Q&a / Tiffany & Co. launches Blue Book 2024, the Tiffany Céleste high jewellery collection: chief artistic officer Nathalie Verdeille on Jean Schlumberger, the influence of New York, aquamarines and more

Jun 11, 2024

A pendant in platinum and 18k yellow gold with an unenhanced sapphire of over nine carats and diamonds, from the Tiffany Céleste high jewellery collection from Tiffany & Co. Photos: Handout

Style spoke to Verdeille, who introduced the collection at an event in Hong Kong – and who has long been passionate about Tiffany designers like Schlumberger, Paloma Picasso and Elsa Peretti

The collection debuted in April, with stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Anya Taylor-Joy, Emily Blunt and Usher attending the Los Angeles launch; the theme Céleste is a nod to both the sea and the sky

After making a splashy debut in Los Angeles with a star-studded event attended by the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Anya Taylor-Joy, Emily Blunt and Usher in April, the Tiffany Céleste high jewellery collection from Tiffany & Co. was shown in Hong Kong. Style spoke to Nathalie Verdeille, the brand’s chief artistic officer, jewellery and high jewellery, who was on hand to introduce the one-of-a-kind creations at the event.

Reese Witherspoon and daughter Ava Phillippe attend the Tiffany & Co. launch of Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste high jewellery collection in Los Angeles. Photo: Getty Images

A veteran of jewellers such as Chaumet and Cartier, French-born Verdeille joined Tiffany & Co. in 2021. She started to delve into the brand’s archives, and soon set out to revisit icons such as the Bird on a Rock motif – first designed by Jean Schlumberger. Like Schlumberger, a Frenchman who moved to New York after World War II and joined Tiffany & Co. in 1956, Verdeille is now based in New York. She oversees all of Tiffany & Co.’s jewellery lines, from the rarefied Blue Book high jewellery collections to silver pieces and signature lines like Tiffany Lock and Tiffany T.

Emily Blunt and Usher at the Tiffany & Co. launch of the Tiffany Céleste high jewellery collection in Los Angeles. Photo: Getty Images

What was your perception of Tiffany before joining the house?

I’ve been passionate about the brand for more than 30 years because of Jean Schlumberger, and also the bridal ring, which is famous around the world – and all its in-house designers like Paloma Picasso and Elsa Peretti. I knew about all those creations, and then I discovered the archives and the patrimony – it’s hard to imagine how rich it is.

Tiffany is an American jeweller. How does that influence your designs?

I live in New York because you have to understand the culture when you work for a brand like Tiffany. We have internal workshops where we create and develop high jewellery, and also some workshops in Paris. The mix of savoir faire between the US and Paris is complementary. It’s an American brand, so the design takes place in New York. We have to keep that and [that makes us] different.

Nathalie Verdeille, Tiffany & Co.’s chief artistic officer, jewellery and high jewellery. Photo: Handout

Jean Schlumberger was very modern back in the day, using stones like aquamarine and discovering new ones like morganite. We keep the spirit of the past, but also add a touch of modernity in what we do. Tiffany is a unique brand that keeps all the creativity in the same studio. We also have silver and high jewellery, custom pieces, bridal, classical pieces, so we have a strong richness of creativity and a rich patrimony. When you first discover the brand, you don’t know its richness and DNA.

Tell me more about this high jewellery collection, Tiffany Céleste.