In its first three days of business in 1837, a small shop made a total of $4.38. This shop would later become known across the world as Tiffany & Co. Located across from New York City Hall, the shop’s original name was Tiffany & Young and was a “stationery and fancy goods store.” The store has since moved four times to its present-day flagship store at 727 5th Ave. with an additional 167 stores in different cities throughout the world.

For a mere $1,000, the store was financed by Charles Tiffany’s father. From its inception, the store set itself apart from competitors by clearly marking the price of each item to eliminate bartering. In 1841 a new partner joined, naming the company Tiffany, Young & Ellis. At this point, the store also sold stationery, silverware, watches and clocks, among other items. The business had become successful enough by 1845, that cheaper products like paste were eliminated and replaced with fine jewelry. In the 1850s Charles Tiffany bought his partners’ shares an the store was renamed to Tiffany & Co.

Charles Tiffany became known for his pursuit of rare and exquisite jewelry and gems. In 1879, Tiffany purchased one of the world’s largest yellow diamonds, which became known as the Tiffany Diamond. Audrey Hepburn was one of the only two people to have worn this diamond in stills for the promotion of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” In 1887, Tiffany purchased French crown jewels and a jewel-encrusted corset said to belong to Marie Antoinette.

Adding to his legacy in fine jewelry, in 1886, Charles Tiffany introduced a new setting for engagement rings that later became the standard. This new setting sets the diamond off the band to highlight the brilliance of the diamond, known as the Tiffany Setting.

Mr. Tiffany passed in 1902, but his legacy continued, though not without challenge. During the Great Depression, the Tiffany & Co. stock fell to a low of just $5 a share and eventually was forced to close both its London and Paris stores. The company changed hands twice until it went public, and by 1995 had 18 retail stores in the U.S. and 11 abroad. Now, Tiffany & Co. operates 289 stores throughout the world.

Tiffany & Co. is known for designing items for the U.S. government such as the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award and, in 1885, the redesign of the Great Seal of the United States on the $1 bill. Other commissioned items include the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the trophy of the Super Bowl champion, since 1967.

Photo Credit: tiffany.com

Fall is in full swing and there’s no better accessory than a seasonally shaded gemstone. Inspired by the change of seasons and wardrobes, we made a list of our fall weather favorites as well as on-trend styles.

1. Citrine

Citrine is the ultimate fall gemstone. The stone is acutally just the yellow-orange variation of quartz, colored naturally by iron found in the mineral. The yellow tone is the perfect compliment for the fall season. View citirine jewelry here!

2. Rubies

Gemstones aren’t only for jewelry! Though ruby makes for a great seasonal jewelry accessory, the gemstone is sometimes used as an accent on a timepiece — like this limited edition Rolex Day-Date 40. View ruby watches and jewelry!

3. Amethyst

Though amethyst typically evokes images of springtime, a darker shade is a great way to incorporate subtle color in your autumn wardrobe. Check out gorgeous amethyst pieces here.

4. Yellow Diamonds

To add season sparkle to your look, consider yellow diamonds. If you want something more precious than citrine, then a fancy yellow is your best option. Check out more yellow diamond jewelry here.

5. Onyx

The days are getting shorter, and the nights longer and it’s finally a time of year where dark jewels are appropriate. Celebrate with Onyx this fall. Check out more onyx jewelry here.

It goes without question that the best jewelers have the best jewelry stores. However, some jewelers do luxury better than the rest. Check out the incredible interiors of these famous jewelry stores.

Tiffany & Co.

This Tiffany & Co. SoHo boutique, opened in 2012, is the newest Tiffany store in NYC. The interior was crafted by artisans with precious materials, resulting in an opulent and extremely luxurious space.

Harry Winston

The New York City Harry Winston location offers a glamorous lounge area. The Fifth Avenue location houses several gorgeous lounges worthy of a stop on your next trip to New York.

Bulgari

The Bulgari Bond street location in London has undergone significant rennovations under the leadership of American architect Peter Marino. He even brought back the secret entrance used by stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Kirk Douglas.

Van Cleef & Arpels

In 2014, Van Cleef & Arpels celebrated 10 years in the Middle East by reopening their flagship location at the Dubai Mall. At the grand opening event, VCA displayed their limited edition pieces.

