The exquisite timepiece is a tribute to the House’s illustrious horological legacy, as one of the first houses to master the art of combining fine jewelry with watchmaking. Set with the Eternity collection’s signature diamond hour markers, the vividly colored enamel dial of the watch replicates the floral motif of the Wisteria lamp, one of Tiffany Studios’ most celebrated designs from the early 20th century. To be produced in limited numbers, the new timepiece will be unveiled during LVMH Watch Week, held in Los Angeles from January 21 through January 24.
These beautiful lamps, with their shades in multicolored glass and bases in patinated bronze, were among the many objects crafted by Tiffany Studios at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries and retailed by Tiffany & Co. Regarded as icons of Art Nouveau design, the rare original lamps are among the most sought-after design objects of the early 1900s. Featuring floral or insect motifs, they are notable for the rich and harmonious colors and intricate patterns that are formed by precisely shaped shards of colored glass joined with copper foil. The new Eternity by Tiffany Wisteria watch draws inspiration from the cascading wisteria blossoms of these iconic lamps, echoing their latticework shades.
Tiffany Studios was established in New York City in 1902 by Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of Tiffany & Co. founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and a talented artist, designer and artisan in his own right. He often experimented with craft techniques and materials, including different colors of glass, textures and iridescence. In the early 1900s, Louis Comfort Tiffany employed women in design roles at Tiffany Studios, defying common practice at the time. One such female designer was Clara Driscoll, who designed the celebrated Tiffany Studios Wisteria lamp.
The Eternity by Tiffany Wisteria Watch
Tiffany & Co. pays homage to its beauty on the dial of the new Wisteria timepiece, amplifying the timeless aesthetic of the Eternity by Tiffany watch collection. The vivid colors, glowing with the intensity of gemstones, are executed in plique-à-jour enameling, an ancient technique involving the suspension of transparent enamel within small metal openings, capturing the colorful and organic essence synonymous with these lamps. The transparent enamel, characteristic of plique-à-jour, allows light to permeate through and reflect off the dial plate, showcasing the exquisite enamel handiwork. The hand-crafted dials mean each watch is distinctly one of a kind.
The design codes of the Eternity by Tiffany watch collection take inspiration from a series of vintage Tiffany & Co. advertisements from the 1960s that showcased diamond engagement rings in a variety of shapes and styles. Set into the colored enamel Wisteria dial, each of the 12 hours is marked by a differently cut diamond: round brilliant, baguette, cushion, Tiffany True®, marquise, Asscher, heart, pear, oval, emerald, triangle and princess. The various cuts of diamonds celebrate Tiffany’s authority and heritage as the purveyor of the world’s finest diamonds.
The watch features 709 total diamonds of over 5 total carats. Most of the diamonds are on the case, which scintillates with 627 snow-set diamonds in eight different diameters totaling over 1 carat. Snow setting is a technique where diamonds of varying sizes are artistically arranged in a close-knit pattern to create a fluid and sparkling surface, minimizing the visible metal and enhancing the brilliance of the timepiece. The bezel is set with 59 diamonds of over 1.5 total carats, while the dial is set with 12 diamonds of 1.9 carats, and the crown—which adopts the six-prong design of the iconic Tiffany® Setting engagement ring—is set with a round brilliant diamond of 0.42 carats. The entire process of crafting, setting and assembling all components requires over 150 hours of labor, with 80 hours devoted to the hand enameling and assembly of the dial and 70 hours to the snow-setting of the diamonds.
