“…Bangkok has become the stage for one of Tiffany & Co.’s most dazzling showcases yet. Legendary Legacy, the House’s first exhibition in Thailand has opened its doors at One Bangkok, presenting a glittering curation of more than 50 archival creations that chronicle a journey of artistry, heritage and imagination…”
At the heart of this extraordinary exhibition lies the Tiffany Diamond—a magnificent 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow Diamond—displayed in all its radiance for visitors to admire up close. It is a rare chance to encounter the very soul of Tiffany & Co., a jewel that has come to embody the House’s pursuit of beauty and excellence. The exhibition unfolds across five dreamlike rooms, each designed as an ode to Jean Schlumberger, the visionary artist whose fantastical creations defined 20th-century jewellery design. From the surreal gardens and ocean depths that fuelled his imagination to the wings of flight that symbolised transcendence, each room offers a glimpse into Schlumberger’s world and the poetic dialogue between nature, artistry and the timeless allure of jewels.
At the press preview, Anthony Ledru, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tiffany & Co., alongside Christopher Young, Vice President & Creative Director of Tiffany Patrimony and Global Creative Visual Merchandising, reflected on the exhibition’s significance. For Anthony, the Tiffany Diamond remains the eternal heart of the House, while Christopher spoke of the wonder in seeing these legendary pieces reimagined through the immersive spaces of Legendary Legacy.
Christopher: “We begin the story in Guadeloupe, an island of inspiration. And in this room we see some of that heritage coming from Schiaparelli in Paris and the circle of dreamers, the filmmakers, the painters from which Jean Schlumberger emerged in the 1930s, working very specifically with his very good friend Diana Vreeland, for which he designed the Trophee de Valliance brooch, which is one of the special pieces on display in this exhibition. This is one of the most famous jewels that he created at his house here. It’s the first one in the exhibit.”
“And then we continue to explore other themes, such as the Garden of imagination. I know this is a favourite that we continue to revisit. In terms of the theme, we talk about the relationship with the clients. Mrs. Mellon is a perfect example Oak Spring, which was such a rich source of inspiration for Mrs. Mellon and Jean Schlumberger with her incredible gardens and their appreciation of nature. Perhaps it is from this relationship, perhaps it is from Oak Spring, where the first Bourbon Haram was designed. It was certainly purchased.
Well, I know that Mrs. Mellon was the one who purchased the first one in 1965, and we know that they spent a great deal of time together. So for sure, it represents a kind of synergy between Tiffany client and our great Design genius Jean Schlumberger. Then we will continue into the exhibition in a room about the depths of beauty. And here we see the fantastical world under the sea. Perhaps others would interpret under the sea in a very literal way, but not differently, and certainly not Jean Schlumberger.”
“Here we’re looking at the world you don’t expect, almost like the dream world, the subconscious world where the inventive nature of a seahorse or perhaps the spikes of a sea urchin inspire a brooch or a necklace. And in here we’re seeing a magnificent piece, the Hedges and Flowers necklace from which Natalie Verdeille has reconceived elements of it not in a literal way, but in a very conceptual way where she’s looking at the structure and reinventing it in a very modern language for our clients that can relate to it today.”
“And then finally we ascend from the water into the air as we look at wings, a symbol of spirituality and this idea of a symbol of the spirit. And we see various winged creatures, from butterflies to birds. One of my favourite pieces on special loan the Big Bird brooch, which was originally designed in 1941, rediscovered in 1985 with Andy Warhol and Joan Quinn, who has kindly lent that jewel for this special occasion. This is not something that you will see ever again. This is a once in a lifetime display just for our Thailand exhibition. So there’s so much magic to discover in the wings room.”
“And the final fifth room, of course is the Heart of Tiffany. It is the special unique presentation of our legendary…Jean Converse length of any one of the first projects he was given was to design a new setting for the Tiffany diamond. And this was something that was an unthinkable design challenge for someone new and opposed to what any other maison would do with this important historic stone. He placed it in a very whimsical, light asymmetrical necklace called the Ribbons Rosette. It started off as a brooch and that it was conceived of As a necklace worn of course by Audrey Hepburn for the promotion of Breakfast at Tiffany. It’s also featured in the film. And I think that there will always be a lot of creative connection between Jean Schlumberger and the Tiffany diamond. Knowing that in 1995 the Tiffany diamond was set in a rock setting.”
“Something I didn’t mention is that not only did Joan Quinn find this important exhibition important to lend her jewels to, she’s also coming because she wanted to experience the people and to experience the exhibition as well. So many hearts have gone into this project and all of us feel an incredible passion to deliver something very special here at Bangkok.”
Anthony Ledru: “ It’s extraordinary. It’s the first time, as you said, and it will probably be the last, because as I mentioned, it took almost 200 years of the Tiffany diamond. We only acquired it 100 years ago. You said it’s the heart of Tiffany, and I do agree with that. If you had to pick one icon of the icons, it’s the Tiffany diamond, especially the way it’s mounted.”
“What Tiffany has stood for since its creation. The founder made a huge bet in the late 19th century on one of the biggest yellow rough diamonds at that time. They bought it, and it would never be for sale, except for one person, Mr. Arnold. He usually gets what he wants. But jokes aside, never for sale—that created the myth from day one. Going to Paris, cutting the diamond to 128.54.”
“When the newly renovated store opened in 1957 on Fifth Avenue, another huge bet was made by the company. In the 40s, they bought the building. At that time, it was the most important luxury store in the world. It is still the most important today in terms of prestige, brand positioning, and sales. It shows that when you believe, there are no limits, no boundaries. It’s everything we love: a culture of excellence and optimism. They had to believe when they made that bet.
And the way it’s set fits completely with the decision we made when it came to the diamond: to have, for the first time, not only the first exhibition in Thailand, but the first Jean Schlumberger exhibition 100% dedicated to this occasion. The exhibition in Tokyo last year was bigger, but the Jean Schlumberger section was not as deep. Here, we chose to be extremely focused, creating a dialogue with this authority through the different designs. That ends this exhibition but starts the next, which I believe will be the contemporary version of what has been done in the past.”
Christopher: “We want them to dream in blue. I think there’s a sentence in France that says that, you know, to be happy, you don’t have to see the life in the world’s corner. We want them to live and see the life in turquoise, different. That’s what we want them to dream. We want them to be inspired and we want them to have a perception of different that is never open to someone. Lastly, that’s the most important one. We want them to have a memorable moment. That’s what we create. Shall we find true than all. And I think that’s what they should get when they leave this.”
Anthony: “You know, in this exhibition we put a lot of effort into describing not only the jewels on display, but the women behind each jewel. And I think it’s really important that the viewer, when they leave the exhibition, that they understand. And all of the people that go into making an exhibition possible are the fabulous wearers of these pieces and how they’ve inspired the designs that we’re seeing. And our clients today continue to inspire the wondrous works that come from Tiffany Heigh Jewellery. So to me, this is an exhibition about inspiration. It’s something you will never see anywhere.Else anywhere in the world.”
Together, they underscored what makes this exhibition unforgettable: its ability to not only celebrate Tiffany & Co.’s 188-year legacy but also inspire a new generation of dreamers and collectors. Legendary Legacy is open to the public with complimentary admission via registration through exhibition.tiffany.com Tiffany & Co.’s LINE Official Account. The exhibition runs from 29 August to 7 September 2025 on the 47th floor of Tower 4, One Bangkok.
