Tiffany & Co. Celebrates Completion of Floor Renovation
in New YorkFlagship Store; Redesigned Second Floor is
New Home for Diamonds and ImportantJewels
NEW YORK, Nov 5, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Tiffany & Co.,
America's premier jeweler, celebrated the renovation of
the flagship store's second floor -- the new home for
Tiffany's magnificent diamonds and important jewels.
The renovation, executed by Tiffany's in-house
architects and designers in conjunction with the Toronto
design firm Yabu Pushelberg, complements the key
architectural themes of the main floor. Like Tiffany's
famed first floor, the newly designed second floor
presents an open environment that allows for individual
customer attention and augments the dazzling diversity
and originality of Tiffany jewels, including the
company's illustrious array of diamond engagement and
wedding rings, as well as diamond jewelry of ultimate
glamour; exquisite colored gemstones and luminous pearls
from the South Seas.
Visitors enter the second floor from elevators that open
onto a grand portal of Brazilian granite that echoes the
main floor's Alpine marble. The granite is repeated in a
series of streamlined portals with columns of Sapele
(African hardwood) similar to the first floor's burled
teakwood and cherry. Adding to the spaciousness is a
coffered ceiling patterned after the first floor
ceiling, and a floating grid of beveled mirrors with an
antique finish.
The display cases, also in Sapele with metal trim that
reflects the building's stainless steel entrance, are
lined with douppioni silk in a pale neutral. The
furniture, including desks and pedestals with inlaid
shagreen, tables and credenzas, planter boxes and vases
are crafted in rare, exotic woods. Luxurious fabrics
cover sofas, chairs and benches; and singular details
such as hand-painted porcelain vases and platinum leaf
framing jewelry platforms and shimmering on panels,
mirrors and custom made lamps provide the finishing
touches.
A suite of two private selling salons is accessible
through 14-foot metal doors, with mesh detail and hand-
rubbed pewter finish, that open to a separate seating
area with platinum leaf ceiling and walls upholstered in
gray-green leather panels. The private salons overlook
Fifth Avenue and feature a wall treatment of waxed
Venetian plaster over cream beige paint that reflects
the texture of the floor's Sapele columns.
Built into each of the Sapele columns is a vitrine
featuring a design from the Tiffany & Co. Archives.
Included are the American Flag brooch created for the
nation's centennial in 1876 and modeled after the
original 1776 American flag, with 13 diamond and ruby
stripes and 13 diamond stars surrounded by sapphires;
several lifelike orchid brooches, with gem-set gold and
enamel, which received the grand prize gold medal for
jewelry at the 1889 Paris World's Fair; and the
spectacular Trophee clip, an amethyst and ruby shield
with a warrior's chain mail set in diamonds designed by
Jean Schlumberger in 1941 for legendary Vogue editor
Diana Vreeland.
"Tiffany enjoys a unique position in American retailing
that is embodied in our flagship store," said Michael J.
Kowalski, president and chief executive officer of
Tiffany & Co. "In renovating the second floor, our goal
is to preserve architectural history while at the same
time create a spacious, welcoming environment that are
the hallmarks of the Tiffany shopping experience."
The second floor renovation completes the initial phase
of a storewide renovation, which will continue over the
next two years with no disruption of sales or customer
service. Plans are to arrange the store's remaining
floors as follows: the main floor will undergo no
structural changes beyond a third customer elevator
already in operation, and will continue to offer fine
jewelry collections, the creations of Tiffany's
exclusive designers, and an expanded watch assortment;
the Jean Schlumberger Salon will remain on the
mezzanine; the third floor will display sterling silver
jewelry, hollowware and gifts, and will be connected to
the fourth floor with an open staircase; the fourth
floor will be converted from administrative to retail
space featuring designs for the home, increasing the
store's total selling area by 25%; the fifth floor will
be reserved for entertaining and exhibitions from the
Tiffany & Co. Archives. Customer service will be
relocated to the sixth floor, with a dedicated elevator
for convenient access.
Tiffany began exploring options to improve the shopping
experience for its customers in 1999 when it purchased
the building. To provide expansion space, Tiffany's
executive offices, along with other operations, have
been relocated to 600 Madison Avenue where Tiffany now
occupies ten floors for merchandising, marketing, and
administrative purposes.
Designed by Cross & Cross and completed in 1940, the
Tiffany building, with its classic Art Deco detailing,
was immediately embraced as the ideal new home for the
treasures of Tiffany. Luxury of space and customer
convenience dominated the building's structural plan,
which led to a number of architectural innovations: the
124,000-square-foot building was the first to have a
central air conditioning system as an integral part of
its design; and the 8,400-square-foot main floor is free
of obstructing columns due to three 106-ton trusses
placed between the first and mezzanine floors.
With the newest renovations, Tiffany is committed to
retaining the company's illustrious heritage for a new
century at the forefront of taste, style and design
excellence.
CONTACT: Tiffany & Co.
Linda Buckley, 212/230-6577
Copyright (C) 2001 Business Wire. All rights reserved
