Tiffany Blue is a specific robin’s egg blue color that was made famous by Tiffany & Co. jewelry. The exact Tiffany Blue color has been a closely guarded trade secret of Tiffany & Co. for decades. However, through analysis of official Tiffany & Co. product images, the Tiffany Blue color can be approximated in the CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) color model.
Approximating Tiffany Blue in CMYK
To determine the CMYK values that most closely match Tiffany Blue, sample colors were taken from official Tiffany & Co. product photos. The RGB values of these samples were then converted to CMYK values. Multiple samples were averaged to account for minor variations and photographic differences.
Based on this analysis, the CMYK values that best approximate Tiffany Blue are:
| Cyan: | 91% |
| Magenta: | 0% |
| Yellow: | 7% |
| Black: | 0% |
So in CMYK, Tiffany Blue is approximately CMYK(91, 0, 7, 0). This indicates a color with high cyan content, no magenta, low yellow content, and no black.
The Tiffany Blue Color
Tiffany Blue is a distinctive robin’s egg blue color that was made popular by Tiffany & Co. jewelry. The exact origin of Tiffany Blue as a brand color is unclear, but it has been used extensively by Tiffany & Co. in its catalogs, boxes, and products since the early 20th century.
One of the earliest known uses of Tiffany Blue was in an advertisement in the New York Times in 1908. In the 1920s, Tiffany & Co. started using their signature blue more widely in catalogs and packaging. By the 1930s, the color was firmly established as a brand trademark of Tiffany & Co.
Over the decades, Tiffany Blue became an iconic color associated with elegance, style, and luxury. Many brides dream of wearing Tiffany & Co. jewelry or having Tiffany Blue incorporated into their wedding theme.
Tiffany & Co. has kept the exact specifications of Tiffany Blue a trade secret for many years. They use special custom mixed batches of enamel or pigment to get the precise robin’s egg blue hue. The signature color helps define the Tiffany brand and evoke a sense of exclusivity.
The History of Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American luxury jewelry and specialty retailer known for its diamonds and signature Tiffany Blue packaging. The company began as a stationery and fancy goods store founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in 1837. The original Tiffany store was located on Broadway in Lower Manhattan in New York City.
In the early years, Tiffany sold stationery items as well as a wide variety of household goods. Under Charles Tiffany’s leadership, the store began focusing more on jewelry and developing its reputation as a destination for diamonds and high-end goods.
One milestone was the purchase in 1878 of a major diamond collection from the French crown jewels. This and later major gem purchases helped cement Tiffany’s status as a premier jewelry authority.
Tiffany first gained international recognition at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle, where the company won awards for its silver craftsmanship. In the late 19th century, Tiffany was commissioned to redesign the Great Seal of the United States, creating the version still used today.
The iconic Tiffany Blue Box was introduced in 1837 to hold small stationery goods purchases. Tiffany Blue Boxes grew in popularity through the early 1900s as packaging for the company’s jewelry. By the 1960s, the Tiffany Blue Box was a globally-recognized symbol of style and luxury.
Uses of Tiffany Blue
Beyond its use in Tiffany & Co. branding and packaging, Tiffany Blue has become a popular color choice in fashion, design, weddings, and more:
- Brides may use Tiffany Blue in their wedding color scheme, flowers, bridesmaid dresses, or decor.
- Jewelry designers create custom pieces in shades matching or inspired by Tiffany Blue.
- Fashion designers incorporate Tiffany Blue accents or accessories into collections.
- Home decorators use the distinctive robin’s egg blue in interior design paint colors, fabrics, and decorations.
- Nail polish and cosmetic companies produce Tiffany Blue-hued nail polishes, eye shadows, lipsticks, and more.
Tiffany Blue represents timeless elegance and style. The color allows people to incorporate a small touch of Tiffany luxury, even without purchasing authentic Tiffany & Co. pieces. This reference to the iconic jewelry brand has made Tiffany Blue an increasingly popular color choice.
Tiffany Blue in Marketing
Tiffany Blue plays an important role in Tiffany & Co.’s branding and marketing. As one of the most recognizable brand colors, Tiffany Blue signifies exclusivity, style, and sophistication.
Key marketing uses of Tiffany Blue include:
- Packaging – The Tiffany Blue Box and bag are synonymous with the brand.
- Catalogs – Printed marketing materials incorporate Tiffany Blue.
- Online – The Tiffany website features the signature blue color prominently.
- In-store – Decor, displays, and accents in Tiffany Blue reinforce the brand.
