Humble No More

Elevating the humble dandelion into a show-stopping, high-jewelry diamond medallion necklace is no longer a top-secret mission. AOC shares spring’s Tiffany & Co. BOTANICA: Blue Book 2022 campaign. Newly-named Tiffany BOTANICA ambassador Gal Gadot is not a 2017 Wonder Woman actor who pales in comparison to a dandelion-inspired 12-carat diamond necklace.

Like the necklace created to be worn five different ways as the ultimate expression of Tiffany & Co. savoir-faire, Gal Gadot is adaptable, with her head held high on the world stage.

Gal Gadot Meets Taraxacum

The lowly dandelion at the center of the 2022 Tiffany & Co. BOTANICA campaign is a master of survival. Her wide-spreading roots aerate the earth, infusing those dreaded yellow hat lawn blooms with noble purpose.

The often-intractable root system that prompts quiet curses from all who try to uproot dandelions from well-manicured lawns has a high-level, goddess-given, nature-required assignment. It’s her job to suck up calcium from deep in the soil, delivering it throughout the botanical neighborhood.

Contrary to being a foe of top-drawer lawns with monied owners, dandelions actually fertilize their grass, shrubs and show flowers. Consider dandelions to be selfless. These plain Jane spring blossoms take care of neighboring plants, digging their dandelion taproots deep into the soil before feeding nourishment underground by aerating soil for hungry plants and grass.

Dandelions may come from the world of Mr. Rogers, but they are mighty. Crashing the imaginary gates of Tiffany & Co was never a life goal for these ordinary flowers derided from Greenwich, Conn to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Never again.

With the help of Tiffany & Co. Wonder Woman has come to their rescue, giving dandelions the place of prominence they deserve in the high-jewelry universe. And it takes a mighty strong woman to refuse to back down in the world of orchids and rose blooms.

Gaia’s Daughter

In our 21st century world, Gadot’s proud service with the Israeli military courts controversy. The actor, mother of two daughters and environmentalist understands the global landscape and tries to live her life in sync with nature’s biggest lessons, explaining: "I don't take myself too seriously."

Any woman comfortable playing the evil queen in Disney’s upcoming live-action remake of Snow White is at peace with herself.

While she doesn’t believe she should be banned from acting or hosting documentaries on National Geographic — as called for by Code Pink — Gadot is relaxed in admitting that she has been tone-deaf or even insensitive on occasion, with select public actions.

Spontaneous, well-meaning actions conceived to inspire can pop like a water balloon in the age of COVID. Let’s forgive her. Gadot has given up private jet travel over her love of Gaia. That’s enough restitution in Twitter world.

Jean Schlumberger’s Fantastical Artistry

The very design of the Tiffany BOTANICA Collection honors Gaia’s great wisdom. Its roots transcend economic class in the plant world, encompassing a wide range of flora and fauna from dandelions to orchids and even thistles.

BOTANICA was created in honor of Jean Schlumberger, a creative genius jewelry artist and also a member of the military fighting for France in WWII. After surviving the famous Battle of Dunkirk, the designer eventually made his way to Tiffany & Co. in 1956, at the request of then president Walter Hoving.

Schlumberger’s artistic jewelry quest was simple — if filled with grandeur:

“I want to capture the irregularity of the universe.”

Schlumberger is one of only four jewelers that Tiffany & Co. has allowed to sign their work. The others are Elsa Peretti, Frank Gehry and Paloma Picasso.

The Artistry of Jean Schlumberger

The BOTANIC collection includes Jean Schlumberger’s Bird on a Rock brooch and the Fleurage bracelet with its exquisitely-intricate design.

Schlumberger was considered to be one of the most talented artists of his time, rising high beyond his career start creating buttons for Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1930s. Jewelry was his medium — his creative canvas.

By using Schlumberger as the inspiring vision of BOTANICA’s designs, Tiffany & Co. strived to innovate his iconic ideas, taking the jewelry industry to the next level.