Detail of beige blouse over a chainmail bra and gathered skirt with wide wrap tie waist

Elsa Peretti

1940 - 2021

BiographyElsa Peretti was an Italian jewelry designer, philanthropist, and former fashion model. Born in Florence and educated in Rome and Switzerland, she began her career in interior design before modeling in Barcelona and later New York. As part of Halston’s circle of models known as the “Halstonettes,” she began designing jewelry that echoed his minimalist aesthetic. Her work was celebrated with a Coty Award for jewelry in 1971.

Her first Tiffany & Co. collection in 1975 reintroduced silver as a fine jewelry material, making stylish pieces accessible to a wider audience. Signature designs like the Bone Cuff, Open Heart, Bean, and Mesh collections drew on organic forms and modern sculpture, influenced by artists such as Henry Moore and Alexander Calder.

Peretti’s designs became central to Tiffany’s success. She also created homeware, accessories, and silverware, becoming one of the most influential designers in modern jewelry. Vogue once called her "arguably the most successful woman ever to work in the jewelry field."

Person TypeIndividual