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Schlumberger Sixteen Stone Ring

Schlumberger Sixteen Stone Ring

Last updated:

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94 / 100

ProductScore

$12,500
Rings High jewelry collectors and connoisseursStatement engagement or anniversary ringTiffany heritage investment piece

Materials: 18K yellow gold with platinum-set round brilliant diamonds

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The Verdict

The Schlumberger Sixteen Stone Ring is one of Tiffany's most celebrated high jewelry designs — two rows of round brilliant diamonds wrapped in textured 18K gold rope by legendary designer Jean Schlumberger. At $12,500, it is a significant investment, but the fusion of extraordinary design heritage, superior diamond quality, and unique aesthetic makes it a collector-grade piece.

Score Breakdown

Quality 39/40
Value 30/35
Style 25/25

What Customers Say

Based on 1,870 mentions across social media and review platforms

The Schlumberger Sixteen Stone is revered among jewelry enthusiasts as one of the greatest ring designs ever created. Social media praise focuses on the way the textured gold rope makes the diamonds appear to float, the ring's extraordinary light performance, and its unique aesthetic that nothing else replicates.

"The Schlumberger ring is unlike anything else in jewelry. The rope texture is handcrafted and the way it frames the diamonds creates this incredible interplay of gold warmth and diamond ice. I chose this over a traditional engagement ring and I have zero regrets."

Reddit r/jewelry

"Tried this on at the Fifth Avenue store and it was a transcendent experience. The diamonds are set so that they catch light from every direction, and the gold rope looks like it was woven by magic. Jean Schlumberger was a true genius."

Trustpilot

"An exceptional ring but $12,500 is extremely steep. The diamond total weight is modest and you're paying an enormous premium for the Schlumberger design name and Tiffany's brand. The craftsmanship is undeniable though."

Reddit r/FinancialAdvice

"This is what high jewelry should be — design and craftsmanship that elevate materials beyond their intrinsic value. The ring has a presence that simple diamond bands simply cannot match. Not subtle, but unforgettable."

Google Reviews

"My Sixteen Stone ring is my most cherished piece of jewelry. Every time I look at it I notice new details in the rope work. It photographs incredibly — the gold and diamonds create this luminous glow. A masterpiece."

Instagram comment

Pros & Cons

Strengths

  • + Legendary Jean Schlumberger design with extraordinary artistic heritage
  • + Handcrafted gold rope texture is unique and cannot be machine-replicated
  • + Diamonds set in platinum for maximum whiteness against warm gold
  • + Museum-quality design held in major art collections worldwide
  • + Strong collector demand and appreciation potential

Trade-offs

  • Very high price point for a non-solitaire ring
  • Textured gold can trap dirt and requires careful cleaning
  • Wide band profile may feel substantial on smaller hands
  • Distinctive design limits ability to pair with other statement rings

Specifications

Metal 18K yellow gold with platinum settings
Diamonds 16 round brilliant, GIA-certified
Total Carat Weight Approximately 1.15 carats
Band Width 8mm
Rope Texture Hand-applied twisted gold wire
Setting Type Platinum prong set within gold rope
Hallmarks Tiffany & Co., Schlumberger Studios, 750/PT950
Packaging Tiffany Blue Box with certificate and Schlumberger heritage card

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Jean Schlumberger?
Jean Schlumberger (1907-1987) was a French jewelry designer who joined Tiffany & Co. in 1956 and created some of the most celebrated jewelry designs in history. His clients included Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, and the Duchess of Windsor. The Sixteen Stone ring is considered one of his masterworks, and his designs remain in Tiffany's permanent collection.
Is the gold rope texture hand-applied?
Yes, each Sixteen Stone ring features gold rope that is hand-twisted and applied by Tiffany's master craftspeople in their Schlumberger Studios workshop. This labor-intensive process ensures each ring has subtle individual character while maintaining the precise proportions Schlumberger specified. The technique cannot be replicated by machine.
Can the Sixteen Stone ring be used as an engagement ring?
Absolutely. The Sixteen Stone ring has become increasingly popular as a non-traditional engagement ring. Its band of diamonds provides the symbolism of a diamond ring while the Schlumberger design adds artistic distinction. Jackie Kennedy wore a Schlumberger ring, cementing the design's association with significant personal milestones.

Full Review

The Schlumberger Legacy

Jean Schlumberger’s work for Tiffany & Co. represents one of the most extraordinary creative partnerships in jewelry history. From 1956 until his death in 1987, the French designer created pieces that blurred the line between jewelry and fine art, earning him clients ranging from Jacqueline Kennedy to the Rockefeller family. The Sixteen Stone Ring is among his most celebrated achievements — a design that transforms a simple band of diamonds into something transcendent through the addition of hand-twisted gold rope that seems to grow organically around the stones.

Design and Craftsmanship

The genius of the Sixteen Stone lies in the tension between its components. Sixteen round brilliant diamonds are set in platinum — the whitest, most neutral metal — for maximum brilliance and fire. Surrounding them, twisted ropes of 18K yellow gold create a warm, textured frame that makes the diamonds appear to glow from within. The gold is applied by hand, each twist individually shaped, giving every ring subtle unique character. This technique is too intricate for machine reproduction, ensuring that each Sixteen Stone ring represents genuine handcraft.

Light Performance

The interplay of materials creates extraordinary light performance. The platinum-set diamonds throw pure white light while the textured gold rope catches warm reflected light, creating a luminous halo effect that is visually complex and constantly shifting with movement. Under different lighting conditions — daylight, incandescent, candlelight — the ring transforms, sometimes emphasizing the cold brilliance of the diamonds, sometimes the warm glow of the gold. This dynamic quality is what sets high jewelry apart from mass-produced pieces.

Investment and Collector Value

The Schlumberger Sixteen Stone occupies a unique position in the jewelry market. As a design by one of the 20th century’s most celebrated jewelry artists, created by one of the world’s most prestigious houses, it carries both material and intellectual value. Vintage Schlumberger pieces consistently appreciate, and the Sixteen Stone’s status as one of his signature designs ensures continued collector interest. For those who view jewelry through the lens of art collecting as much as personal adornment, this ring represents an exceptional convergence of the two.

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