A visionary merchant with a passion for the rarest and most extraordinary gemstones, Charles Lewis Tiffany set the standard for American luxury. From the moment he opened Tiffany & Co. as a fancy goods and stationery store in New York City in 1837, it was clear he had a discerning eye for design. Charles Tiffany continued to redefine glamour and style with the purchase of jewels from French aristocrats in the 1840s. Marking the first appearance of major gemstones in the U.S., the press took note and crowned him the “King of Diamonds.”
Charles Tiffany was the first jeweler to establish the diamond ring as a symbol of love. In 1886 he introduced the Tiffany Setting, the world’s most iconic engagement ring. Flawlessly engineered to allow the diamond to float above a delicate six-prong setting, it has played a part in the world’s greatest love stories for over 130 years. This innovation established Tiffany & Co. as more than a jewelry house—it has become a destination for timeless designs and unparalleled craftsmanship.
