Animal jewellery isn’t a trend; it’s a tradition. From mid-century brooches to contemporary “bestiary” collections, designers return to creatures for wit, symbolism and sculptural possibility. The giraffe — graceful, improbable, unforgettable — turns up in maisons from Cartier to Tiffany, in David Webb’s enamel menagerie and in Boucheron’s long-running bestiary. Into that lineage steps the Links of London Giraffe Charm, a sterling-silver miniature confirmed by its 2011 hallmark.

Bestiaries & High Jewellery: a quick tour

• Cartier’s giraffes, 1960s–present. Cartier produced realistic and enamelled giraffe brooches; one circa 1960 piece surfaced from Audrey Hepburn’s collection, and other emerald-eyed, enamel-spotted examples have appeared at Christie’s/Sotheby’s.
• Tiffany & Co., 1991. Christie’s records a Tiffany & Co. gold giraffe brooch with diamond details, signed and dated 1991 — proof the motif lives beyond French houses.
• David Webb’s Kingdom. Webb introduced animals in 1957; his enamel giraffe brooches (often diamond-dotted with ruby eyes) became icons by the 1980s.
• Boucheron’s Bestiary. The maison traces its animal “bestiary” back to the 19th century; modern pieces include the Zarafah (giraffe) ring.
• Van Cleef & Arpels, mid-century whimsy. VCA’s “Charming Animals” captures a 1950s–60s wave of playful figurals; the archive notes a Giraffe clip, 1964.

Vintage Links of London Giraffe Charm Sterling Silver 2011

Why animals—why giraffes?

Mid-century jewellery embraced nature and character: textured gold, enamel, gemstone “eyes,” and cartoonish proportions made animals both couture and charming. Houses from Paris to New York leaned into joy and personality — a counterpoint to formal parures — and animals became conversation pieces on lapels and cocktail dresses.

Fashion fed the appetite, too: the late-1960s taste for “safari” and African-inspired dress widened the cultural moment for exotic fauna in accessories (Yves Saint Laurent’s 1967 African collection is the canonical reference).

Techniques that make creatures come alive

• Enamel work. Webb’s paillonné and translucent enamels map spots and markings with depth and light.
• Textured gold. Tiffany & Co. and Cartier often use chased/engraved gold to suggest hide and hair, then pick out eyes with gemstones.
• Gem “eyes” & accents. Emerald, ruby and diamond details animate faces and lend a subtle luxury signal.

Vintage Links of London Giraffe Charm Sterling Silver 2011

From objets d’art to wearables

Beyond brooches, the animal theme thrives in decorative arts: think Viennese cold-painted bronzes from the late 19th/early 20th century (giraffes included), and hardstone figures by Fabergé that set the bar for lifelike miniatures — different media, same fascination with animating character.

The Links of London Giraffe Charm (this example: 2011 hallmark)

Links of London drew on the same spirit — approachable, witty, collectible. Your Giraffe Charm is confirmed by its 2011 date letter and follows the brand’s signature format: sterling silver; a standard 9×7 mm oval bail with the three-ring logo (suited to bracelets or necklaces up to 5 mm); and a compact, lifelike silhouette. It’s professionally cleaned and polished, supplied with a split ring for Sweetie attachment. No speculation about launch year or production run is made here.

How to wear the motif now

• As a pendant: let a single animal carry the narrative on a fine necklace.
• On a Sweetie Bracelet: mix with travel, nature or “story” charms for a curated menagerie.
• Layered symbols: pair the giraffe with a compass or star for a “see the bigger picture” message.

Vintage Links of London Giraffe Charm Sterling Silver 2011

Collecting notes

Animal pieces hold value because they blend design, technique and personality. Auction records for giraffes by Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels show sustained interest across decades, while contemporary houses (and archives like yours) keep the motif culturally alive.

Why this matters for Links London: your 2011 silver giraffe sits in a respected tradition — miniature, witty, wearable — and gives collectors an accessible way to “wear the animal story” without stepping into the six-figure high-jewellery world.

Stand tall, see further — and let a small giraffe do the talking.