Breakfast with Tiffany & Co. in Singapore

Meeting Tiffany & Co.’s   Francesca Amfitheatrof during the exclusive launch of the T Collection in Singapore was pure pleasure. The intimate dinner/launch at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCa) and a breakfast date the next morning gave us insights about Tiffany’s brilliant design director and the latest  must-have pieces.

The elegant Francesca stood out in a chic black dress, simple French-twist ‘do, sleek T bracelets down to her colorful fuchsia satin high heels among the equally fashionable crowd. After a brief introduction by Tiffany & Co. International vice president for Asia Jung Kim, Francesca explained that the T Collection’s design pays tribute to the brand’s name.

“But there’s also a verticality and intensity to the letter itself that I associate with the energy and optimism of New York, a place of courage and reinvention that constantly sparks creativity. This is jewelry that enhances an already vibrant personality rather than simply being decorative,” she added.

The latest Tiffany treasures were on open display for the guests to see, touch and feel.  Guests were invited to try them on and we became instant fans since the sleek,  sculptural items — rings, bracelet cuffs, and necklaces that were fashioned in 18-carat yellow, rose and white gold, diamond studded or in sterling silver — were not only beautifully made but also comfortable to wear.  Some of the pieces are unisex.

During breakfast at the art-filled St. Regis Hotel, it was interesting to hear how Francesca’s numerous talents fit the 177-year-old Tiffany & Co. to a perfect T — an  extremely talented jeweler and silversmith with  over 20 years of experience in art and jewelry design, fragrance, furniture and interiors for Chanel, Fendi, Marni, Alice Temperley, Alessi, Asprey & Garrard, as well as other prestigious clients. Francesca has also been an art consultant and curator for major collections, museums, and private individuals throughout the world. She has curated contemporary and archive shows at Museo Gucci in Florence, Italy; a group show of British painters in Milan; and selected works from the Francois Pinault Collection, as well as a group show in Seoul, Korea, with works by Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, and Cindy Sherman.

 Francesca explained that the T design was already in her creative mind during her first month with Tiffany & Co.  There was a lot of positive energy when she took the strong graphic form of the letter T and simplified, deconstructed, and bent it into jewelry. All the pieces are intended to be effortless and easily worn. There are monumental hinged cuffs and minimal bracelets that perfectly contour the wrist. Multiple chains of varied lengths and elegant pendants drape the neckline. Rings stack seamlessly and earrings move with grace.  Diamond pieces were inspired by Tiffany archive sketches from the 1920s with the multi-shaped sparklers set in a refined way. To make the T collection look contemporary, warm white and stark black ceramic were incorporated into the design.

It takes approximately four months from the initial design to be made into a prototype and then the finished product and another four months to produce and distribute the  item to stores worldwide. Materials have to be carefully sourced with quality control necessary to pass numerous tests.  Precious stones are meticulously handset.

Francesca disclosed: “I love to work with gold because of its malleability —  it can be stretched, bent and shaped in various forms.  I also prefer  yellow gold for my personal jewelry  because it is the most elastic compared to rose and white gold.   Titanium, on the other hand, takes double the amount of time to work on.”

As we congratulated this multi-talented lady on the simplicity and sleekness of her first  collection, which will surely delight the international market, Francesca enthused, “Everyone was eager and excited to work with the brand.  Everybody is focused towards our goal as it is a very exciting time for Tiffany, and will be for the next two to three years.  We intend to remain modern, global, and withstand the test of time.”

Tiffany stores are found globally with  their biggest Asian markets  in China, Japan and Singapore. In the Philippines, Tiffany & Co. is available at Rustan’s.   

* * *

For your comments and ideas, please email the author at: jacinto.fa@gmail.com.