F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is often lauded as the ‘great American novel’ and tells the cautionary and ultimately tragic tale of self-made millionaire, Jay Gatsby. His fictional estate on Long Island’s north shore is the scene of the most extravagant parties. The film is set in the Roaring ‘20’s when F. Scott Fitzgerald was a customer of the famous Tiffany & Co. 5th Avenue emporium and Louis Comfort Tiffany hosted many lavish parties on his own Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall.
Catherine Martin painstakingly accessed the archives of the Metropolitan Museum, FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and Tiffany & Co. to authentically recreate the flapper dresses and bijoux jewels of the period. Elizabeth Debicki’s character Jordan Baker wears a brooch from the Tiffany archives on her chic cloche hat in one scene.
The Tiffany Great Gatsby Collection is 30 breathtaking platinum, diamond and pearl pieces designed for the film. There are also 14 Art Deco inspired designs in the Ziegfield Collection featuring pearls, onyx and sterling silver.
Tiffany & Co. was at the forefront of Art Deco jewellery design in the 1920’s and ‘30’s. Incredibly, the daisy was a prominent motif in their collections of the time and of course it features significantly in both collections. The silver Daisy Heart locket, Ziegfield Daisy Onyx pendant and cygnet ring show the versatility of the motif for both men and women. The Deco Fan bangle in platinum, black lacquer and diamonds and the Jazz bracelet with round brilliant diamonds are definitely on the ‘If only’ wish list.
Two pieces worn by Carey Mulligan’s Daisy Buchanan at one of the parties highlights both the indulgence of the time and the incredible attention to detail in the film. The Savoy Headpiece features freshwater cultured pearls and 25.04 carats of round brilliant cut diamonds set in platinum. The Daisy hand jewellery incorporates a ring and bracelet with an amazing 8.98 carats of brilliant diamonds and cultured pearls all suitably set in platinum.
Baz Luhrmann’s take on the magnum opus of the Jazz Age is suitably spectacular – loud, glitzy and over the top. And the Tiffany & Co jewels although not restrained in their glamour, also play a starring role in the film lending a certain sophistication and ‘old money’ elegance that would even make Louis Comfort Tiffany proud.