In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany’s first day of sales at his “fancy goods” shop garnered a mere $4.98 in profit. Sixteen years later the shop was renamed Tiffany and Co., and today the brand known as “The Diamond Kings” is now valued at $16 billion. Long synonymous with sophistication and sparkle, Tiffany jewels have endured as a pinnacle of luxury as well as innovation. The company’s eponymous 287.42-carat yellow diamond has graced the necklines of Audrey Hepburn and Beyoncé, and its 1886 six-prong setting lifted diamonds above the ring band, setting a new standard for engagement rings. “I’m just crazy about Tiffany’s,” the fictional character Holly Golightly said in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “The quietness and the proud look of it. Nothing very bad could happen to you there.” A new exhibition examines the House’s legacy as a facet of American art, showcasing how Tiffany transformed objects from the natural world into acclaimed pieces of jewelry. —Maggie Turner