THE POWER OF PERETTI

In a hidden village of Sant Marti Vell in Spain, where Elsa Peretti lived, loved and created enduring symbols of design and beauty for Tiffany & Co., Kenneth Goh traces and marvels at her 50 years of legacy.

My journey with Elsa Peretti started many many moons ago when I was a wee 16-year old and wanted desperately to have a silver bean necklace for my birthday. I was living in London at the time and Tiffany to me was all about Audrey Hepburn in the iconic movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Two years later, dad got me an iconic blue box for my 18th birthday. I thanked him, excited to receive that precious box with the white ribbon. But alas, no pretty bean nestled in a soft blue bag. Instead, I got a manly sterling silver money clip with crisp British pounds attached to it. Many years later, when I started working in fashion, I wanted a piece of Elsa Peretti around my neck and it happened in the form of her iconic crucifix.

“When I decided to design the Madonna, I visualised the little medal lost such a long time before. Bit by bit, as I carved the wood and ivory, a line began to emerge, giving me a feeling of protection which symbolised my Catholic religion. I approached the cross in many different ways,” said Elsa Peretti.

That humble silver cross, with Christ’s head downturned, his body pinned to a simple T, was so poetic, so meaningful and hung around my neck for years as a symbol of my faith and as a protection. The fact that it was also so beautifully chic was never lost on me. I slowly began collecting more pieces of Peretti, from her bone cuff, to her starfish brooch to her poppy brooch. Delicate, whimsical, with a purity of line and exquisite polished finish, there’s a refinement in Peretti’s pieces that go beyond trends and fashion, and has a rhythm that transcends time.