Tiffany DBTY pendant- best size?

[CMM]

sounds perfect! I think you made an excellent choice.

 

[Hollers1031]

I've written about this before -- when Tiffany first came out with the DBtY necklace, it only came in 4 sizes. Teeny, tiny, small and a bit larger. i still have the original advertisement from them and also the magazine ad from the '70s.

The whole idea was to have a tiny flash on an almost invisible chain.

Then, people started getting closer to a carat and it changed the whole look. I like the original idea better. So I would say, keep it small.

 

[Hollers1031]

I've written about this before -- when Tiffany first came out with the DBtY necklace, it only came in 4 sizes. Teeny, tiny, small and a bit larger. i still have the original advertisement from them and also the magazine ad from the '70s.

The whole idea was to have a tiny flash on an almost invisible chain.

Then, people started getting closer to a carat and it changed the whole look. I like the original idea better. So I would say, keep it small.

What were the original sizes?

 

[escamillo]

What were the original sizes?

It sounds like they were variable but I would think starting below 0.10 ct based on 1976 retail price of $89 (<$500 today) for a solitaire.

In 2009, the British Museum did a Peretti retrospective. Of course, the DBTY was in the collection. Below are the curator’s notes from the museum website:

In 1974, when I began to work with Tiffany, I was tempted but shy about working with precious stones. I'd never done it before. The personality of even a 0.3 carat diamond is strong ... My objective is to design according to one's financial possibilities. Then the rest was easy. Tiffany sold, in 1976, a single diamond on a gold chain for $89. Adding different sizes - one carat being the biggest - my creations became 'Diamonds by the Yard' (Elsa Peretti, 1990).

Tiffany's orignal Press Release announcing Elsa at Tiffany, included the following on 'Diamonds by the Yard':

'Like all really good people and designers, Miss Peretti never takes herself too seriously. For example, Diamonds By The Yard. Small diamonds or other precious stones, are mounted in gold, and set at intervals on a fine gold chain. The result is a sparkling strand of jewels that may be wrapped around arms, neck, wrists. It is amusing as it is beautiful. Of course, one can have Diamonds By The Yard at any length from 15 inches to whatever, and with any size stones. One of the happiest aspects of Diamonds By The Yard is that for the first time it is possible for everyone, even those of modest means to afford a diamond necklace.'