Inspired by the Ancient Greek god of the sun and infused with a mid-century modern notion of Sputnik-y atoms and electron, Tiffany’s Apollo collection is old meets new
Christopher Nolan’s epic fantasy reimagining of The Odyssey is released today, amid fervid anticipation, 4am IMAX screening times and method-dressing galore. It’s overestimating even Zendaya’s cultural influence to say this has sparked a taste for Ancient-esque aesthetics, given their rediscovery has been shaping art and design for about a thousand years, from 18th-century architecture to Mariano Fortuny’s Delphos dresses, Michaelangelo’s contrapposto David and the rather more lowbrow reflection of its nether regions on countless Florentine souvenir aprons. Tiffany’s Apollo collection is somewhat newer – and definitely more elegant than the latter example – inspired by the Ancient Greek god of the sun and originating from a brooch devised in 1957 by their own god of jewellery, Jean Schlumberger. The original was a half-sphere of platinum pavé, set with diamonds and pierced with radiating bands of 18-karat gold, which resembled both the most simplistic and ancient representations of the sun, and the terribly mid-century modern notion of Sputnik-y atoms and electrons. Old, meeting new, which is appropriate given that Tiffany has now expanded its orbit, translating the design details across an entire collection – necklace and rings, earflaps and a rework of the original brooch.
The Apollo pendant necklace in gold and platinum with diamonds, Apollo ring in yellow gold and platinum with diamonds and Schlumberger ring in gold and platinum with diamonds are available to buy now.
