Despite the dominance of Swiss watchmaking, there are plenty of other countries whose roots in horology run deep.
Have you ever walked past Tiffany & Co.’s flagship store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, and gazed at the Atlas clock that has been hanging there since 1853? Or perhaps you’ve heard the tale of how U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt wore a Tiffany’s watch to the Yalta Conference in 1945 as he met with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill, to discuss Germany’s impending surrender.
Despite its men’s watches falling by the way side in the late 20th Century, the famed U.S. jewellery brand is about to become a whole lot more interesting for horologically curious men.
Last year was a big year for Tiffany & Co. as far as watches go. It was a year that saw the jeweller dive back into the world of mechanical watches to launch the seriously suave CT60 collection.
Named after the initials of founder Charles Tiffany and the number of seconds in a ‘New York minute’ (a phrase often used in the city to describe its hectic pace), in its first year the CT60 won over plenty of doubters who were skeptical of the commitment of the brand to fine watchmaking.
Spearheaded by its vice president of watches, Nicola Andreatta, (and moving its watchmaking assets to Switzerland) the brand has again made some major moves in order to compete in the serious watch market, with the release of a several new pieces to the CT60 collection.
The accessibly-priced line of self-winding timepieces, takes its design inspiration from Roosevelt’s watch and now has added an Annual Calendar, Chronograph and Annual Calendar Limited-Edition piece in white gold to its collection.
The collection’s vintage aesthetic is richly reflected in the CT60 Annucal Calendar’s month and date double-complication, and self-winding mechanical movement which has recieved the Côtes de Genève hallmark of quality. The movement is housed in a 40 mm case of 18 karat rose gold and the dial is complemented by a black soleil finish and gold poudré numerals.
The dial of the CT60 Chronograph features a blue soleil finish and gold poudré numerals, which give it a clean and masculine look. The timepiece also features sapphire crystal glass (front and back) and is fitted with a blue alligator strap.
With the words ‘New York’ proudly displayed on the dial, there is plenty more history to come from Tiffany & Co. Watch this space.
