Pharrell Williams enriches the second iteration of Tiffany Titan with pearls and a new diamond setting

Since its founding in 1827, Tiffany & Co. has woven a rich tradition of pearls into its storied legacy. This heritage shines through as a hallmark of Tiffany’s design, from the seed-pearl suite gifted by Abraham Lincoln to his wife, to the rare saltwater pearls featured in the Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Bird on a Pearl collection.

Today, musician and fashion designer Pharrell Williams continues this lustrous legacy by incorporating the precious organic gem into his edgy, punk-inspired Tiffany Titan collection.

While his key motif, the spear-like trident, evokes a sense of power and fearlessness that contrasts beautifully with the soft, curved yellow gold and black titanium links of the jewels, his latest designs are infused with yet another later of elegance and sophistication. And that’s all thanks to luminous freshwater pearls and bold French Polynesian Tahitian pearls.

Orbs of perfection

Williams’ affinity to the sea came from his roots in the Virginia Beach community of Atlantis in the US. While his trident inspiration was drawn from Greek god Poseidon, the pearls in his new pieces pay homage to another pantheon of aquatic legends.

He elaborates, “In Japan, it was believed that pearls were created from the tears of mythical water creatures, so I naturally gravitated towards them as a means of expressing this connection to water.”

The latest creations see the spear motif of diamonds juxtaposed with freshwater pearls and Tahitian pearls of over 11mm, forming distinctive silhouettes across necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings, and earrings.

Noteworthy are a statement yellow gold necklace encrusted with white freshwater pearls and nearly 1 carat of diamonds, as well as a yellow gold bracelet featuring white freshwater pearls with over 2 carats of diamonds. Offering captivating visual contrast on both are gold spiked rondelle beads separating individual pearls.

Upping the ante are radiant and highly valued Tahitian pearls sourced from French Polynesia, where they were cultivated over a minimum of 18 months. The ones selected in this collection are paired with rose gold, and boast a grey body colour with overtones ranging from green to purple.

As no two Tahitian pearls are exactly alike, Tiffany artisans meticulously hand-pick each gem for visual uniformity and harmony, as well as adherence to Tiffany & Co.’s stringent quality parameters. The maison believes that responsible pearl sourcing means respecting both the planet and the people who cultivate these treasures.

Up and away

Continuing his references to the marine world is Pharrell Williams’ new design for diamonds, named the Tiffany Titan Setting. Showcasing a Floeting platform that elevates the stone above the setting without any prongs or bezels, it is devoid of visible metal on top to give the illusion of a brilliant, hovering round diamond. The result are diamond pendants, earrings and a ring whose spear-shaped motif is elevated by endless bling.

On the Titan Setting stud white gold earrings, each diamond seemingly becomes part of the ear. On the earring jacket, which can easily be added or removed from the stud earring, three spear-motif projections point toward the centre diamond in a fishtail pattern.

Another eye-catching rendition is a multi-shank ring featuring two diamond bands that are connected to the centre diamond with four Titan spear motifs, emphasising the “hovering” effect. The diamond is secured in place by a micro-groove that is laser-cut around the underside of the diamond. Artisans also cut additional facets below the stone’s pavilion to maintain brilliance and ensure the metal rim is not visible.

Every stone is measured and matched with a specific basket that has been crafted to the perfect proportions, in diameter and depth, at a micron level to ensure the fit and stability of the diamond.