To commemorate this long-lasting partnership, Patek Philippe has created a limited-edition run of Ref. 5711/1A-018 Nautilus wristwatches in steel endowed with famous Tiffany Blue® dials. Unique to these timepieces is the dual stamping of both companies, “Tiffany & Co.” at 6 o'clock paired with Patek Philippe at 12 o'clock. This casually elegant icon premiered in 2006 and will be retired from the collection in 2022.
The legibility of the dial with the horizontal relief embossing, a Nautilus signature element, is amplified by baton hour markers as well as baton hour and minute hands, all in blackened white gold with luminous coatings and features. The inimitable design of the case, the bezel, and the integrated steel bracelet is emphasized by the refined sequence of satin-finished and polished links applied by hand in a process that requires 55 production steps to complete for each watch. The rugged case is water-resistant to 120 meters. It accommodates the self-winding caliber 26-330 S C, a movement that features various technical innovations and optimizations as well as a stop-seconds mechanism that allows the time to be set with one-second accuracy. The sapphire-crystal case back bears the commemorative inscription “170th Anniversary 1851-2021 Tiffany & Co. - Patek Philippe“. It pays tribute to the 170-year shared vision and the historic ties that link Patek Philippe with the United States.
Only a quantity of 170 units will be available exclusively in the Tiffany boutiques in New York, Beverly Hills, and San Francisco that carry Patek Philippe. Tiffany & Co. will auction off one of the commemorative watches with Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo on December 11th , with 100% of proceeds benefitting The Nature Conservancy, a global environmental organization.
170 Years Together
Both Patek Philippe (1839) and Tiffany & Co. (1837) were founded within two years of one another. From the onset, the Genevan manufacture and the American jeweler have always shared the same values: a quest for perfection, a passion for artisanal skills and a top-tier appreciation and service for customers.
In 1851, Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. forged an agreement that made the American jeweler the first official retail partner for Patek Philippe timepieces in the U.S. market. On the occasion of the first business trip to the new world, Antoine Norbert de Patek reasserted the special nature of the relationship and paid a visit to Charles Lewis Tiffany in New York. On his departure, he was deeply impressed by the business volume of the luxury jewelry retailer and by a large order of 150 watches.
In 1876, the two companies signed a new agreement that appointed Tiffany & Co. the general representative for the United States “who safeguards the interests of Patek Philippe & Cie. as if they were its own interests”. Conversely, the Genevan company pledged to safeguard the American jeweler’s interests as evidenced by the huge façade sign “Agents for Tiffany & Co., New York” at Patek Philippe’s historic headquarters facing the Grand Quai. On the premises of the same Patek Philippe Salons in Geneva, there is further proof of the solid transatlantic relationship: a large steel vault formerly owned by Tiffany & Co. and decorated by an American eagle sporting two flags.
In the period from 1900 to 1930, Tiffany & Co. also played a key role in the relationships between Patek Philippe and major American timepiece collectors such as Henry Graves Junior for whom the manufacture crafted an extensive range of complicated watches. In 1946, the grandfather of the manufacture’s current president Thierry Stern founded the Henri Stern Watch Agency in New York. It actively nurtured the continuation of the successful partnership.
In 2008, Patek Philippe intensified its relationship with the American jeweler and opened a boutique within the famous Tiffany retail venue on Fifth Avenue that is currently undergoing extensive renovation. The manufacture’s complete current collection can be admired here.
Since the beginning of the third millennium, Patek Philippe created several limited special editions for the American partner; they recall important dates and bear dual stamps for both brands. Today, Tiffany & Co. is the world’s only retailer whose name appears on a Patek Philippe dial, making these watches highly sought-after with collectors.