Piaget
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Piaget spent four months rennovating their flagship store at Place Vendôme in Paris. With over 100 worldwide locations, this is Piaget’s largest and most luxurious store.

Fabergé 

After the start of World War I the first Faberge store in London was forced to close. However in 2011, nearly 100 years later, the Russian jeweler found a new home in Mayfair, London.

Photo Credit: jewelrynewsnetwork.blogspot.com / luxury-design.com / architecturaldigest.com / trendyfeather.fr / parisselectbook.com / cpp-luxury.com / arabia.style.com/

To establish a brand with an incredible legacy, a person has to have an incredible journey first. Many of the greatest jewelers today started from humble beginnings, but with passion and skill built their internationally iconic brands.

Sotirios Boulgaris

The story of one of the oldest Italian jewelers actually begins in the small village of Paramythia, Greece in the Epirus region. Sotirios Boulgaris was the only surviving child of his family — all ten of his siblings had died. Giorgio Boulgaris taught his only living son the trade of silversmithing. Sotirios began by making belts, sheaths, earrings and other small items.

In 1873, while Epirus was under Ottoman rule, the Christians and Turks to burn down many villages, including Paramythia. During the fires, the Boulgaris store workshop and store was damaged. In 1877, the Boulgaris family made the decision to leave Greece. The father and son first stopped in Corfu, Greece where Sortirios would meet his future business partner Demetrios Kremos.

In 1880 they sailed to Naples where they would open their first store. Unfortunately, their first store was robbed and the pair moved to Rome where a shop owner generously gave their pieces space in his window display. As their business grew, their friendship grew apart and the two eventually went separate ways, opening their own shops. In 1905, Sotiros opened the flagship Bulgari store with his two sons on Via Condotti where the store remains today.

Charles Lewis Tiffany

More than a jeweler, Charles Tiffany was an entrepreneur. In 1837, with a loan of $1000, Tiffany opened his first store with John Young called Tiffany & Young. They mostly sold stationery and small gifts in New York City. Within a few years, another partner joined and the business expanded to include glassware, porcelain, clocks, cutlery and jewelry. In 1853, Tiffany bought the share from his partners and renamed the store Tiffany & Co.

Charles Tiffany was known for his ambitious searches for the finest and rarest gemstones and historic jewels, making him a favorite among the New York elite. One of Charles Tiffany’s most famous acquisitions was of the Tiffany Diamond, the largest yellow diamond at the time. Tiffany purchased the 287.42 yellow diamond in 1870 from the Kimberly mine of South Africa. Tiffany’s diamond cutter studied the stone for two years before finally cutting it to 128.54 carats. Other impressive gems include purchases of former French crown jewels.

Charles Tiffany’s influence on jewelry in the U.S. is unmistakable. Before Tiffany adopted the British sterling standard for silver jewelry, American jewelry was far less pure. Now, Tiffany is known for their remarkable sterling silver pieces. Finally, Charles Tiffany is responsible for the now-universal prong setting, often called the Tiffany setting. This six-prong setting is one of the most commonly used in engagement rings across the world.

Coco Chanel

Although Chanel does have a well-known fine jewelry collection, the fashion designer is most known for elaborate costume jewelry like multi-stranded faux pearls. Coco Chanel was a revolutionary fashion designer who changed many elements of women’s fashion, including the way we wear jewelry today. Chanel spent much of her childhood in an orphanage where she learned to sew. Later she would begin a relationship with Boy Capel, and English polo player who financed her first shops where she designed hats.

Coco Chanel believed that jewelry was meant to accessorize an outfit, not flaunt wealth. Though it seems common today, this idea was something new before Chanel. She also introduced the idea of mixing costume jewelry with fine jewelry — something typically never done. Piling on jewelry became a trend thanks to affordable and fashionable designs that Coco wore herself.

Chanel originally employed the House of Gripoix to create her pieces. Gripoix glass jewelry uses a special technique for glass enameling that results in bold and bright colored glass jewelry. However, by 1924, Chanel had opened her own jewelry workshop in Paris. Chanel undoubtedly changed the world’s opinion on costume jewelry, opening the door for countless jewelry designers wishing to design affordable and fashionable pieces.

Photo Credit: kadobijoux.com / tiffany.com / net-biographies.com

Rolex is undoubtedly the most globally recognized watch company. Since its founding in 1905, the watchmaker has earned its reputation as a highly-respected brand, and over its 112-year lifespan, in some circles, Rolex has become the status symbol for luxury and success.

