In an era of social upheaval, venerable Tiffany & Co. designer Elsa Peretti reimagined diamonds as jewelry that working women bought for themselves rather than receiving it from a suitor.
By the time the Italian-born Peretti (1940–2021) arrived in New York City, she’d already studied design in Rome, worked for a Milanese architect and taught Italian, French and skiing in Switzerland. She settled on interior design as her potential career path but then chose an altogether different route: modeling. Peretti modeled in Barcelona, Spain, and on the advice of Wilhelmina Cooper — a former model who’d by then founded Wilhelmina Modeling Agency — moved to Manhattan in 1968. When she relocated, Peretti was inspired to pick up jewelry design.
After modeling for designer Halston, the undisputed fashion king of Studio 54, Peretti became his close friend and collaborator, eventually creating jewelry and teardrop-shaped perfume bottles for him. By way of her association with Halston, Peretti took to the disco scene, flourishing in a social circle that included artist Andy Warhol and fashion designer Giorgio di Sant’Angelo.
It wasn’t long before models on di Sant’Angelo’s runway were donning two-inch sterling-silver vases, complete with a rose stem, suspended on leather thongs around their necks. The accessory was Peretti’s inaugural piece of jewelry — she designed it in 1969 after finding a flower vase at a flea market. It was hardly the only time that Peretti found motifs in nature and in organic forms. In the years that followed, her Bean pendant necklace, Starfish earrings and other sensuous accessories would draw on human emotion as well as the natural world around her. Each evocative and wholly versatile design is universally adored decades later, and each was made for a storied American jewelry house with which Peretti would be associated for nearly 50 years.
It was Halston who introduced Peretti to Tiffany & Co. She had her own boutique at Bloomingdale’s by 1972, and her partnership with the firm, which signed the venturesome and unorthodox designer to an exclusive contract in 1974, would cement her place in the lofty annals of jewelry legend. Peretti’s simple but sophisticated designs — the Teardrop collection, her minimalist Diamonds by the Yard necklace and Open Heart ring, to name a few — elevated sterling silver, previously considered unsuitable for fine jewelry, and created an enthusiastic young audience for Tiffany’s offerings. In 1977, Peretti’s designs earned the jewelry house more than $6 million. (In some years, her work has accounted for 10 percent of the company’s sales.)
In 2012, Peretti signed a 20-year, $47.3 million contract with Tiffany & Co., but she passed away in 2021, at age 80. Today, her designs are in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the British Museum.
Find an exquisite collection of Elsa Peretti jewelry today on 1stDibs.
0.50 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Earrings G SI 14 Karat White Gold
By Morris & David
Located in New York, NY
0.50 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Earrings G SI 14K White Gold 100% Natural, Not Enhanced in any way Round Cut Diamond Earrings 0.50CT G-H SI 14K White Gol...
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Diamond Starfish Stud Earrings Set in 18k White Gold
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A lovely little pair of modern diamond set starfish earrings set in 18k white gold. Each stud earring is pave set throughout with 17 round brilliant cut diamonds. Due to their desig...
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Platinum 0.36 Karat White Diamonds Handcrafted Starfish Stud Modern Earrings
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Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini "Silhouette" Collection Handcrafted Platinunm 0.36 Karat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Modern Earrings. Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings. Starfish is a lucky charm tha...
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Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold 0.40 Carat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings
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Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini "Silhouette" Collection Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold 0.40 Carat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings. Starfish is a lucky c...
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Starfish Diamond Earrings 14 Karat White Gold Stud Earrings
Located in Jupiter, FL
Cute starfish earrings in 14Kt white gold with 0.30ct of diamonds. Stud earrings style! GOLD: 14KT gold NATURAL DIAMOND(S) Clarity/Color: VS/G Carat:0.30ct WHAT YOU GET AT STAMPAR ...
