Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news and inspiration direct to your inbox

Vision & Virtuosity, Tiffany & Co.’s glittering exhibition, opens at Saatchi Gallery

Marvel at the extraordinary 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond and see the original Breakfast at Tiffany’s script at this unforgettable free exhibition

15 June 2022

The Tiffany Diamond will be on show at the exhibition

Celebrating Tiffany & Co.’s 150-year anniversary in London, Vision & Virtuosity has opened at the Saatchi Gallery on Duke of York Square with an extraordinary display of jewellery, craftsmanship and creativity. 

Vision & Virtuosity tells the extraordinary story of one of the oldest luxury jewellers, through its nearly 200-year history of pioneering creativity, legendary craftsmanship and sourcing of the world’s most extraordinary diamonds and gemstones,’ said Anthony Ledru, Tiffany & Co.’s president and chief executive officer.

Just a short walk from Tiffany’s Sloane Street boutique (a long-term Chelsea landmark), over 400 objects from the house’s archives are on display, representing a visual chronicle of the storied jeweller since its founding in New York City in 1837. The free exhibition is divided into seven ‘chapters’, each exploring the central themes of Tiffany’s brand identity, heritage, and creative influence, beginning with a tribute to founder Charles Lewis Tiffany’s legacy. 

In the subsequent sections, visitors will experience the works of some of the house’s most celebrated creative forces, including Jean Schlumberger and Elsa Peretti. 

The third chapter is devoted to the annual Blue Book high jewellery collection, followed by a room dedicated to Tiffany’s romantic heritage, having introduced the iconic ‘Tiffany Setting’ engagement ring in 1886. 

Of course, there is a room paying tribute to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the classic 1961 Audrey Hepburn film that made Tiffany’s a household name. Here, you’ll find the original annotated Breakfast at Tiffany’s script by Truman Capote, who penned the 1958 novella that inspired the film, as well as Holly Golightly’s original Givenchy black dress.

The penultimate chapter is a dazzling spectacle of Tiffany’s renowned diamond creations, culminating with the legendary 128.54-carat yellow Tiffany Diamond, worn by Beyoncé in the house’s About Love campaign and famously worn by Lady Gaga at the 2019 Oscars.

The diamond was discovered in 1877 in the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa. Acquired the following year by founder Charles Lewis Tiffany, the 287.42-carat rough stone was cut to its 128.54-carat size to enhance its brilliant colour rather than size. Unlike white diamonds, which are cut to speed up the rate at which light passes through them, coloured diamonds are cut to make the light slow down to enhance the colour to the eye.

Have your camera phones ready for the many Instagram moments throughout the exhibition. You can take a selfie wearing an AR digital version of the Tiffany Diamond necklace, write a message of love in the Love Room that will then be projected around the walls, and pose next to a New York yellow cab a là Miss Golightly. 

At the gift shop, you’ll find an exclusive curation of artist collaborations and limited-release items in Tiffany Blue, including T-shirts and hoodies designed by Daniel Arsham, Tiffany & Co. x Wilson® footballs, Mellow Gemini vases, Caran d’Ache pen and pencil sets and Bellocq tea sets.

Vision & Virtuosity is at the Saatchi Gallery until 19 August 2022. Tickets are free and can only be booked via the Tiffany & Co. app (available for iOS and Google Play). 

Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, SW3 4RY

What to do on Sloane Street this summer

Discover all the latest openings and cultural events