Now we explore how Rolex grew into the prestigious and highly coveted brand it is today—and why watch aficionados around the world cannot are so in awe.

Heritage & Accomplishments:

The Swiss watchmaker is credited with establishing a host of standards in the fine watch industry. As pioneers in the space, Rolex introduced many significant features including the first water-resistant wristwatch (Rolex Oyster in 1926), the first self-winding watch (1932), the first automatically changing date (Rolex Datejust in 1945), the first water-resistant watch case (Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner in 1953), the first dual-time zone function (Rolex GMT Master in 1954) and the first chronometer-certified wristwatch (1914).

This series of significant firsts are not limited only to technical feats; Rolexes are also inextricably linked to historic milestones. When Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to summit Mount Everest in 1953 (in an expedition sponsored by Rolex), Hillary was wearing a Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch. And in 1960, the Rolex Deep Sea Special was the first wristwatch venture down to the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench.

The spirit of innovation continues to be an integral part of the Rolex brand identity. Many Rolex enthusiasts love the brand’s unique position at the intersection of time-honored tradition and leading edge technology, and to own a Rolex is to become intimately tied with that ongoing legacy.

Novelties and Rarities:

Uncovering a rare model or learning the past of a historic piece is a passion for many Rolex collectors. The smallest detail on a Rolex can mean the difference between an invaluable treasure and a comparative trinket and collectors love to explore the nuances of their favorite models. To wit, with only 20 in the world, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Paul Newman Oyster Sotto” is already a rare find. But even more uncommon is one with a “tropical brown” dial which is the result of a black dial that, over time, changed to brown. This fine detail significantly sways the price of the watch from roughly $100,000 to more than $2M.

Rolex aficionados and collectors in particular become veritable experts on the brand, boning up on game-changing models and debuts, and those little idiosyncrasies that affect the market value. This nearly-obsessive knowledge of Rolex’s history bolsters any collector’s prowess in uncovering those extraordinary timepieces and quickly knowing their appraised worth. And with Rolex’s long past, there are so many different models, reference numbers, and collections to occupy any Rolex buff.

Style & Function:

Rolex watches were originally designed to withstand extreme temperatures, pressures and magnetic fields and daring sports and endeavors like deep-sea diving or flying. Each design is extremely robust and durable without compromising its beautiful design integrity. Rolex has built upon its iconic classics—adding elegant flourishes and incorporating unique materials—while continuing to innovate upon its core technology.

To remove the brand’s storied history, any Rolex watch is fundamentally a gorgeous design. However, it’s ultimately the impressive mix of tradition, style and technical sophistication that fascinates and thrills Rolex devotees.

The TrueFacet office is full of watch lovers and experts alike. However, with thousands of makes and models to choose from, there are some timepieces that stand out against the rest. Here’s what a few of our employees prefer for everyday wear.

Tirath, CEO

Watch: Omega Seamaster 300 “Spectre” Limited Edition

“I love the Omega Spectre watch. It’s the watch worn by Bond in the most recent film. It has a really unique look and only 7007 made. I especially love the NATO strap.”

Oran, Sourcing/Consignment Manager

Watch: Audemars Piguet 26170ST.OO.D101CR.02 Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph “Panda”

“I wear this watch because I love the big size and feel of it on my wrist. The red black and white color contrasts really nicely, especially when I wear it with my custom red camo rubber strap.”

Zach, Head of Acquisitions

Watch: Tudor North Flag
“I like the subtle, modern look of the North Flag and that it uses Tudor’s first in-house movement. It also wears well in social or professional settings.”

Laura, Marketing Manager

Watch: Michele Deco Diamond

“Michele watches are perfect for everyday wear. I can wear the Deco Diamond for nearly any occasion and it never feels out of place.”

Chris, COO

Watch: Rolex Daytona Stainless Steel Black Dial Ref 116520

“I really love the contrasting colors and its versatility. You can wear it year round whether it’s to a meeting, for a night out or on the courts.”

Ian, Conceirge Team

Watch: Shinola Runwell Chrono 42mm

“I love how the subdials and second hand all have hints of orange that really makes them pop against the black dial.”

