Hold up your hands...

It’s hard to believe that the Bone Cuff designed by Elsa Perretti for Tiffany is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

First introduced in the ’70s, the sleek design is characterised by a fluid shape and an ergonomic sensuality that informs Peretti’s jewellery. Powerfully feminine with an effortless ease, the sculptural cuff was designed specifically for the right and left wrists — to be worn as a pair — seamlessly contouring to, and “becoming one with the body.”

As a child Peretti had a love for bones. Her fixation with the human anatomy was born out of her childhood trips to a crypt in Rome. There, a young Peretti came upon rooms filled with human bones, from which she would pluck a souvenir.

“My love for bones has nothing macabre about it.”

I coveted one for years and finally bought one about 20 years ago. Mine is a left handed medium. The small always looked too scooty and the large one would never worked because of all my other bangles that never come off…

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Bone cuff has been reimagined in vibrant red, blue and green hues as part of the house’s latest special-edition collection — a tribute to the designer’s love of colour. Other variants available this month include carved stone styles that nod to “the sublime beauty that Peretti finds in nature”, featuring sterling silver with black jade or turquoise, and gold with green jade.

Much as though I love the look of the colour, I don’t think you can beat the original silver.

The cuff is not what you would call ‘an easy wear’. You dont just pop on the cuff and forget it. Because it clasps right around your carpal bone, you feel that sucker gripping everything in place.

My cuff just like me, is a bit worn and scratched and at the moment, a little tarnished and in good need of a polish. Hopefully we will both brighten up come the spring.

Queen Marie

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