Luxury jewelry retailers are entering the world of NFTs as more and more companies look to embrace blockchain technology and digital art. NFTs are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain and cannot be replicated or exchanged for other tokens. They are often used to represent ownership of digital art and collectibles.

They have gained significant attention in recent years for their ability to allow artists and creators to monetize their work in a way that was not previously possible. Luxury brands are now beginning to explore the use of NFTs to appeal to younger consumers and position themselves as leaders in the luxury market.

Tiffany & Co. is one of the brands taking steps towards embracing blockchain technology and modernizing its approach to marketing and consumer engagement.

In March 2022, Tiffany & Co. announced its acquisition of NFTs from Tom Sachs’ Rocket Factory for a reported $380,000. This move marked Tiffany’s foray into the growing blockchain technology and digital art world.

The NFTs acquired by Tiffany are part of Tom Sachs’ “Space Program: Mars” series, which was first exhibited in 2012 and explored the concept of space exploration and colonization. The series included a range of digital art and physical sculptures, all represented by NFTs.

In a statement, Reed Krakoff, Tiffany’s Chief Artistic Officer, said that the acquisition is a “significant step” for the company as it expands its offerings to include digital art. “Tom Sachs is a pioneering and thought-provoking artist, and we are thrilled to add his work to our collection,” Krakoff said.

Subsequently, Tiffany & Co. has announced a new initiative to turn NFTs into custom pendants. In August 2022, the luxury jewelry retailer launched NFTiffs, a collection of 250 digital passes available exclusively for holders of CryptoPunk NFTs.

The digital pass allows CryptoPunk owners to redeem a custom physical pendant and an NFT that resembles the jewelry with the pendant design based on the owners’ CryptoPunk NFT.

Each pendant has a certificate of authenticity and will feature at least 30 gemstones and/or diamonds that match the original NFT art. The price tag is $50,000. It’s worth noting that Tiffany & Co. sold the 250 NFTs in a matter of minutes.

The pendants are due to be shipped by early 2023.

In a statement, Reed Krakoff, Tiffany’s Chief Artistic Officer, said that the pendants are a “truly unique and special way” for customers to own and display their NFTs. “These pendants will be a tangible expression of the digital art that our customers love and will allow them to showcase their style and passion for collecting in a new and innovative way,” Krakoff said.

The launch of NFTiffs is not a formal partnership with CryptoPunks or Yuga Labs but an offering that Tiffany provides independently of the NFT collection. This is possible because the intellectual property rights associated with owning a CryptoPunk include commercial rights, such as creating a physical object bearing the NFT’s image.

The CryptoPunk community is already exclusive, with only 10,000 in circulation. However, since only 250 passes are available and just 200 being listed, Tiffany created an even more elite circle within the community. It’s worth highlighting that the exclusivity may be off-putting to other brands where a broader audience is likely to perceive such products as inaccessible.

However, these efforts in embracing blockchain technology and experimenting with it highlight the retailer’s commitment to unraveling new business opportunities. Tiffany’s decision to turn NFTs into custom pendants is a bold move that could pave the way for other luxury brands to explore the use of blockchain technology and digital art. As the use of NFTs continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how Tiffany and other companies incorporate them into their business models.