Tiffany & Co. Updates Classic Bird on a Rock Design
Tiffany & Co. has launched a new interpretation of Jean Schlumberger's Bird on a Rock motif. Developed under Chief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille, the new collection spans both high jewellery and fine jewellery categories, marking the first time the iconic design has been adapted for fine jewellery.
The collection centers on wing motifs crafted in diamonds and precious metals. Verdeille's team studied bird anatomy and movement to create pieces that reference the original design while offering contemporary interpretations.
“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,” Verdeille explained, “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 new collection includes two exceptional high jewelry suites. One is centered around tanzanites—which the House first introduced in 1968—while the other celebrates turquoise, a nod to Jean Schlumberger, who featured the gemstone in high jewelry, juxtaposing it in surprising ways, such as with diamonds.
The turquoise suite is anchored by a statement necklace (above) featuring a diamond bird that appears to grasp strands of cabochon turquoise, accented with gold and diamond feathers throughout. The piece culminates in a dramatic cabochon turquoise drop.
The collection represents Tiffany's continued development of Schlumberger's archive, adapting his 1960s design language into a contemporary one while preserving the craftsmanship techniques that defined the original pieces.
