It doesn’t matter who won between Ben Sheldon and Alexander Zverev. Don’t get me wrong, it matters for both the players and the countless fans. But it doesn’t matter for Tiffany, the official partner of the US Open and the luxury brand that handcrafts the trophy.

Before 1987, the US Open trophy system went through various traditions and design changes that failed to stand the test of time. That inconsistency vanished when the United States Tennis Association (USTA) officially partnered with legendary luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. to standardize the tournament’s hardware.

What followed that historic 1987 agreement became nothing short of an enduring sporting legacy. This partnership continues to thrive today because both iconic American brands trace their roots to the exact same developmental era. Tiffany’s deep connection with competitive sports has organically grown into a massive business sector linking luxury directly to legendary milestones.

US Open offers something to Tiffany that money simply can’t

The US Open trophy is more than a prize waiting for the champion at the end of the tournament. It is also a showcase of Tiffany’s craftsmanship and a powerful marketing tool for the luxury brand. Making each singles championship trophy takes months of work. Tiffany’s artisans use techniques such as spinning, silversmithing, chasing, hand engraving, and polishing. Here are some key details:

• Height: 18.5 inches
• Weight: About 10 pounds
• Production time: Around six months
• Craftsmanship: About 66 hours

While the trophy is breathtaking on its own, at its US Open activation, Tiffany displayed some eye-catching pieces:

• A one-of-a-kind diamond tennis racket featuring nearly 5 carats of diamonds and inspired by the brand’s HardWear collection.
• A 24-karat gold tennis ball decorated with nearly 7 carats of diamonds along the seams.

These are not pieces designed for the tennis court. Instead, they bring together two worlds: tennis and luxury. That is where Tiffany’s strategy becomes interesting.

The brand is not simply selling jewelry at a tennis tournament. It is using the sport’s biggest moments, symbols, and traditions to tell a luxury story. Tennis is a particularly good fit because the sport enjoys a strong connection with fashion, jewelry, luxury travel, and high-end experiences.

Once the champion lifts the trophy, the trophy becomes part of the biggest moments of the tournament. It appears during the winner’s celebration, in photographs, on television broadcasts and across social media. That gives Tiffany something money cannot easily buy: its name appearing alongside a moment that fans will remember for years. And the brand admits it. 

Anthony Ledru, president and chief executive officer of Tiffany & Co., claimed, “The U.S. Open is one of the world’s most celebrated sporting events, and we are honored to continue our nearly four-decade partnership with the USTA. Together, we share a commitment to legacy, excellence, and innovation.” 

But along with this, Tiffany achieves something more. 

How trophy making gives Tiffany an edge 

Sports give luxury brands something regular advertising cannot easily create: a real moment of achievement. The trophy becomes part of the winner’s celebration, and the brand behind it gets to share the moment with the athlete and the fans. For Tiffany, that connection brings several things together:

• Victory
• Prestige
• Exclusivity
• Tradition
• Craftsmanship
• Cultural relevance

Tiffany makes roughly 65 trophies a year, giving the company a chance to connect with audiences across different sports. Each sport brings a different group of fans. But the message stays the same: Tiffany creates the objects that winners take home. So, what is a trophy really worth?

• The silver, gold, and diamonds are only part of the story.
• The bigger value comes from everything connected to the trophy.
• Think of it as: Athlete + Championship + Audience + Tradition + Tiffany

Tiffany purposefully embeds its name into all of those elements, ensuring they are permanently associated with greatness. That incredible ability to intertwine its brand with immortal sports history is exactly why Tiffany & Co. completely rules the luxury athletic field.

The rich history that connects sports with Tiffany & Co. 

Tiffany & Co. was officially founded in 1837, while the US Open dates its competitive origins back to 1881. Handcrafted exclusively at Tiffany’s hollowware workshop in Cumberland, Rhode Island, these sterling silver masterpieces have fundamentally shaped the modern image of the tournament. However, a deeper look reveals that Tiffany has much more to offer than simply casting a silver prize for the USTA.

This unique sporting history goes all the way back to 1860, when Tiffany created the Woodlawn Vase. The silver trophy is still awarded to the winner of the Preakness Stakes, one of the biggest horse races in the United States. Since then the luxury brand has expanded its footprints beyond horse racing.

• According to Robb Report, Tiffany now makes around 65 sports trophies every year, including those for the US Open, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, PGA Tour, and Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix.
• Tiffany has also made the trophy for the League of Legends World Championship.
• The company’s work has turned trophies into more than just awards. Each piece is designed to represent the history and importance of the event it celebrates.

What started with one horse-racing trophy more than 160 years ago has grown into a major part of the company’s business. And the US Open trophy is a big part of it.