Tiffany’s signature blue box with the white ribbon is the gift most coveted by brides. Although what’s in that box may have changed over the years, Tiffany style, workmanship, and quality consistently produce exquisite tableware that can be enjoyed for years, then can be handed down to the next generation.
“People are living a different lifestyle,” says Allen M. Nissim, group director for Tiffany’s silver and gift collections and personal shopping. In the 1993 film, Sleepless in Seattle, Annie (Meg Ryan) and her fiancé, Walter (Bill Pullman), walked around Tiffany’s selecting their china pattern. Those endless shelves of china are gone, reflecting a shift in how brides choose to set their tables. “Rather than going out and purchasing an entire set of formal silver, formal china, formal glassware, they might buy a set of silver, then buy a set of china that they can use every day,” says Nissim. That formal tableware may then be mixed with pricier plates that are hand painted, and perhaps some items inherited from a grandmother. “I think what continues is people’s desire to sit down together to enjoy a great meal,” adds Nissim.
While a newly wed couple may choose less expensive china, silver flatware is still popular. “Silver is an important part, not only of our history but also of our current business,” says Nissim. “You can really build around the silver.”
Tiffany began selling silver in 1840 and some of those designs—Audubon (above), Chrysanthemum, Shell and Thread—continue to be the most popular designs today. “We really did drive, at that time, the design aesthetics,” says Nissim. “It’s amazing how some of these classic designs, so well thought out, continue to stand out.”
Tiffany’s forte is introducing designer items that soon become sought after by hosts and hostesses of all ages. A favorite is Elsa Peretti, whose design genius shows up in all forms, including the crystal, above. “We have many requests for Elsa Peretti, and so much knowledge of who she is,” says Nissim. Her silver flatware, Padova, named after the Italian city where the design is crafted, includes her trademark teardrop pattern that is not only graceful and elegant, but also functional. The hole in the handle allows the larger serving pieces to be hung on a specially designed pegboard, readily accessible in the kitchen. And Nissim emphasizes that silver should not be tucked away to be set out only on holidays and special occasions. In fact, regular use will keep the silver tarnish free. “It only gets better with age,” he says.
While other stores have a more casual way of setting up a bridal registry, often equipping the happy couple with a radar gun to record their choices as they wander around, Tiffany’s service is still very personal. “We write it all down by hand; we take notes,” says Nissim. “We have a discussion about their lifestyle. Are you going to want to put this in the dishwasher? Is this something you’re going to use every day?”
Nissim does note, however, that brides today are more educated about what they want, having perused the Internet before coming into Tiffany. Couples who don’t have access to a Tiffany store (there are only 70 stores nationwide) can register online. The online registry is not available internationally.
A tour around Tiffany’s fourth floor where china, silver, and crystal are beautifully displayed, points to two trends: nature is reflected in many of Tiffany’s new designs; and, the possibilities to mix and match are endless. Nissim, whose enthusiasm for all things Tiffany, is infectious, points to a prime example: pottery with hydrangeas in brilliant shades of blue and pink. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $30 for a dessert or salad plate, to $175 for a large serving bowl. Displayed alongside the hydrangea pottery is crystal, also with a floral design. Pairing the two makes for a striking combination.
An affordable and attractive bridal gift, also reflecting the influence of nature, is Tiffany Summer, plates and serving pieces with pastel borders and colorful insects flitting about. Four dessert or salad plates are $175, while a large serving platter, $140.
A bride looking to add a few special pieces to her table will be tempted by Tiffany’s hand-painted French porcelain, Le Tallec (above), crafted in the only studio in the world that produces these items. The studio consists of 14 women who begin their training in high school and work for ten years before becoming a master painter. Even though there are different painters, great care is taken for the designs to look similar. Here again, nature dominates, with butterflies and other garden residents lovingly detailed. “If you have a whole set of china, you want all the butterflies to look relatively the same,” says Nissim. “There has to be a similarity in hand.”
Hand-painting produces designs with brilliant color. “Look at the detail on that butterfly; It’s amazing,” says Nissim. “That cannot be achieved through a stencil.” To accent the color, touches of gold are expertly applied, using a piece of quartz to give definition. “It’s an incredible skill,” he says.
William Yeoward Crystal, an English glassware designer team, was founded in 1995 and Tiffany is carrying the company’s Mediterine pattern, echoing (what else?) nature, with sea creatures carved into the crystal. A large bowl (price $1,525) would make a wonderful centerpiece filled with fruit, flowers, or water with floating votives.
Elegance, however, does not need to break the bank. Nissim points to a beautiful set of crystal candlestick holders with the improbable price tag of $50 each. One might be inclined to purchase several sets and gather them in the center of a table for maximum effect.
And some of those lower priced items are perennial favorites for wedding gifts. “Picture frames are very popular, especially when they can be engraved,” says Nissim. “The best master hand engravers work for Tiffany.” Barware—martini shakers and accessories—are always a hit with the groom.
Shopping online makes finding the perfect wedding gift an easy exercise. Nothing can compare, however, to visiting Tiffany’s fourth floor and taking in the expert displays. That exploration might uncover a treasure like Elsa Peretti’s Murano glass starfish shot through with gold ($600) or for that really special couple, a silver bowl with a detailed sunflower design ($25,000).
“We all have our own niches,” says Nissim, commenting on the new lineup of stores offering bridal registries. “Most brides are probably going to go to a couple of different places. You can combine some Crate & Barrel products with some Tiffany products and rather than being in competition, they would be complementary. It’s all about creating a wonderful, inviting environment.” And that’s something Tiffany has been helping brides to do for a very long time.
