Interesting Facts About Tiffany's Iconic "By the Yard" Necklace: It Turns Out It Can Be Uncomfortable to Wear!
2022.01.19 published
Tiffany's Iconic Jewelry*
When it comes to Tiffany's iconic jewelry, it's impossible not to mention Elsa Peretti's Beads of Gold, who was a former fashion model, joined Tiffany, and became a renowned designer.
This single diamond necklace is loved across generations, perfectly matching even simple outfits and lending an air of elegance and grace to everyday appearances.♡
It's also chosen as an "engagement necklace," becoming the most important piece of jewelry in one's life filled with treasured memories.♡
In fact, the back side has a sharp point...!
The Beads of Gold, an iconic symbol of Tiffany, is something that can be worn for a lifetime, being cute, beautiful, and chic.
Now, let's delve into some lesser-known features of this Beads of Gold.
When viewed from the front, the diamond is beautifully cut and sits in a round setting. However...
Looking at the back side reveals that the pointed part of the diamond's bottom (called the culet) is exposed.
Can you see the pointed part of the diamond sticking out...?
(Be sure to zoom in on the screen to check it out...!)
This design is intended to highlight the diamond's natural shape and brilliance, but...
It seems that the pointed culet can potentially rub against the skin, causing issues like【pain and itchiness】.
(It appears that larger carat diamonds tend to have this issue more often.)
A friend of mine received a Beads of Gold as an engagement necklace, but she mentioned, “It hurts, so I can't wear it directly on my skin... I really want to wear this beautiful necklace without any pain!”
Since Beads of Gold is also popular as skin jewelry, rather than only wearing it a few times a year on special occasions, we wish to wear it every day.
Therefore, hearing about my friend's issue made me sad because they were such a lovely couple with a beautiful proposal story, yet they couldn't wear their precious necklace.
What should we do?
If the pointed part of the diamond pricks the skin, it's an unavoidable aspect of the design. So, how can we wear it comfortably without pain or itchiness? Let's look into it.
【①】
The quickest solution is to wear it over turtle necks or high-collared clothing. (I think anyone can think of this...!)
This is fine in the winter, but of course, we don't wear that type of fashion all year round, so it's not an ideal solution.
【②】
Checking into other methods, I found that some people apply a little nail polish or clear nail on the tip as a workaround.
Imagine layering a clear nail coat over the sharp culet. This idea seems surprisingly useful... some reviews even mention it helping, but I spoke with Tiffany's rep, and they stated:
"Tiffany's diamonds and metals are not designed to be coated with nail polish or remover, nor exposed to alcohol, as it could cause discoloration due to chemical reactions."
Naturally, they do not recommend it. The diamond could become cloudy too...!
【③】
On the contrary, Tiffany's suggested a solution that requires a fee, which involves using a cover.
They offer a repair service that can create a part to cover the culet so that the pointed tip does not touch the skin.
The price varies depending on the material (yellow gold or platinum), but it starts from about 30,000 yen.
It's done officially, so if you're really concerned about it... this would be the most reliable method to entrust it to.
【④】
Another quick fix is to wear the necklace with the pointed culet facing forward, making it upside down.
Since it's in the opposite direction, it might feel uncomfortable. However, there are people who do this because it’s not noticeable unless viewed up close!
Here's how it looks when the culet is facing forward.
The Culet Issue with Beads of Gold*
I introduced several solutions, but since Tiffany's Beads of Gold has an exposed culet, some pricking is somewhat unavoidable.
However, if:
- You're particularly sensitive to the pain,
- You want to handle it carefully without applying anything,
- You want to wear it daily with any outfit,
In that case, it might be worth requesting the official culet cover processing, even if it incurs a fee, for the long run.*
I hope you find the most comfortable way to wear it.