Tiffany & Co. presented the new Tiffany Timer, created to mark the 160th anniversary of one of the earliest American timing instruments developed by the Maison in 1866.
Reinterpreted as a wrist-worn chronograph, the Tiffany Timer is produced in a limited edition and reflects Tiffany & Co.’s long-standing engagement with precision timekeeping, design and decorative craftsmanship.
Tiffany & Co. began offering timepieces as early as 1847, when Charles Lewis Tiffany recognised the growing need for accurate time-measuring instruments and started retailing clocks and watches. In 1866, the Maison introduced a scientific and sporting timing watch that would later become known as the Tiffany Timer, today widely regarded as the brand’s first stopwatch.
While Tiffany’s watchmaking activity expanded considerably in the late 19th century—with assembly operations in Switzerland and, from 1874, a manufacturing presence in Geneva—the Tiffany Timer remains one of the most emblematic expressions of the brand’s early engagement with precision horology.
For a more detailed overview of Tiffany & Co.’s watchmaking heritage, see our feature article “Tiffany in watchmaking history”.
The contemporary Tiffany Timer translates this legacy into a modern chronograph housed in a polished 40 mm platinum case, water-resistant to 10 ATM (100 metres / 330 feet).
The case features softly curved lines and rounded surfaces, with chronograph pushers shaped to follow the profile of the case and subtly protect the crown.
The faceted crown echoes the proportions of the iconic six-prong Tiffany Setting, a discreet reference to the Maison’s jewellery heritage. Crown and pushers are crafted in white gold, reinforcing the refined, monochromatic aesthetic.
The dial is finished in Tiffany Blue lacquer and is the result of a multi-stage process requiring over 50 hours of work. The base surface is hand-sprayed eight times with matte lacquer to achieve the desired depth of colour, followed by controlled oven curing.
Fifteen layers of transparent lacquer are then applied, each allowed to dry fully before the next, with additional oven treatments bringing the preliminary process to approximately 40 hours.
Once complete, the dial receives its printed details before being fitted with twelve baguette-cut diamond hour markers, underscoring Tiffany & Co.’s expertise in gem-setting.
White gold hands indicate the hours, minutes and chronograph functions, while all markings are rendered in dark grey for clarity and balance.
The traditional three-counter layout is retained, with chronograph minutes at 3 o’clock, chronograph hours at 6 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock. The chronograph seconds are read on the periphery of the dial, while a discreet date aperture is integrated at 6 o’clock.
Powering the watch is a customised version of the El Primero 400, an integrated automatic chronograph calibre operating at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz). Comprising 207 components, the movement offers a power reserve of approximately 50 hours and is chronometer-certified by the COSC.
The sapphire crystal caseback reveals a distinctive decorative detail. Mounted on the oscillating mass is a miniature Bird on a Rock motif, faithfully reproduced from Jean Schlumberger’s celebrated jewellery design.
Sculpted by hand from a single piece of 18-carat yellow gold and measuring just 1.4 cm, the bird is polished using traditional techniques with diamond abrasives and gentian wood tools to achieve varied finishes and sharply defined contours.
Its integration required recalibration of the rotor to maintain optimal winding efficiency. The caseback is engraved with the inscription “Limited edition of 60”.
The Tiffany Timer is paired with a taupe-coloured crocodile leather strap and secured by a triple-folding deployant clasp in 18-carat white gold. The watch is Swiss-made and delivered with a five-year international limited warranty.
Produced in only 60 examples, the Tiffany Timer by Tiffany & Co. is priced at US$55,000. tiffany.com
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