Celebrity Titan: Pharrell Williams Tapped for Tiffany Collection

LVMH brand Tiffany & Co. has unveiled its latest fine jewellery collection in collaboration with multifaceted American performing artist Pharrell Williams. Known for his award-winning music career and his role as Men’s Creative Director at Louis Vuitton, Pharrell is now bringing his design expertise to this jewellery icon. Let’s explore the Tiffany Titan collection through the lens of celebrity collaborations in the jewellery world.

On May 2nd, Tiffany & Co. celebrated the launch of the Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams collection at its iconic Fifth Avenue flagship, The Landmark. The event, was graced by Hollywood A-listers including Blake Lively, A$AP Rocky, and Korean-New Zealand singer ROSÉ, all adorned in stunning fine and high jewellery designs by Tiffany & Co. The collection consists of 19 pieces made of gold, diamond, and black titanium, designed to be worn individually for a standout look or mixed and matched to make a bolder statement.

“We are excited to unveil Pharrell’s inaugural collection for Tiffany,” said Alexandre Arnault, Executive Vice President of Product, Communications and Industrial at Tiffany & Co. “The Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams collection defies the conventions of fine jewellery design. It represents a balance of Pharrell’s creative vision with Tiffany & Co.’s inventive craftsmanship. Each piece embodies Pharrell’s distinct style and unique point of view.” 

The Tiffany Titan collection appears to draw inspiration from existing Tiffany motifs such as the HardWear collection’s thick gold link and ballpoint pieces, blended with Pharrell’s forward-thinking and edgy aesthetic, to create pieces that are not only beautiful but also fluid in design, making them wearable and accessible to various styles. For Jewellery Creative Communications Director and Brand Advisor Sebastian Kauffman, the seamless combination of classic Tiffany & Co. style with Pharrell’s urban design vision is most impressive. 

I think it’s fascinating how the collection merges Pharrell’s aesthetics with influences from Tiffany’s Hardware range, there are even subtle nods to Jean Schlumberger. The collection feels relevant as it appeals to a new generation of jewellery enthusiasts of all genders and cultural backgrounds. While time will tell if the collection can join Tiffany’s timeless hero collections, it certainly is fresh and true to Tiffany’s all-American design codes. – Sebastian Kauffman

Of course, this is not Pharrell’s first foray into jewellery design. An avid jewellery wearer, one of Pharrell’s signature pieces – a pair of Tiffany & Co. sunglasses featuring 61 round brilliant diamonds and two emerald-cut emeralds – received much attention in the press. He also released his book Carbon, Pressure & Time last year, detailing conversations with fellow artists about creating unique jewellery pieces to commemorate important milestones. His N.E.R.D. pendant rapper chain set entirely in coloured diamonds and his Boys’ Club astronaut pendant in collaboration with Japanese graphic artist Sk8thing are two notable examples. Pharrell’s past collaborations include signature pieces with Jacob & Co. and Lorraine Schwartz.

However, this is the first time Pharrell has designed an entire collection for Tiffany & Co. Speaking about his inspiration for Tiffany Titan, Williams said, “I’m very inspired by the water, and the name of this collection ‘Titan’ draws inspiration from Poseidon, ruler of the sea, King of Atlantis – ‘Atlantis’ being the name of the community I grew up in Virginia Beach. The detail in all of the jewellery pieces is very intentional. The use of black titanium is a physical manifestation of beauty in blackness.”

Each piece incorporates sharp, spear-like spike shapes, reflecting a punk spirit aesthetic that has already proven popular in Hollywood. The collection debuted on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet last month, worn by Maria Carla Boscono at the *Le Comte de Monte-Cristo* premiere, and by Anya Taylor-Joy at Drummond Castle for the Dior Cruise show a few days ago.

And when it comes to everyday looks, many jewellery insiders already have great styling ideas. The diamond pavé half-link hoops are the perfect pair of earrings to add glamour and edge to any outfit, and the mixed black titanium and gold bracelet is a statement piece that is guaranteed to give its wearer a boost of confidence. For Kauffman: “The titanium, gold and diamond necklace and matching bracelet are particularly appealing. I’d love to wear the necklace over a white T-shirt this summer.”

This collaboration raises the question: what effect does celebrity stardom have on jewellery collection popularity? It appears that jewellery collections are increasingly synonymous with celebrity creatives, blending Hollywood stardom with fine jewellery. Recent partnerships include Dior Joaillerie with Elizabeth Debicki, Cast with Eva Mendes, David Yurman with Rihanna, Messika with Kate Moss, and Bulgari with Zendaya and Anne Hathaway. Most recently, Jessica McCormack’s announced Zoe Kravitz as the first-ever brand ambassador for the London-based brand.

 Our industry thrives on homegrown creativity, so any marketing and communications initiatives that add value are welcome. Anything that helps expand the industry’s visibility, reach, and cultural relevance is positive. Subjectively, I think Pharrell is a cultural force whose influence will benefit Tiffany & Co. – Sebastian Kauffman 

For Katerina Perez, It’s understandable why jewellery brands would want to collaborate with celebrities to create fine jewellery collections. This exclusive group of talented individuals are in the limelight, meaning that what they want to wear, we do as well. However, there is no substitute for genuine creativity in the field of fine and high jewellery. A designer with a distinctive point of view is what matters most and this is the strongest driving force behind a collection’s success. In this exciting collection, Pharrell brings his experience in the design world, elevated taste as well as his fame to the table – a triple threat that is guaranteed to make this collection a success in the jewellery world.

We want to hear from you: does a celebrity creator enhance your desire to invest in a piece of jewellery? If so, what would be your dream collaboration? Reach out to us on social media and let us know.