If you were one of the lucky ones, your wedding planning might have started out with a proposal that was followed by his hand slowly coming from behind his back and presenting you with the most special colored boxes in the world. Yes, I’m speaking of Tiffany’s flawless blue box.
I know not of any little girl that doesn’t get a slight flutter in her stomach when she walks by a Tiffany’s store and sees a window display filled with robin’s-egg blue boxes snugly secured with a white satin ribbon and a perfectly tied bow.
And it’s hard to believe that the little blue box that holds so much joy for many freshly engaged females is turning 175 years old this year.
Although this little girl has never received a ring in one of these signature boxes, the mere presence of said box gets me all “twitter-pated.” And the excitement I feel must go as far back as my introduction to said company and finery from some of my favorite classic movies.
Who doesn’t know one of Audrey Hepburn’s most famous roles as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Marilyn Monroe’s famous sashay in Gentleman Prefer Blondes that boast of the delightful diamond baubles?
Both of these movies reiterated the feeling women get just by walking pass its storefront windows or exclaiming to male suitors what type of diamonds a girl truly prefers.
It is a company and products that has stood the test of time and remains very iconic.
So in honor of such a formidable anniversary, here are a few facts about the lovely Tiffany & Co.:
1. 1886 was the year Charles Lewis Tiffany launched the famous “Tiffany 6-pronged” setting.
2. In 1896 the most affordable engagement ring at Tiffany’s was $40…in 2012, it has risen to $1,100.
3. Eleanor Roosevelt, Barbra Streisand and Brooklyn Decker all said “yes” to Tiffany engagement rings.
4. The average number of marriage proposals that take place annually at the famous flagship store…30.
5. A mere $4.98 was the first day’s total sales at Tiffany & Young (Tiffany & Co.’s original name).
6. “Tiffany’s” has made 48 cameos on the silver screen.
7. 1837 was the first year the coveted robin’s-egg blue box started infiltrating the female psyche.
So the next time you find yourself in front of a Tiffany’s, stop to absorb all the history and joy it has brought to royalty and commoners alike.
It is truly a comforting fact knowing that accessibility to these amazing sparklers can be had by all who aspire to it.
And most females would probably agree, even if you are not getting engaged, that shouldn’t prevent you from attaining one of these priceless gems.
Marilyn Monroe’s character, Lorilei, said the statement correctly speaking on behalf of most women when she said, “…I just LOVE finding new places to wear diamonds.”
So happy birthday Tiffany’s & Co., and may you have at least as many more birthday’s as it takes for me to get my little blue box.
Tags: Diamonds, engagement, Engagement Rings, jewelry
