An American Icon meets Swiss Savoir Faire.
Tiffany & Co. made its LVMH Watch Week debut this year in Paris, it took the opportunity to pay its homage to world-renowned jewellery designer Jean Schlumberger, who has been its in-house designer since 1956 until his retirement in the ‘70s. The long and beautiful collaboration between Tiffany & Co and Jean Schlumberger has created some of the most beautiful and coveted jewellery in the world, and the three of timepieces presented at the recent watch fair pay tribute to and inspired by the designer himself in the highest honour the House possibly could, in Haute Horlogerie.
Tiffany & Co. Bird on a Rock Flying Tourbillon
The watch is not only inspired by Jean Schlumberger’s design but also lays the foundation of the watch division of the House, design, artistic craftsmanship, jewellery expertise and fine watchmaking. The Bird on a Flying Tourbillon is inspired by the Bird on a Rock brooch by the designer created in 1965. The watch has 340 brilliant diamonds with snow settings on a 39mm white gold case, and it frames just about the most intricate and beautiful dial of turquoise marquetry pieces together mimicking the blue sky. It is decorated with two diamonds encrusted parakeets in white and yellow gold. A diamond-set off-centre sub-dial at one o’clock for the hours and minutes with white gold hands, and at seven o’clock is the Flying Tourbillon. And on the caseback, you can witness more refinement, the plates are not left alone, they are encrusted with snow-set diamonds as well. If that’s not paying attention to the finest details, I don’t know what is.
Beneath the exquisitely handcrafted dial housed within the snow-set diamond white gold case is bespoke hand-wound Calibre AFT24T01 with a 60-second flying tourbillon, a movement developed by Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture, Artime with direction from the House creative division. It is made of 205 components and harnesses 50 hours of power reserve.
The classic aesthetics and the talented heart within are a definite win for the mechanical-savvy ladies with discerning taste for nothing but the best. Hurry to Tiffany& Co. and place your order as there are only 25 pieces made.
Tiffany & Co. Bird on a Rock Watch
Following the team of the Bird on a Rock, the Bird on the Rock Watch, takes a simpler path but no less exquisite, as it askew towards the Haute Joaillerie instead. The watch comes in two different variants - a Tsavorite and an Aquamarine. And here is how they sparkled differently – The 39mm white gold case is set with brilliant diamonds on the bezel and the lugs are given the snow-setting treatment, the contrast, needless to say, is dazzling. The outer ring of the centre dial is set with the seductive clear green emerald-cut Tsavorite and encircled by a snow-set diamond centre dial with hour and minute white gold hands. And the ‘Bird’ set with diamonds on white gold with yellow gold comb and feet which is firmly perched at six o’clock, in fact attached to the Tsavorite’s ring which spins freely around the dial with the slightest of movements thanks to the ball bearings it is sitting on to make it comes alive, a little clever and whimsical touch. The aesthetic of each of the elements is cleverly executed is just beautiful and comes with a matching dark-green alligator strap. The watch is powered by a Manufacture automatic Calibre LTM 2100 with 38 hours of power reserve.
The aquamarine version is the Bird on a Rock Full Pave Diamond Watch, which has a 36mm white gold case with a bezel set with brilliant diamond and snow-setting on the lugs. The outer ring of the centre dial is set with emerald-cut aquamarines instead, and the white gold bracelet is paved with diamond with snow-setting, manifesting an ultra-luxury as it deserves. Within the case lies a quartz movement that powers the watch.
