Editor’s Note
Tiffany & Co. continues its storied Bird on a Rock tradition with the unveiling of *Legendary Bird: The Sapphire Edition*, a bespoke high jewelry creation designed by Chief Artistic Officer Nathalie Verdeille.
Tiffany & Co. last week unveiled a new one-of-a-kind high jewelry creation—the Legendary Bird: The Sapphire Edition. Each year, Tiffany & Co. presents an exclusive Legendary Bird design to honor the iconic Bird on a Rock legacy that has inspired the brand since its debut in 1965. This year, the signature design is elevated once again, appearing as a bespoke high jewelry masterpiece.
This extraordinary piece was conceived by Nathalie Verdeille, Chief Artistic Officer and Senior Vice President of Jewelry and High Jewelry at Tiffany & Co., in collaboration with the Tiffany design workshop. Through a refined composition and unexpected material pairings, the creation pays homage to the brand’s long-standing heritage of innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship.
The work masterfully combines rare materials including black doublet opal, sapphire, pearls, mother-of-pearl, diamonds, and rubies, handcrafted by Tiffany’s high jewelry artisans in 18k gold and platinum. At the center of the piece is a natural, untreated oval sapphire weighing 34.48 carats from Madagascar, which serves as the focal point. Surrounding the main stone is a three-dimensional Bird on a Rock motif and floral-inspired design, accented with custom-cut black doublet opal and mother-of-pearl set in bezel settings.
The floral theme draws inspiration from the brand’s classic orchid motif, which frequently appeared in Tiffany’s renowned Favrile stained glass lamp creations from the early 20th century. The bird’s wings are set with diamonds and mother-of-pearl inlays, creating a vivid, almost lifelike contrast in layers. Each layer of black doublet opal is precisely cut and delicately bezel-set, shaping a sculptural, multi-dimensional silhouette that demonstrates extremely high technical skill.
Image source: Tiffany & Co.
