In the world of fine jewelry, it is the gems, not the designer, that traditionally take center stage. So it was unusual when Tiffany & Co named Reed Krakoff as chief artistic officer in early 2017, giving him control over not only the design vision for the brand, but also the stores, e-commerce, marketing and advertising.
Krakoff has a long history in fashion, including his own line until 2015, but it was his Midas touch at Coach that established his reputation. During his 16-year tenure as executive creative director, he turned the sleepy leather goods company into a $4 billion juggernaut.
When we meet, in a traditional wood-paneled room in Tiffany’s flagship store at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, he is casually dressed in an open-collar shirt, thick black-rim glasses…
