When Jean Schlumberger sketched a whimsical bird perched atop an outsize gemstone in 1965, he transformed irreverence into iconography. The Bird on a Rock brooch quickly became a favourite among collectors—society doyenne and arbiter of taste Rachel “Bunny” Mellon owned the first brooch, featuring a 44-carat tourmaline; Jackie Kennedy quickly followed, commissioning hers in pink topaz—and its charm cemented it as one of Tiffany & Co’s most recognisable creations.
Sixty years on, the bird is stretching its wings. The American jeweller has reimagined the design under the eye of Nathalie Verdeille, chief artistic officer of jewellery and high jewellery, unveiling Bird on a Rock by Tiffany, a new collection that bridges high and fine jewellery.
Two high jewellery suites anchor the debut: one in tanzanite, a Tiffany “legacy stone” first introduced in 1968, and another in turquoise, a gem beloved of Schlumberger for its daring juxtapositions with diamonds. “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,” said Verdeille.
In fine jewellery, the bird distils into sculptural “Wings”—abstract forms that capture the layered beauty of plumage. “For the fine jewellery collection, we looked at this bird from another perspective, distilling it down to its essence—the wing—and stylising the motif into elegant, abstract patterns. These sculptural forms intertwine and unfold in textural creations that are as abstract as they are symbolic,” Verdeille explained.
A new campaign for the collection, starring freshly minted global ambassador Zhang Ziyi and model Abby Champion, was lensed by Carlijn Jacobs in a dreamscape of clouds and open skies—a poetic setting for jewels that are both figurative and ethereal. The result? A reminder that this storied bird was never meant to be caged. True legends, after all, are made to soar.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
READ MORE
Tiffany & Co’s ‘Legendary Legacy’ Exhibition Arrives in Bangkok
Thailand’s Brightest Shone At Tiffany & Co’s ‘Legendary Legacy’ Launch Event