TIFFANY & CO. | Embarking on a New Watch Collection Journey

TIFFANY & CO.
Embarking on a New Watch Collection

Tiffany & Co. Finally Launches

Tiffany & Co., the renowned American department store and global high jeweler that has wielded significant influence in the watchmaking world, is launching its new round model, the "Tiffany CT60," and its rectangular model, the "Tiffany East West." This collection is a tribute to Charles Lewis Tiffany, the founder and originator of the phrase "New York Minute."

Text by KAWADA Akinori

First to Sell Patek Philippe in America

There is a saying, "New York Minute." This phrase, which has become a noun, means that fulfilling moments pass in the blink of an eye, and everything changes in the next instant. It's a phrase that symbolizes the fast-paced streets of New York. The event that can be considered its origin occurred in 1853 when Charles Lewis Tiffany, the founder of Tiffany & Co., installed a massive "Atlas Clock" measuring nine feet (approximately 2.7 meters) in front of the main entrance of the Tiffany flagship store on Broadway. This clock became a symbol of New York as the first public clock, and a custom emerged among New Yorkers to set their watches by it. Thus, "New York Minute" became established.

Since then, Tiffany & Co. and watches have been inextricably linked. In 1868, Tiffany & Co. entered the watchmaking business with its own stopwatch, the "Tiffany Timer," and in 1874, it established its own factory in Geneva, demonstrating its deep commitment to timepieces. Furthermore, Tiffany & Co. commissioned custom watches from numerous high-end watchmaking maisons. For these maisons, producing watches bearing both the Tiffany & Co. logo and their own logo became a mark of honor. Tiffany & Co. also launched its own original collections, with the "Tiffany Atlas" being particularly well-known in recent years.

In 2015, Tiffany & Co. launched a new collection of timepieces as a tribute to its founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany.

The round model, "Tiffany CT60," is inspired by a Tiffany & Co. gold wristwatch (the FDR timepiece) that was gifted for the birthday of then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Available in chronograph and center-seconds configurations, its design evokes the watches of the 1940s, with the tip of the center seconds or chronograph seconds hand featuring a red triangle, reminiscent of the FDR timepiece.

Meanwhile, the rectangular "Tiffany East West" boasts an exceptionally unique design. While its smart styling also recalls the rectangular watches of the 1930s and '40s, the 12 o'clock index is positioned at the 3 o'clock mark on the watch face. Following this, the 3 o'clock index is at the 6 o'clock position, the 6 o'clock index at the 9 o'clock position, and the 9 o'clock index at the 12 o'clock position. Furthermore, each index is oriented 90 degrees to the right. Despite its vertical rectangular shape, the watch is designed to be read as if it were a horizontal rectangle, offering a distinctive aesthetic.

Given Tiffany & Co.'s illustrious history in watchmaking, it will be fascinating to see what new developments this collection heralds for the future.