Tiffany’s latest flagship store in Sydney’s CBD inundates patrons with their luxurious and exuberant pieces. Glen Schlehuber, Vice President and Managing Director of Tiffany & Co, considers its undeniably opulent new store to be the pinnacle of his career so far.
“We have created something incomparable with anything else in the market and, I would even venture, the world. Hands down, I’m most proud of this”, Glen Schlehuber discloses.
Exuding glamour and elegance, the two-level, 1800 square meter store is adorned with amazonite stone wall panels encompassing Tiffany’s signature shade of blue against the white marble. The store features private salons and custom artwork designed exclusively for Tiffany & Co by acclaimed Australian artists such as Lisa Cahill, Anna Will Highfield, Gemma O’Brien, and Charlotte Phillips.
A large section of the existing roof has been removed, allowing natural light to radiate through a 10-meter high atrium, illuminating the diamonds on display. The unique wheat leaf pattern that permeates its facade is an architectural element derived from the brand’s New York heritage.
There is an abundance of Tiffany’s rarest and most finely crafted pieces on display as an Australian first for the brand. Among the collection is one of the largest and finest yellow diamonds in the world. The $43.4 million 128.54-carat diamond features a cushion-shaped brilliant cut with 82 facets and is set in a necklace of more than 100 carats of diamonds. The notorious piece has been adorned by Lady Gaga at the 61st Grammy Awards, as well as by Audrey Hepburn in publicity photos for Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961.
Tiffany & Co hosted a launch party on the 4th of April, welcoming a myriad of high-profile guests including Kendall Jenner, Jessica Mauboy, Lara Worthington, and Renell Medrano. American rapper A$AP Ferg performed a four-track set at the extravagant event.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Kendall Jenner was paid $500, 000 to attend as well as spend up to one hour on the black carpet with the press. She wore an exquisite sapphire butterfly necklace from the Tiffany Blue Book Collection, featuring over 400 pink sapphires and a stunning cushion-cut morganite of approximately 11 carats.
Glen Schlehuber aims for his Sydney customers to become immersed in the sophisticated shopping environment whilst ascertaining their stunning pieces on offer. “All we want to do is curate the most seamless experience for the customer,” Glen explains. “In our industry, people will always want the luxury experience. We’ve made sure to create the most compelling experience within our store.”
Considered as one of the top ten flagship stores worldwide, the reimagined Sydney store is truly a testament to the company’s global reputation and 182 years of history.
By Sian McCaffery