By LaMont Jones

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With a live trumpet fanfare and splashes of its signature blue all around, Tiffany & Co. opened the doors of its new Ross Park Mall store Friday morning for the first time.

The ceremony and light breakfast were for media and invited guests, but that didn't stop passers-by from angling for a glimpse inside the sparkling new confines of the fabled luxury brand. The store's facade incorporates some of the architectural elements of the Manhattan flagship, with its flamed black stone, polished green marble, moon-gray limestone, brushed stainless steel and Deco-inspired doors.

Pittsburgh Public Theater chief Ted Pappas drew laughter from the crowd of about 200 during the opening ceremony outside the store.

"Today, I'm fulfilling one of my longtime fantasies -- I'm having breakfast at Tiffany's," he said, referencing the 1961 movie starring Audrey Hepburn.

Tiffany chose the theater and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens as "community partners" that the store will support in charitable endeavors. Phipps Executive Director Richard V. Piacentini lauded the relationship, noting that Henry Phipps and Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of the company's founder, were contemporaries. They would agree that "nature is our designer," he said.

The 5,700-square-foot store is situated at a strategic corner across from Louis Vuitton on the mall's lower level. At the opening, two Docherty models stood out in Tiffany blue dresses designed by Angel Sanchez -- accessorized, of course, by diamond rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings from the store.

The store has a smaller selection of what's in the flagship, ranging from engagement rings, watches, charms, crystal gifts and sterling silver pieces to jewelry from collections by Elsa Peretti, Paloma Picasso, Jean Schlumberger and Frank Gehry.

Store director Tracy Weigand, wearing a replica of the "Bird on a Rock" pin that incorporates the legendary Tiffany yellow diamond, said yesterday marked "the beginning of what we hope will be a long and successful run at Ross Park Mall."

While some question the wisdom of opening such a high-end jewelry store outside the city's center, Tiffany group vice president Elizabeth Ames said the site "is ideally situated to serve our growing customer base in the Pittsburgh area. And now these customers will have the convenience of shopping at Tiffany closer to home."

The store's hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.