Icons of Style Beyond Fashion: Elsa Peretti
Before Bone Cuffs Went Viral
Long before Elsa Peretti’s iconic Bone Cuffs wrapped themselves around the wrists of celebrities and influencers, I was already captivated. There was something about the sensuality of her silver, the purity of her forms, the quiet confidence of her work that spoke to me. It wasn’t about sparkle or status—it was about presence.
Peretti didn’t design for spectacle. She distilled essence. Whether drawing inspiration from a scorpion’s curve or a simple bean pod, she had this magical ability to turn observation into poetry. Her jewelry wasn’t just beautiful—it was visceral. You wanted to wear it, of course. But more than that, you wanted to feel it. “L’esthétique me tue,” she once said. “Aesthetics kill me.” That obsessive pursuit of perfection—never flashy, always precise—is what makes her work still feel modern in 2025.
Elsa Peretti: A Life Between Art, Jewelry, and Freedom
When Elsa joined Tiffany & Co. in 1974, she didn’t just launch a collection—she revolutionized a brand. Until then, sterling silver had been considered too common, too “everyday” for fine jewelry. Elsa flipped that notion on its head.
With creations like the Bean, the Bone Cuff, the Open Heart, and Diamonds by the Yard, she brought a new philosophy to luxury: one that celebrated accessibility, simplicity, and feminine autonomy. These weren’t heirlooms to be locked away. They were for everyday heroines. For the woman buying for herself, not waiting for someone else to decide she deserved it.
Even now, fifty years later, Tiffany’s archives remain steeped in her influence—and in 2025, the house continues to celebrate her legacy with reissues that feel as fresh as ever.
Inspiration Found in the Natural and the Everyday
Elsa Peretti’s creative process was tactile, almost primal. She drew inspiration from the world around her—bones, beans, scorpions, raindrops. But it wasn’t mimicry. She had a sculptor’s touch, simplifying forms until they were timeless and universal.
Her Bottle pendant? Inspired by a flea-market find. Her Scorpion necklace? Born from the creatures that roamed near her Spanish home. She believed in creating with intention, in materials that resonated emotionally and physically. “Jewelry is not fashion,” she once declared. “It has to last, not be discarded as soon as something else comes along.”
She also believed in craftsmanship. She collaborated with master artisans—from Japanese lacquerers (for the Sevillana collection with its 70-step finishing process) to Indian silversmiths. Hers was a global practice, rooted in respect for tradition, yet unmistakably modern.
Between New York and Sant Martí Vell
New York gave Elsa her stage, but it was in the small Catalan village of Sant Martí Vell that she found her soul. There, far from the city’s glitter, she restored ruins, cultivated vineyards, and protected local heritage. This quiet, rural life—so opposite her glamorous New York persona—was a vital part of her balance.
She lived between two worlds: fashion’s frenetic energy and the earth’s grounded rhythm. At Sant Martí Vell, she hosted artists, friends, and legends like Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. But she also wandered alone, soaking up the forms and textures that would become her next designs.
Her relationship with the land wasn’t just personal—it was creative. The region’s curves and contrasts appeared in her work. Her Scorpion designs are a direct result of the natural world that surrounded her.
A Legacy That Still Shines
Elsa Peretti passed away in 2021, but her legacy only grows. In 2025, Tiffany is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their collaboration—an extraordinary milestone. Museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum now showcase her pieces not just as adornment, but as art.
Her work—whether it’s the Open Heart, the Bean, or the Bone Cuff—continues to inspire not just designers, but anyone navigating the intersection of individuality and beauty. She taught us that style isn’t about status. It’s about soul.
And this legacy still lives and evolves. I highly recommend watching this video by stylist Kate Young, who reflects on the timeless appeal of Elsa Peretti’s designs, how they shaped modern jewelry, and why they still matter today:
The Pieces I Keep Coming Back To
It’s hard to pick favorites, but a few of Elsa’s creations feel particularly personal to me:
The Bone Cuff—both sensual and sculptural. I love how it conforms to the body like it was meant to be there. → See it on Tiffany
The Open Heart Hoop Earrings → See it on Tiffany
The Open Bottle pendant, famously worn by Carine Roitfeld—elegant with a whisper of rebellion. → See it on Tiffany
The High Tide earrings—gentle waves in silver that echo the sea. → See it on Tiffany
The Snake Necklace—a stunning 925 sterling silver piece → See it on Tiffany
Each of these pieces reminds me why I fell in love with Elsa Peretti in the first place. Not because they follow trends, but because they follow truth—hers and mine.
More Than a Designer
Elsa Peretti wasn’t just a jewelry designer. She was a pioneer. A storyteller in silver. A woman who walked away from comfort and redefined what luxury could look—and feel—like.
From Florence to New York, from Tiffany to the Catalan countryside, she built a life and legacy rooted in courage, curiosity, and creativity. She showed us that style—real style—isn’t about ornament. It’s about intention.
And in a world still obsessed with the new, Elsa Peretti remains, beautifully, eternal.
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