Tiffany & Co. Just Reimagined Its Most Iconic Motif & The Result is Extraordinary

There are jewelry designs that endure because they are beautiful, and then there are jewelry designs that endure because they mean something. Jean Schlumberger’s Bird on a Rock has always been both. Introduced in 1965 — inspired by a yellow cockatoo Schlumberger encountered during his travels across Asia and the Caribbean — the original brooch, with its yellow and white diamond bird perched atop a cabochon lapis lazuli, became one of the most celebrated designs in the history of Tiffany & Co. almost immediately. More than 60 years later, the house is expanding the motif into an entirely new generation of fine and high jewelry, and the new Bird on a Rock by Tiffany collection makes a compelling case that some icons only get better with time.

Photo Credit: Tiffany & Co.

The 2026 collection is developed under the creative vision of Nathalie Verdeille, Senior Vice President and Chief Artistic Officer for Jewelry and High Jewelry at Tiffany & Co., and it moves in three distinct directions at once. The newest figural pieces hand-sculpt the iconic bird in 18k yellow gold, with bold textural wings drawn from Schlumberger’s own celebrated Flames earrings of the 1950s — designs he originally conceived to evoke solar flares. Subtle chevron details are meticulously engraved along the wing tips, body, and collar, and diamonds of multiple sizes are set by hand in a nonlinear layout, animating each piece with a sense of movement that feels thoroughly alive. A new figural pendant and earrings anchor this part of the collection, and they exemplify what Tiffany & Co. does better than almost anyone: the translation of an archival reference into something that wears like it was made for right now.

Photo Credit: Tiffany & Co.

The second direction is Wings — an abstract interpretation of flight that honors Schlumberger’s own habit of integrating multiple metals within a single design, itself a complex feat of craftsmanship. The newest Wings creations alternate 18k gold and platinum wings, each individually crafted and defined by three feathers that nestle seamlessly into the neighboring wing. On the platinum wings, three diamonds of varying sizes are channel set without prongs or beads, maximizing brilliance while keeping the graceful silhouette entirely uninterrupted. New additions to the Wings collection include a narrow necklace, ring, drop earrings, articulated bracelet, pendant, and three metal-only rings in platinum, 18k yellow gold, or 18k rose gold — the last of which let the contours of the wing do all the work.

Photo Credit: Tiffany & Co.

The third direction is where the collection reaches its highest register. The Bird on a Rock Feathers high jewelry suite — developed over nearly three years — transforms the bird’s collar plumage into sculptural compositions of platinum, 18k gold, and diamonds that manage the rare achievement of feeling both abstract and unmistakably natural. Engraved elements echo the intricate textures of the original Bird on a Rock design, while 18k yellow gold accents create depth and contrast throughout. The Feathers pieces are the kind of high jewelry that earns that designation honestly — not by virtue of price alone, but because of what it takes to make them. Tiffany & Co. will also debut Bird on a Rock high jewelry pieces featuring figural birds that appear to interact with one another, adding a narrative dimension to an already rich collection.

Together, the new Bird on a Rock by Tiffany designs are available beginning September 1, 2026, in select Tiffany & Co. stores worldwide.