Tiffany & Co. is pleased to announce a collaboration with artist Kendrick Lamar. Lamar, along with longtime creative collaborator and pgLang co-founder Dave Free, commissioned Tiffany & Co. to create a custom titanium and diamond-pavé crown. Over a period of 10 months, skilled artisans at Tiffany & Co.'s workshops in New York brought the crown, rich in meaning and symbolism, to life. The design represents Tiffany & Co.'s latest innovative partnership, connecting the craftsmanship of its designers and artisans with the world of art. Lamar wore the crown during his headline performance at Glastonbury on June 26, 2022. "Kendrick Lamar embodies the artistry, risk-taking and relentless innovation that have defined Tiffany for nearly two centuries. We are honored and excited to work with such a visionary to bring his vision for the crown to life," said Alexandre Arnault, Executive Vice President, Product & Communications, Tiffany & Co.

Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free approached the Tiffany design team in 2021 with the idea for a headpiece inspired by the crown of thorns. One of the most widely recognized symbols in religious iconography, the crown of thorns is a metaphor for artistic excellence, humility and perseverance. For Lamar, this one-of-a-kind design by Tiffany & Co. pays tribute to the prolific artists who came before him, while also serving as a powerful expression of his influence and contributions to music and culture.

Lamar and Flea had a clear vision and intention for the crown's design. In addition to referencing the "Crown of Thorns," both artists were inspired by the iconic "Thorns" brooch, created by Jean Schlumberger in 1947, before he joined Tiffany & Co. in 1956. Crafted from 18K yellow gold, the brooch features thorn-like prongs surrounding a 47-carat sapphire and is currently on display at Tiffany & Co.'s brand exhibition, "Vision & Virtuosity," running until August 19 in London.

"Thorns Brooch by Jean Schlumberger
Lamar and Free were drawn to the design's micropavé setting, which resembles a cobblestone path of countless diamonds of various sizes. The closely spaced pavé diamonds, tightly spaced to maximize brilliance, give the piece a naturalistic quality. Each diamond was hand-set, and the prongs were hand-crafted. While prongs are typically cast, in this piece, artisans first secured the diamonds, then cut and folded the metal over to create the prongs—a process often reserved for high jewelry. Tiffany has been handcrafting exceptional headpieces since the late 19th century.


· Production time: It took 10 months and more than 1,300 hours of work, with four Tiffany artisans working together to bring this design to life.
· Weight and materials: The crown weighs approximately 200 grams. It is crafted from meticulously polished titanium and is made up of 14 individual cast components assembled into a single piece.
· Diamond count: Over 8,000, total carat weight over 137 carats
· Thorn count: A total of 50 thorns, including straight, thick, thin and rose-inspired thorns.