I recently saw the documentary Crazy About Tiffany's. The history and behind the scenes of the internationally renowned company is revealed from the start in 1837 to today. Most people are familiar with the name Tiffany & Co. and the signature robin's egg blue color, but not everyone is aware of the profound impact this company has had in the jewelry, fashion, and sports industries.

-They are the first company to produce mail order catalogs "Blue Book."

-Charles Tiffany introduced the engagement ring in the 1800's which is now an American tradition.

-Tiffany & Co. jewelers produce the solid silver trophies for the World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, Nascar, and the U.S. Open.

-The company abides by and seeks further social and environmental responsibility in all of their manufacturing and sourcing processes.

Despite all of these facts the most amazing thing I find about Tiffany & Co. is the impeccable craftsmanship of the in house jewelers. I had a handful of teachers at F.I.T. who worked at Tiffany's doing restorations and silver/metal smithing. They told us about the challenging/nerve wracking interview tests given to observe their metal smith skills to determine who was qualified to become an in house bench jeweler. Crazy About Tiffany's shows brief flashes of the Tiffany & Co. jewelers settings stones, polishing, silver smithing, etc., and as a jeweler the attention to detail they give to each piece is fascinating. Here is a brief glimpse from the trailer:

https://youtu.be/FNQJw1utMrc?t=47s

I used to collect costume jewelry and ended up with boxes and boxes of it over the course of a few years. When I moved to California I really tried to cut down on nonessential material things in my life. I started making my own jewelry again and that made me rethink what I considered valuable in my jewelry box. I gave away all of the costume jewelry I amassed over the years, but I kept the jewelry I made and two Tiffany necklaces that were given to me as gifts from loved ones.

To me the beauty of making jewelry is so much effort goes into creating a small object but it carries so much sentimental value. I have a deep appreciation for traditional craftsmanship, quality materials, and attention to details, and Tiffany & Co. has created the standard and paved the way for luxury fine jewelry since the early 1800's.

The images below are from Tiffany & Co. Pinterest page.