Tiffany & Co. is doubling down on its Bird icon. During LVMH’s watch week, the company’s CEO, Anthony Ledru, told Robb Report that its avian mascot designed by Jean Schlumberger would continue to be the house’s focus in the future, and that vision continues to take flight in the latest Bird on a Pearl capsule collection.
The first time the famous bird landed on a pearl was in 2023, when creative director Nathalie Verdeille envisioned the animal with Tiffany diamond details atop a new perch. What makes the Bird on a Pearl capsule collections so special is that they are made from extremely rare natural saltwater pearls.
Due to increasing pollution in the world’s oceans, natural pearls are becoming extremely elusive—yet, according to Sotheby’s, most natural saltwater pearls were harvested 100 years ago. The pearls are sourced for Tiffany by Hussein Al Fardan—a renowned expert in natural saltwater pearls—from the Gulf region.
Al Fardan owns the largest private collection of natural saltwater pearls in this part of the world. The pearls are so rare that constructing a single necklace of this type (known for its size, shape, and luster) can take up to 20 years of sourcing. This marks the third consecutive year that the collector has exclusively opened his vault for Tiffany & Co.
The pearls are not reserved just for birds. The collection also includes acorn and leaf motifs, such as in a pair of drop earrings or a toi et moi ring with pearls in different shades. One particularly spectacular ring features a significant gray drop-shaped natural pearl of over 12 carats nestled between an 18-karat yellow gold and platinum leaf setting with diamond details, resembling an egg in a bird’s nest.
Given the rarity of natural pearls combined with Tiffany & Co.’s provenance and Al Fardan’s sourcing, these are genuine collector’s pieces worth preserving for generations for the serious jewelry connoisseur.
Source: Robb Report. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
