The Adventurine Posts Tiffany’s Epic Vision & Virtuosity Exhibition

Audrey Hepburn gazing in the windows of Tiffany in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and the special diadem Carey Mulligan wore in the 2013 film ‘The Great Gatsby.’ Photo courtesy

Books & Exhibitions

Tiffany’s Epic Vision & Virtuosity Exhibition

The presentation shows the multilayered story of American jewelry style

by Marion Fasel

What is American style? In fashion the simple answer is sportswear or denim. In jewelry one might think of a classic item like, say, the Tiffany Setting for an engagement ring. American style, however, is much more complex. Americans are masters of reinvention. The ability to pivot from one look to the next is something that no jeweler on the world stage has ever demonstrated like Tiffany.

Installation image of the Blue Book room in ‘Visions & Virtuosity.’ Photo courtesy

Installation image of the Blue Book room in ‘Visions & Virtuosity.’ Photo courtesy

An epic sampling of the wide variety of jewels Tiffany & Co. has produced over its 182-years in business are on display at the Fosun Foundation Shanghai in the brand exhibition Vision & Virtuosity until November 10, 2019. It is not a chronological presentation, but thematic. It mixes jewels from the distant past and the current collections all together. The format shows the diversity in designs and a unified level of excellence in craftsmanship and innovation.

See highlights from Vision & Virtuosity below.

Diamond and sapphire Butterfly brooch on a gold twig in a jar made in 2019. Photo courtesy

Diamond, sapphire and platinum Butterfly brooch on a 18K gold twig in a jar from Tiffany’s 2019 Blue Book colleciton. Photo courtesy

“Blue Is The Color Of Dreams” is a celebration of Tiffany’s signature color and the blue stones that have been featured in the American jeweler’s work over the years such as sapphires, aquamarines, moonstones, tanzanite, Montana sapphires and blue diamonds.

Window display Tiffany & Co. Blue Valentine Gene Moore

Blue Valentine window display by Gene Moore center on a blue diamond ring. Photo courtesy

The display in “Blue Is The Color Of Dreams” is executed in the style of the firm’s famous window designer Gene Moore. He was such a fan of blue that a lighting filter was named “Gene Moore Blue” in his honor.

Jean Schlumberger’s Bird on A Rock brooch

Photo courtesy

Jean Schlumberger’s Bird on A Rock brooch with an aquamarine.

The Tiffany aquamarine, diamond and platinum necklace worn by Gal Gadot at the 2018 Oscars is in the Visions & Virtuosity exhibition. Photo Tiffany

Photo Tiffany

The Tiffany aquamarine, diamond and platinum necklace worn by Gal Gadot at the 2018 Oscars is in the Visions & Virtuosity exhibition. The jewel was part of the first Blue Book collection created under the direction of Reed Krakoff.

The cash book from Tiffany’s first day in business. Photo courtesy

The cash book from Tiffany’s first day in business. Photo courtesy

“The World of Tiffany” covers popular culture moments from literature to movies and rap music lyrics that Tiffany has played a role in. Objects Tiffany has created and fascinating ephemera from the archives, like the cash book from firm’s first day in business, are also in this section.

"Take One" a 1965 Tiffany & Co. advertisement. Photo courtesy

Photo courtesy

“Take One” a 1965 Tiffany & Co. advertisement.

Marilyn Monroe trying to get into Tiffany

Photo courtesy

A rare photograph of Marilyn Monroe in front of the Tiffany flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Enamel and gem-set Tiger Orchid brooch made by Tiffany & Co. around 1900. Photo courtesy

Enamel and gem-set Tiger Orchid brooch designed by Paulding Farnham for Tiffany & Co. around 1890. Photo courtesy

“The Tiffany Blue Book” section pays tribute to the High Jewelry created by Tiffany & Co. throughout its history. There are also pieces from Tiffany designers Jean Schlumberger, Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso as well as Paulding Farnham, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Angela Cummings.

Grape Vine Bib necklace by Tiffany made around 1900

Photo courtesy

Grape Vine Bib amethyst, jade and gold necklace designed Julia Munson under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany for Tiffany & Co. in 1906.

Angela Cummings

Photo courtesy

The Wing gold, platinum and diamond necklace designed by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. in 1980 was worn by director Greta Gerwig to the 2018 Golden Globes.

Tiffany True Engagement Ring Photo courtesy

“Tiffany Love” reviews founder Charles Lewis Tiffany’s invention of the modern engagement ring with the Tiffany Setting. It also includes other engagement ring designs made over time, right up to the new Tiffany True engagement ring.

Audrey Hepburn in her 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' costume modeling a Schlumberger ribbon necklace set with the Tiffany Diamond. Photo © Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

Audrey Hepburn in her ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ costume modeling a Schlumberger ribbon necklace set with the Tiffany Diamond. Photo © Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

A special section is devoted to the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn’s annotated script for the production, renderings by costume designer Edith Head and never-before seen photos and artifacts are part of the display.

Audrey Hepburn's annotated Breakfast at Tiffany's script. Photo courtesy

Photo courtesy

Audrey Hepburn’s annotated Breakfast at Tiffany’s script.

Audrey Hepburn touching up her makeup at Tiffany's behind the scenes of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Photo courtesy

A rare photograph showing Audrey Hepburn touching up her makeup at Tiffany’s between takes of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Audrey Hepburn touching up her makeup at Tiffany's behind the scenes of the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Photo courtesy

A rare photograph of Audrey Hepburn at Tiffany’s shows the star in the midst of posing for publicity photographs in costume.

An installation image of the Breakfast at Tiffany's room in the Vision & Virtuosity exhibit.

Photo courtesy

An installation image of the Breakfast at Tiffany’s room in the Vision & Virtuosity exhibit.

Cracked Ice diamond necklace featured in Tiffany's 2019 Blue Book collection.

Cracked Ice diamond necklace from Tiffany’s 2019 Blue Book collection. Photo courtesy

“Diamonds: Miracles of Nature” highlights some of the spectacular diamond jewels Charles Lewis Tiffany introduced to America during the 19th century when the press dubbed him the “King of Diamonds” and lots of other treasures the firm has made over the years. The Tiffany Diamond purchased by Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1877 and worn by Lady Gaga at the 2019 Oscars is among the gems in the exhibition.

Lady Gaga wearing the Tiffany Diamond at the 2019 Oscars

Photo Getty

Lady Gaga wearing the 128-carat Tiffany Diamond at the 2019 Oscars.

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Tiffany Exhibit Shows Links To American History