The truth is, that question might as well be “What makes jewelry so special?” because the modern jewelry industry from designs to standards has been dramatically influenced by this remarkable company. In fact, when you picture an engagement ring in your mind, you’re very likely picturing a version of the design Tiffany created in the late 1800s. The Tiffany setting changed the very idea of engagement rings and made the diamond the star by lifting it up to best take advantage of the way it responded to light. Round brilliant as a cut wouldn’t be the most popular cut in the world if it wasn’t for Tiffany & Co.
That’s only part of the picture, though. You’ve probably heard of the “Four Cs.” This diamond grading standard from the Gemological Institute of America was based one earlier work performed by Tiffany & Co. In fact, it was a Tiffany & Co. gemologist who campaigned to have the United States adopt the metric carat for diamond weight. From their inception, the company championed official standards for gems and precious metals to ensure customers knew exactly what they were getting. When you buy an engagement ring anywhere, even if you’re not buying a Tiffany & Co. ring, their fingerprints are nonetheless on the transaction.
Of course one of the most important reasons Tiffany is so special is that their rings are utterly beautiful. When they began designing jewelry, Charles Tiffany and his partner chose to avoid the overly-ostentatious European styles of the day and instead created an entirely new kind of design. It was elegant and based on natural and simplistic forms. Right away, the rings of the past seemed far too showy, and now elegance is the standard by which engagement rings are judged.
Is it any wonder Tiffany & Co. is so popular? Not many companies can inspire a novel and a film that goes on to receive five Academy Award nominations and yet already be such a household name that they benefited the film more than the reverse! Even the common practice of putting price tags on items in a store was originated a hundred and seventy-five years ago when Tiffany & Co first opened! The question really isn’t what makes Tiffany & Co. engagement rings so special. The question is this: Why haven’t you already started looking for yours?