It’s been 60 years since Tiffany & Co. first released Jean Schlumberger’s iconic Bird on a Rock brooch. The diamond-encrusted cockatoo perched upon a precious gemstone—the original sat on a cabochon lapis lazuli, created for socialite Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon—has become a hallmark of the company’s boundless creativity in high jewellery design.
Now, the brand is launching a fine jewellery collection, Bird on a Rock by Tiffany Wings, that pays homage to Schlumberger’s creation—and lets the little bird soar.
The fine jewellery designs of this collection see the cockatoo leave its rock to take flight. The bird motif flies, its wings outstretched, by itself or with another bird. This is Tiffany & Co.’s nod to the many forms of love the jewellery represents, be it partnered love or self love.
The bird motif is available as a ring, pendant, or pin and is moulded from 18K gold, platinum—a metal favoured by Schlumberger—and speckled with the finest diamonds. Following in the footsteps of Schlumberger, the work is crafted by hand; no two birds are alike.
The high jewellery suite, Bird on a Rock by Tiffany, plays with the bold colours of tanzanite, rubellite, and turquoise. Schlumberger loved to experiment with the eye-catching colours of Tiffany & Co.’s legacy gemstones (morganite, kunzite, tsavorite, and tanzanite) and turquoise (believed to be the inspiration behind the brand’s well-known blue boxes). In paying homage to one of the designer’s most prized high jewellery creations, it only makes sense to add a splash of colour.
“For the high jewellery Bird on a Rock designs, we studied birds as Jean Schlumberger did—carefully observing their stances, their feathers, the structures of their wings—to create dynamic forms that seem to flutter and perch upon the wearer,” said Nathalie Verdeille, chief artistic officer, Tiffany & Co.
Items in the fine jewellery suite zero in on the wings of the bird. Diamond-encrusted rings mimic the shape of wings, enveloping around the wearer’s finger. Pendants wrap wings around delicate chains. Articulated earrings can be worn in four different ways.
“For the fine jewellery collection, we looked at this bird from another perspective, distilling it down to its essence—the wing—and stylizing the motif into elegant, abstract patterns. These sculptural forms intertwine and unfold in textural creations that are as abstract as they are symbolic.” The collection feels as innovative and fresh as it was in 1965, proving that excellent designs and craftsmanship never truly age.
Explore the collection drop here.
