Tuesday, 27th June 2006 (4354 views)

A patriotic pair of gold earrings in the shape of American B-25 bombers is just one of the more unusual exhibits in a jewellery exhibition coming to London this weekend.

Bejwelled by Tiffany will be at the Gilbert Collection in London's Somerset House until November this year, showing people the reality behind the glamorous image conjured by the world-famous brand, first launched in 1837.

The show seeks to present a slice of fashion history, with models of women to show how the various pieces of jewellery would actually have been worn by wealthy American ladies.

One woman is depicted wearing a bra made of sterling silver, while the history of the patriotic company is charted in the first part of the exhibition.

Charles Lewis Tiffany capitalised on the cheaper diamonds on offer in Europe in the nineteenth century, but it was the historic 1900 Paris Exposition that brought true international acclaim.

A gold charm bracelet also features in the display, while diamonds dominate, including a 3.53-carat engagement ring from 1886 that set the standard for the firm's future rings.

Curator Clare Phillips told the Cox News Service: "In Britain people know about the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' but don't have a lot of knowledge about Tiffany's history.

"The magic of the name is understood, but people don't know a lot about how this glamorous company got started."

 

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