Tiffany & Co.
TIFFANY TIMER, A FINE YELLOW GOLD, DIAMOND AND RUBY-SET OPEN FACED MINUTE REPEATING SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH WATCH, MADE IN 1900
Auction Closed
December 15, 07:07 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Tiffany & Co.
TIFFANY TIMER
A FINE YELLOW GOLD, DIAMOND AND RUBY-SET OPEN FACED MINUTE REPEATING SPLIT-SECONDS CHRONOGRAPH WATCH, MADE IN 1900
Dial: white enamel
Caliber: 16'" ligne movement, jeweled
Movement number: 78'484
Case: 18k pink gold, diamond and ruby-set, plain cuvette, hinged monogrammed case back
Case number: 78'484
Size: 47 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Accessories: none
Tiffany & Co. was first opened in New York City in 1837 and by 1876, the firm had monopolized the luxury watches and clocks trade in the United States. Their rise to stardom was propelled by the Tiffany Blue Book, a direct mail catalogue offering the world's rarest jewels to all of the most eminent world clients.
In 1866, Tiffany & Co. introduced the Tiffany Timer, the first American-made stop watch. The present lot, manufactured in 1967 is a highly customized Tiffany Timer dressed in 44 alternating diamonds and rubies. To the hinged case back, a blue enamel monogram by Tiffany reads 'GC.' John Loring, the former design director of Tiffany & Co. (1979 - 2009) suggests that it is 'very possibly the monogram of Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), President of the United States in 1885-89 and 1893-97.'
The present lot, numbered 78'484 is prominently featured in Loring, John, Tiffany Timepieces, 2004, p 15.