A Legend Is Born

In the 1830s the United States was a brash, young country, barely sixty years old. The seeds of independence had unleashed a tumultuous economic and creative energy. Just as today, New York City held a powerful magnetic appeal for gifted immigrants from almost every country on earth. Here was a uniquely welcoming and sophisticated culture where anything was possible and great fortunes could be made. Into this exciting vortex stepped Charles Lewis Tiffany, a young man who would soon redefine glamour, elegance and legendary style worldwide.

The First Tiffany Store

From the very beginning in 1837, Charles Tiffany’s store on lower Broadway revealed itself to be a unique establishment fillled with sumptuous treasures unavailable elsewhere. Word spread quickly about Tiffany rings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, châtelaines, stationery and countless other luxury accessories of indescribable It became abundantly clear that this merchant had a discerning eye and a profound understanding of his clientele’s deepest yearnings. He encouraged his customers to wear his pieces every day rather than store them in a vault. He would say that beautiful design makes a beautiful life.

The King Of Diamonds

Charles Lewis Tiffany had an abiding passion – some would say obsession – for

the rarest and most spectacular gemstones. In 1848, he first shocked the world by buying a large cache of important diamonds from European aristocrats and deposed royalty. Because of the extraordinary quality of these diamonds, the New York City press quickly dubbed Charles Tiffany “The King of Diamonds.” But this was only the beginning.

In 1887, it was revealed that Tiffany had gone to Paris and purchased the French Crown Jewels. These were marvelous gems of renown, most collected by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. Many of these gemstones became part of Tiffany jewelry designs in what may be called the birth of American style in diamond jewelry.

At the Tiffany store, glamorous women and the men who loved them began crowding the diamond counters, just as they do today, in search of the best diamonds available. Tiffany had earned a permanent reputation for the most beautiful, intensely radiant diamonds in the world.

一個傳說誕生了

在1830年代，美國是個輕率的、年輕的國家，僅僅六十歲。獨立的種子解放了，造成了一個混亂的經濟和也造成了美國具有創造力的能力。就像今天，紐約市舉行了一個對來自幾乎地球上世界各國的有天賦的移民之非常有吸引力的懇求。這裡有一個獨特地好客的、並且高度發展的文化，在這裡任何事都是有可能的，而且好運能夠被成就。查爾斯‧路易斯‧蒂芬妮，一個不久將會重新定義魅力、優雅、傳奇的風格，並讓這些被世界所知的年輕人，踏進了這個令人興奮的旋風。

第一間蒂芬妮商店

一開始在1837年，查爾斯‧蒂芬妮在下等百老匯大街的店，以一個獨特的機構斬露頭角，那裡充滿著在別處看不到的奢華寶藏。關於蒂芬妮戒指、項鍊、手鐲、胸針、裝飾腰鍊、文具和數不清的其他難以形容的奢華配件的言論傳的相當快。事情變得非常清楚：這個商人有眼光敏銳的眼睛，對於他的顧客內心深處的渴望也有很深的了解。他鼓勵他的顧客們每天穿戴他的珠寶而不是把它們存放在金庫。他會說：美麗的設計成就美麗的生活。

鑽石大王

查爾斯‧路易斯‧蒂芬妮有不變的熱情，有些人會說那是執著，對那些稀有，並且最佳壯麗的寶石的熱情。在1848年，他藉著從歐洲貴族跟罷免的皇室手中買下一個有著重要鑽石的貯藏處，第一次使世界震驚。因為這些鑽石非凡的品質，紐約市的媒體很快的為查爾斯‧蒂芬妮取了一個綽號：「鑽石大王」。但這僅僅只是開端而已。

在1887年，蒂芬妮到了巴黎並且買下法國皇室配戴過的珠寶的這件事被揭露。這些都是令人驚嘆的有名的寶石，多數都曾被拿破崙三世的太太：尤金妮皇后所收集。許多這之中的寶石後來成為蒂芬妮珠寶設計的一部份，這些設計被稱為是美國在鑽石珠寶方面風格的初誕生。

在蒂芬妮商店，富有魅力的女人和那些愛她們的男人開始擠進鑽石櫃檯，就像他們今天所做的一樣，找尋可買到的最上等的鑽石。蒂芬妮贏得了世界上最美麗、極度光芒閃耀的鑽石，這一永遠的美名。