Tiffany jewelry has defined the standards for jewelry making for almost 200 years. No other jewelry brand has captured the imagination of Americans in quite the same way. Among the many ways that Tiffany stands out, I most appreciate their use of unusual gemstones, as well as their statement collections and the singular designers who created them. And of course, their signature color, Tiffany Blue.
Unusual Gemstones
Charles Lewis Tiffany scoured the globe for distinctive gemstones. His passion for these earthly treasures serves as the foundation for Tiffany's legacy in the gemstone industry. Not only does this iconic American jewelry company make distinctive jewelry, they shine as pioneers in gemstone discovery and marketing. Following in Charles's footsteps, George Frederick Kunz took up the role of gemstone acquisitions for the company. Like his founding predecessor, Kunz traveled the world in search of the Earth's most delectable treasures. In the 1850s, Kunz turned his attentions to sourcing gemstones from US sources. He acquired freshwater pearls from Mississippi, unique blue-green sapphires from Montana, and tourmalines from Maine. Colorado supplied zircon, topaz, rose quartz, and aquamarine. (source) By the late 1800s, Tiffany jewelry also featured Mexican and Australian opals, Russian demantoid garnets, and Mexican turquoise. (source) This explosion of color and the use of semi-precious stones inspired countless Art Nouveau artists to follow suit. 
Tiffany by Elsa Peretti
Singular Tiffany Jewelry Collections
Jean Schlumberger
Another way in which Tiffany & Co. distinguishes themselves is their decision to hire up-and-coming jewelry designers to create exclusive collections for the brand. This tradition began in 1956, when William Hoving invited Jean Schlumberger to join the Tiffany design team. (source) To this day, Schlumberger's designs remain singular in their richness of color, exquisite details, and whimsical nature. As stated on the Tiffany website, "With extraordinary gemstones as his palette, he transformed nature’s wonders into objects of mesmerizing beauty, and strong, sculptural designs into magnificent bejeweled statements—unrivaled in the world of jewelry design." Thus began a series of relationships between the iconic brand the world's most influential jewelry designers.
Elsa Peretti
In 1974, Elsa Peretti began designing exclusively for Tiffany. Her work with silver expanded the company's price points, making it possible for younger clients to afford Tiffany jewelry. (source) Tiffany's describes Elsa's style as bold and powerful, while at the same time feminine and unpretentious. (source) As of 2012, Elsa had created more than 30 collections for Tiffany. Elsa continues working with Tiffany to create gorgeous jewelry.
Paloma Picasso
In 1980, Paloma Picasso began designing for Tiffany. Her first jewelry collection for the brand, called Paloma's Graffiti, turned jewelry design on its head. Drawing inspiration from street art, she elevated a form of vandalism into a true art form. (source) Suddenly, everyone had to have one of her designs. To this day, Graffiti remains her signature collection, according to the company. (source) In keeping with Tiffany's pioneering tradition, Paloma works with stones typically ignored by her design contemporaries. Collections such as Olive Leaf and her Sugar Stacks highlight her passion for unique and boldly colored stones. She also has a knack for infusing her pieces with symbolism. So charged are her designs that they can literally be worn for protection and good fortune. (source) To this day, Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso continue to create groundbreaking collections for Tiffany. In addition, Tiffany has worked with many other incredible designers, including Angela Cummings, Frank Gerhy, and Donald Claflin. (source) 
Tiffany Blue
Arguably the quintessential characteristic of Tiffany jewelry is the brand's signature color - Tiffany Blue. First used in 1845, Charles Lewis Tiffany chose robin's egg, forget-me-not, turquoise blue to grace the cover of the first ever mail-order catalog distributed in the United States. (source) Still published to this day, Tiffany's Blue Book features not only the most important Tiffany jewelry collections, but also historical pieces featuring the rarest and some of the most beautiful gemstones in the world. (source) Since the launch of the Blue Book, Tiffany has used this turquoise-inspired color for all of their promotional materials. Today, the iconic blue box with a white ribbon captivates women around the world, symbolizing the love, romance, and delight only the most delectable jewelry can evoke. (source) For these reasons and more, Tiffany jewelry remains one of the most solid choices for collectors and jewelry investors. Do you have a Tiffany jewel you love? Would you share a photo of you wearing it on Instagram and tag it #EraGemHeartsTiffany? ~Angela Magnotti Andrews