie have all incorporated this trend-setting piece in their image at some point in their careers.

These minimalist, metallic cuffs, often worn on both hands and repeating the contours of the wearer’s wrist, were reimagined by Elsa Peretti after seeing monks’ bones during a childhood visit to an old church.

Alongside the Diamonds by the Yard Pendant Necklace, the kinetic, fabric-like Mesh Earrings, the clean and organic Bean and Bottle pendants, these jewelry designs confidently entered the annals of style and fashion and will remain the benchmark of elegance and pure, feminine beauty for centuries to come.

It is never easy to get a simple design right. Elsa was a master of rendering complicated beauty in simple, perfect and glorious form.

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Elsa Peretti died in her sleep on March 18, 2021.

She once remarked: “People are forgotten so fast. I want to survive.”   And survive she will: in the history of jewelry design, Tiffany & Co, and in every piece inspired by her progressive, insightful ideas.