The Limited Edition Tiffany Square Watch has a particularly attractive dial finished in white satine (brushed) finishing and accented with gold poudre numerals, lumed cathedral hands and a certain depth thanks to its recessed small seconds subdial

Though there’s a recent trend for certain brands, heretofore non-watchmakers, to acquire existing watchmaking concerns and then position themselves as bonafide watchmaking brands, this isn’t the case with Tiffany and Co. In fact, in 1861, Tiffany watches were already being made out of a small watchmaking factory at 10 Grand Quai Tiffany, Geneva. Less than 15 years and the erstwhile US maison had expanded their watchmaking knowhow by expanding their Swiss facility with state-of-the-art machinery (for that period) on Place Cornavin, all the while, they were showcasing their vaunted watchmaking prowess with an innovative clockmaking showroom in their flagship at Union Square, New York

Square Rules: Tiffany Square Watch

After close to 150 years, Tiffany & Co finally recently returned to dedicated watchmaking with the establishment of a Swiss watch factory in Switzerland with their CT-60 chronograph collection in 2015. Yesterday, 29 August 2017, Tiffany & Co. announced a new Tiffany Square Watch, marking a return to in-house caliber manufacturing with a rare square manual winding movement—designed and engineered in Switzerland.

Created to honor Tiffany’s 180th anniversary, and thus released in an exclusive limited edition of 180 pieces, the Tiffany Square Watch is a classically elegant, timelessly appoint timepiece with its white satine soleil finishing on its dial, topped off with gold poudre numerals. The 27 x 35.8mm 18K yellow gold case enhances its classicism as a remarkable thin, refined timepiece with exquisite proportions. The caseback reveals a Tiffany Manufacture TCO.1874M hand-wound mechanical movement decorated with the usual high horology finishings like Cotes de Geneve and Perlage techniques. Cathedral hands further enhance nostalgia for 1920s watchmaking. The Tiffany Square Watch is not only a unique design from Tiffany & Co. but also, in terms of pricing, SG$21,500 for a MANUFACTURE movement that is actually shaped to its case.

The comparative rarity of a square movement in a square watch

“The point is, 70% of the market is round watches. The shaped segment is very limited and further segmented between square, rectangular, baignoire, tonneau.. you need to be round because that’s what the market is.” – Georges Kern

According to Independent watchmaker Max Busser, the issue is one of horological integrity, “we don’t put round movements in shaped cases because we are not designers. We are mechanical artists. This is what separates marketers from creators; if you want to please the market, you probably won’t take creative risks. The bigger the company, the more inclined you will be to please the market.”

Sister publication World of Watches has the full expose on Square, or in industry parlance, shaped watches here. Do check it out.

This latest introduction represents a legacy of the highest quality materials and a 170-year old tradition of horological expertise.

The 180 pieces limited edition Tiffany Square watch will be available at select stores worldwide. Singapore retail price of The Tiffany Square watch is expected at S$21,500.