You can not talk about modern jewellery and women becoming buyers of jewellery for themselves without referencing Elsa Peretti. Peretti created jewellery that is modern and wearable, as well as making silver jewellery covetable again. Jewellery attributes that are embodied within the Skomer Studio collections, particularly our All Day jewellery.
A selection of pieces that Elsa peretti designed for Tiffany
From 1969 when Peretti’s career in jewellery began, Peretti defied all long standing traditions within jewellery. Starting out working with Halston the New York designer of the 1970s, Peretti created jewellery for the Halston brand as well as designing the brand’s perfume bottle that was infamously known for its boundary pushing way of manufacturing, just as much as the design of the bottle. In 1974 she was introduced to the then CEO of Tiffany & Co., William R Chaney and the rest is history. Since then she has sat alongside Paloma Picasso - daughter of Pablo Picasso and Jean Schlumberger as the most famous and successful Tiffany & Co. designers. Peretti was responsible for generating 10% of Tiffany’s turnover over her 40 plus years with the jewellery house.
A collage showing Elsa Peretti's design inspiration for her 'Mesh' and 'Diamonds' collections for Tiffany
Amongst her most well known works including the bone cuff, bean motifs, the open heart and the gold mesh designs, there are some stand out pieces that may be lesser known. However these pieces still imbue her trademark simplicity and fluidity of design.
Elsa Peretti's gold mesh bra design
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co Champagne Cup
The Bone Cuff - Elsa Peretti's most iconic design for Tiffany
Elsa Peretti at home in New York City (Vogue,1976)
Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. fishbowl
Minaudières (small handbag) by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. Created in 2011, the bag is made of woven bamboo using a pattern found on traditional Japanese baskets by basketmaker Watanabe Chikusei. The snap closure and two handles are made from sterling silver and the handle is a braided black silk tassle.
Even though Elsa Peretti continued designing for the eponymous New York jewellery house, Tiffany & Co, right up until her death on the 18th March 2021, she actually left New York in the 1980s for the secluded Spanish village of Sant Martí Vell. Throughout the 1970s, Peretti regularly retreated to Sant Martí Vell, a tiny abandoned hamlet she restored with the help of local artisans building by building over a 50 year span.
Exterior of Elsa Peretti's home in Sant Martí Vell, by Alvaro Bujons
Interior of Elsa Peretti's home in Sant Martí Vell, by Alvaro Bujons
Gardens at Sant Martí Vell featuring Elsa Peretti designs for Tiffany & Co., by Alvaro Bujons
Guest room at Elsa Peretti's Sant Martí Vell home
Interior of Elsa Peretti's home in Sant Martí Vell featuring some of her works and inspiration for Tiffany & Co., by Alvaro Bujons
Interior of Elsa Peretti's home in Sant Martí Vell by Alvaro Bujons