- Product Design – Some jewelry includes blue gemstones or enameling.
- Branding – The Tiffany Blue helps identify the Tiffany name.
By strategically utilizing the signature color across all consumer touchpoints, Tiffany & Co. has effectively established strong brand recognition and a distinctive brand identity tied to Tiffany Blue.
| Platform | Use of Tiffany Blue |
|---|---|
| Packaging | Signature Tiffany Blue Boxes and Bags |
| Print Marketing | Blue company logo, catalog covers, brochures |
| Online | Tiffany Blue headers, backgrounds, buttons |
| In-store | Tiffany Blue decor accents, flower vases, display backdrops |
| Product Design | Blue gemstones like sapphires or blue enamel work |
| Branding | Consistent use of Tiffany Blue reinforces brand identity |
Psychology of the Tiffany Blue Color
Color psychology helps explain why Tiffany Blue resonates so strongly with consumers. Here are some psychological traits associated with the distinctive robin’s egg blue hue:
- Freshness – Crisp and clean like a blue sky, evokes feelings of springtime and new beginnings.
- Femininity – Softer and more delicate than bold primary colors.
- Tranquility – Calming, soothing, peaceful associations with blue tones.
- Trust – Blue inspires trust and dependability.
- Luxury – Historically rare and expensive pigments to produce vivid blues.
- Timelessness – Classic blue with enduring appeal.
By tapping into these positive color associations, Tiffany Blue conveys luxury, beauty, and aspiration while remaining fresh and appealing across decades. This carefully crafted color is a key strategic asset of the Tiffany brand.
Legal Protection of Tiffany Blue
Given the enormous value of the Tiffany Blue color to its brand identity, Tiffany & Co. has sought legal protection for this trademark color:
- Tiffany was granted a registered trademark for the Tiffany Blue color in 1998 in the United States.
- In Australia, Tiffany Blue is protected by trademark as a brand-specific color.
- The European Union recognized Tiffany Blue as a trademark in 2014.
- Other regions like Canada and Japan also uphold Tiffany’s trademark rights.
Tiffany & Co. actively monitors use of Tiffany Blue and has sent cease and desist letters when the color is used in ways that may infringe or dilute the trademark. This legal protection reinforces the exclusivity and status of the signature robin’s egg blue shade.
Recreating Tiffany Blue Color
Given the popularity and cachet of Tiffany Blue, many people seek to recreate the color for their own purposes. This can be achieved by:
- Using the CMYK values provided earlier to mix custom paints, pigments, or dyes.
- Working with Pantone to match the Pantone number 1837 that is the closest existing standardized Pantone color.
- Referencing RGB or hex color codes published by Tiffany fan sites to approximate Tiffany Blue.
- Visually comparing and sampling Tiffany Blue from official brand imagery and marketing materials.
However, small variations in hue, saturation, and brightness as well as differences in materials and finishes mean most recreations will not perfectly match the real Tiffany Blue. The company still keeps its custom formulas a secret. But for personal craft, design, or decorative projects, published approximation values produce a vibrant robin’s egg blue hue evocative of the Tiffany aesthetic.
Influence and Significance of Tiffany Blue
The distinctive Tiffany Blue color helped shape the growth and success of Tiffany & Co. as an international luxury brand. Its importance and influence are far-reaching:
- Helped establish Tiffany & Co. as a premier jewelry retailer starting in the early 1900s.
- Ubiquity of the Tiffany Blue Box makes the brand instantly recognizable.
- Sparked trends in robin’s egg and duck egg blue across jewelry and fashion.
- Inspires luxury associations and brand loyalty among Tiffany & Co. customers.
- Provides unique brand identification that competitors cannot easily replicate.
- Evokes an aspirational aesthetic that transcends the fashion industry.
Tiffany Blue represents one of history’s most successful examples of a brand trademark color. This specific robin’s egg blue hue helped shape Tiffany’s identity and continues to influence design and style today. The signature color was instrumental in transforming an upscale Manhattan stationery store into one of the world’s most iconic luxury jewelry brands.
Conclusion
In summary, the distinctive robin’s egg blue color known as Tiffany Blue is an important part of Tiffany & Co.’s brand identity and heritage. The hue has been carefully cultivated since the early 20th century to evoke luxury, excellence, and timeless style. Through decades of strategic use in marketing, design, and branding, Tiffany Blue has come to signify the Tiffany name and aesthetic worldwide. The signature color continues to shape perceptions of the Tiffany brand today, while also influencing wider fashion and design trends.
