The Way of FLOWERS

An appreciation for florals from a new perspective sent Tiffany & Co’s Botanica high jewellery to the perfect city in Asia—Tokyo.

- CELINE YAP

The Japanese art of ikebana goes back to the Heian period, where Heian means ‘peace’ in the local tongue. Deeply revered throughout the country, ikebana looks at the beauty of nature, taking in all its varying nuances. It seeks out distinct lines and finds beauty even in empty spaces, thus bringing peace and tranquillity wherever you may find it. And this Zen-like calm, coupled with a fine appreciation for the natural world, made Japan’s capital city of Tokyo the ideal setting for Botanica, Tiffany & Co’s 2022 Blue Book high jewellery collection.

Unveiled over three chapters timed according to the seasons, spring, summer and autumn, Tiffany & Co Botanica is a veritable garden festooned with glorious blooms as if freshly plucked and then immortalised in jewels and gemstones. In the spring, the American jeweller introduced the first chapter which included a magnificent diamond-intensive suite inspired by the humble dandelion. That Tiffany & Co dedicated its most spectacular designs to this delicate yet cheerful weed offers a subtle hint of the fresh perspective and rich heritage that imbues every creation found in Botanica. This continues in the collection’s summer drop, where wildflowers such as Queen Anne’s Lace once again took the spotlight. Along with the dandelion, this biennial bloom takes us back to the early 20th-century creations by Louis-Comfort Tiffany, which were as original as they were inventive.