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TIFFANY & Co. Elsa Peretti 18K Gold Diamond Starfish Earrings
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
TIFFANY & Co. Elsa Peretti 18K Gold Diamond Starfish Earrings Metal: 18K Gold Weight: 5.50 grams Measurement: 16mm wide Diamond: 32 round diamonds, carat total weight .32 approx. Ha...
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Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold 0.40 Carat White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings
By Rossella Ugolini
Located in Rome, IT
Rossella Ugolini Design Handcrafted 18 Karat White Gold White Diamonds Starfish Stud Earrings. These exquisite earrings are crafted in 18 karat white gold and adorned with 0.40 carats of G color VS1 white Diamonds. These earrings are a tribute to the starfish, a creature admired for its resilience and grace. The diamonds, with their brilliant cut, add a touch of luxury, ensuring that these earrings will illuminate your face and elevate any outfit with their refined elegance. Their versatility allows them to be the perfect accessory for both casual and formal occasions. The starfish, a symbol of regeneration and protection, is delicately represented in this design. Beyond its physical beauty, the starfish symbolizes delicacy, goodness of mind, and inner peace, making these earrings not just a fashion statement but also a meaningful charm. Entirely handcrafted in Rome, Italy, by skilled artisans, these earrings are a testament to the Italian craftsmanship. Each step of their creation is carefully executed, resulting in a piece that is both unique and timeless. Details: Designer: Rossella Ugolini Collection: Silhouette Collection Material: 18 Karat White Gold Gemstones: 0.40 Carat White Diamonds...
White Diamond, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Tiffany & Co Else Peretti Starfish Stud Earrings 18k Yellow Gold
By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
*Tiffany & Co Elsa Peretti -Collection: Elsa Peretti Starfish -Material 18K Yellow Gold -Style Stud *Earrings Dimension: 14.1mm X 14mm -Weight: ...
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$1,336 / item
H 1.31 in W 0.82 in
1.20 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Earrings G SI 14 Karat White Gold
By Morris & David
Located in New York, NY
1.20 Carat Natural Diamond Starfish Earrings G SI 14K White Gold 100% Natural, Not Enhanced in any way Round Cut Diamond Earrings 1...
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By Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Fairfield, CT
Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Vintage Starfish Stud Earrings Designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., these 18K yellow gold starfish earrings reflect the organic sculptural ...
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Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Sevillana Stud Earrings
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bethesda, MD
Timeless elegance in 18kt yellow gold, these Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Sevillana Stud Earrings showcase the iconic design vision of legendary designer Elsa Peretti. Expertly pro...
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Tiffany & Co Sentimental Open Heart Diamond Earrings
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Located in Bethesda, MD
Elevate your everyday elegance with these exquisite Tiffany & Co. diamond heart drop earrings. Crafted in lustrous platinum, each earring features a graceful heart silhouette ado...
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Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Diamond Leaf Earrings
By Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bethesda, MD
Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Diamond Leaf Earrings feature 42 brilliant diamonds totaling 1.50 carats in F-G color with VVS clarity. Crafted in 18kt gold and platinum, these iconic...
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Tiffany & Co Extra Large Signature X Earrings
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bethesda, MD
Iconic Tiffany & Co Extra Large Signature X earrings crafted in 18kt yellow gold. These elegant clip earrings feature the brand's distinctive interlocking X design and measure 7/...
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Bayco Ceramic Mini Lotus Diamond Earrings
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Located in Bethesda, MD
A pair of platinum and black ceramic mini lotus ear clips set with 90 round brilliant cut colorless diamonds. • Designer: Bayco • Metal: Platinum • Material: Ceramic, Diamonds and Pl...
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Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Gold Dome Earrings
By Van Cleef & Arpels
Located in Bethesda, MD
These Van Cleef & Arpels earrings feature a striking dome shape crafted from 18kt yellow and white gold. Measuring 1 inch in diameter and 3/8 inch high, they hold 10 sparkling diamon...
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