Story | Leslie Yip Boucher-Harris Photography | Tiffany & Co.
Some jewels sparkle; others take flight. Tiffany & Co.’s new chapter of its beloved Bird on a Rock collection flutters in on a fresh breeze, trading the single perch of Jean Schlumberger’s 1960s icon for whole f locks of daring, textural pieces.
Where the original brooch balanced one jaunty bird atop a gemstone “rock,” these latest creations spread their wings sometimes literally—into jeweled suites and everyday-wear fine jewels that prove optimism, much like love, is happiest in mid-air.
At first glance you notice feathers—layers of them. Tiffany’s design teams studied birds the way a couturier studies tulle, paying close attention to how feathers overlap and twist in flight. The result is a sculptural wing motif that lifts off in pavé diamonds and gleaming precious metals.
In some pieces you see the full bird, cleverly poised on the collarbone, as if it had ducked in for a quick hello; in others, only a stylized curve of plumage, abstract enough to whisper rather than chirp.
“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,” says Nathalie Verdeille, Chief Artistic Officer of Tiffany & Co. “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.”
Two high-jewellery suites headline the launch, each anchored by a stone with deep Tiffany lineage. Tanzanite, the violet-blue gem Tiffany introduced to the world in 1968, appears in a dramatic necklace, bracelet and earrings that catch the light like twilight wings skimming water.
Its counterpart celebrates turquoise—another Schlumberger favourite. Rendered here in smooth cabochons threaded through golden “strands”, a diamond bird appears to clutch in mid-dive. The necklace finishes with a generous turquoise drop, so vivid it all but whistles.
For those who prefer their plumage a touch subtler, Bird on a Rock by Tiffany Wings distills the idea down to the essence of flight. Diamonds are set on near-invisible metal, each marquise or round stone seeming to hover just above the wearer’s skin. Two stacked rings and their scalloped edges interlock like feathers folded for landing. Unclip a pair of convertible earrings and you move from statement drops to delicate studs in a single wingbeat. Form meets function, but with decidedly sky-high style.
If jewellery is storytelling, these pieces spin a familiar tale: love, hope and a dash of wanderlust. Whether embarking on a solo migration or coupled up for the long haul, Tiffany Wings remind us that the horizon is only a starting line. Slip on one of these birds, and the day suddenly feels lighter, the clouds a little closer. After all, why keep your head down when your jewellery invites you to soar?
A New Campaign Celebrating the Bird on a Rock Jewellery Collection
The new Bird on a Rock collection will debut on September 2, unveiled through a campaign captured by photographer Carlijn Jacobs and styled by Katie Burnett. Starring actress Zhang Ziyi and model Abby Champion, the campaign places them in a dreamlike world of clouds and open skies, where the elegance of the Bird on a Rock creations and the Sixteen Stone collection comes to life—showcasing Tiffany’s proud legacy of exceptional craftsmanship.
The campaign also includes a series of films paying tribute to the enduring heritage and evolution of Bird on a Rock. Presented in three chapters, the first explores the House’s lasting fascination with birds and avian motifs; the second poetically reimagines the origin of inspiration—when Jean Schlumberger encountered a rare bird and transformed wonder into design; and the third traces Bird on a Rock’s transformation from a brooch into a timeless cultural icon.