No matter the reason you find yourself looking to purchase luxury jewelry or watches, pre-owned is always an option you should consider. From a wider selection to better prices, there are countless reasons you should research the pre-owned piece you would love to own. As long as you research your vendor thoroughly, you can count on quality luxury.

1. Value

Pre-owned pieces often come at a lower price depending on the condition of the piece. If a piece is vintage, it may come at a cost because the item is more desirable. However, if you are looking to purchase an item that is relatively new and it’s market price has not increased significantly, then pre-owned is perhaps a better option. As soon as a new item is taken out of the store, the price drops significantly. And just because a piece is brand new, doesn’t mean you can’t find it pre-owned. Many people will purchase a new watch and choose to sell it shortly after for a number of reasons.

2. Quality and Durability

Luxury goods are made to last. That’s why purchasing pre-owned should always be a definite consideration. If an item is well cared for and maintained, then a piece could remain in excellent condition for decades. This means that even though a piece is pre-owned, it could look brand new and cost much less. Further, many luxury items are designed with a classic style that remains in fashion just as long — if not longer — as the piece remains wearable.

3. Selection

Another benefit of buying pre-owned is the increased selection. With pre-owned, you aren’t limited to the current collections offered in the store. You can choose from all collections, limited or exclusive, vintage and new. The choices are nearly endless and it makes shopping for the perfect piece that much easier.

You also have more selection when buying pre-owned. A model or design that could be a sound investment may be discontinued. In other cases, it may make more sense to buy an older model. Many Rolex models, for example, have gone decades without a significant change in design or components. That means a Submariner made five or ten years ago is much cheaper and nearly the same as a model made in the current year.

4. No Price Drop Off or Markups

As soon as you make a luxury purchase, much like buying a new car, the price immediately drops as soon as you leave the store. Buying pre-owned not only eliminates this drop in price but also since this drop in price as already occurred, you can get your item for less than an in-store purchase assuming the item in mind hasn’t increased in price since its original purchase.

Similar to the price drop, there’s a markup on an item purchased directly from the store. You can avoid this by buying pre-owned.

5. Timeless Style

The best items to purchase pre-owned are not trendy, they are timeless and classic. A Rolex Day-Date has not changed greatly in appearance over time. The Cartier Love bracelets is nearly identical to the first ones introduced in the ’60s. An older model of a classic piece may look very similar to the latest model but for a fraction of the original retail price.

Bit by the spring cleaning bug? Rotating your collection? For whatever reason you may want to put your jewels and baubles into longer-term storage, here’s how to (and, just as importantly, not to) store your precious jewelry.

1. Find the right environment for storing your jewelry.
If you want to store jewelry long-term, the attic or basement may not be the best option. Damp and humid environments leave jewelry more susceptible to tarnishing and discoloration. Meanwhile extreme temperatures, particularly heat, can cause discoloration, internal damage to gemstones and pearls to become dry and crack. The ideal environment should be at a stable room temperature with low humidity.

2. Select a jewelry box with a fabric lining.
Opt for a box with a cloth lining and individual compartments for your jewelry. The velvety lining will keep pieces—especially gemstones and items made of soft metals like gold—from scratching or chipping along the sides of the box.

3. Store like-materials together.
Every metal has a different hardness so your platinum ring can easily scratch your gold bracelet if they’re stored side-by-side. Therefore store like-metals together and delicate gemstones separate to keep them from nicking one another.

4. Use anti-tarnish strips.
Even when properly stored, silver jewelry tarnishes fairly quickly. So slip a few anti-tarnish strips into your jewelry box to absorb the air pollutants that causes that dull film to set in on your silver pieces.

5. Invest in a safe or safety deposit box.
If you have very valuable or sentimental pieces that you do not wear often, consider storing them in an at-home safe or at a bank safety deposit box. Bare minimum, you should have your most precious jewelry items insured. You can purchase insurance through homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. But for high ticket items an insurance agency that specializes in jewelry may give you the best coverage. Regardless of the agent you choose, to get insured you will need your original receipt and a valuation of the item by a certified appraiser. Keep any receipts, original boxes and insurance paperwork separate from where you store your jewelry. In the unfortunate event that your items are stolen, these documents will help minimize your financial loss.

To learn more about caring for your fine jewelry, we detailed how to clean your most-loved and oft-worn pieces here.