Tiffany Timepieces - Hardcover

Loring, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 081095592X ISBN 13: 9780810955929

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 2004

Synopsis

During the 1860s and 1870s, Tiffany Timers, as they were called, were made at Tiffany's own Geneva manufacturing shops along with the superb watches it imported as the exclusive American representative of Patek Philippe. They were an instant hit, and became the preferred timepiece of an impressive list of clients including statesmen, social icons and wealthy businessmen. Tiffany & Co. was instrumental in making the watch an indispensable fashion accessory for men and women, a treasured possession, and a vital component of every jewellery collection. John Loring, who is the current Director of Design at Tiffany's traces this fascinating history with an colourful text and comprehensive glossary of terms.

About this title

About the Author:

John Loring, Tiffany's design director for the past 25 years, is the author of this season's Greetings from Andy: Christmas at Tiffany's and seven previous Abrams books, including Tiffany in Fashion, Tiffany Flora & Fauna, Louis Comfort Tiffany at Tiffany & Co. , and Tiffany's 20th Century. He lives in New York City.

From Publishers Weekly:

In this beautifully illustrated volume, the design director of the iconic jewelry house Tiffany & Co. catalogues a handsome display of watches and clocks dating from the mid–19th century, when Tiffany surfaced as the "premier purveyor" of high-end timepieces. Prefacing the series of full-page photographs with a rather sedate history of the watch, Loring explains how advances in industrial science after the Civil War enabled Tiffany, with the help of Swiss-based Patek Philippe, to produce watches of both technological and social cachet. Even as factories churned out "dollar" watches with utilitarian character, Tiffany kept up its reputation of extravagance, distinguishing itself with ornate creations like the pink enamel and gold chatelaine timepiece that resembled a wild rose and the cherrywood hall clock with leaded glass panels. One clock, bought by California hotel impresario Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin in 1876, cost the equivalent of several hundred thousand dollars and was a landmark in the Baldwin Hotel. Other prized pieces adorned the wrists, pockets and necks of affluent clients such as William Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan. Close-up photographs reveal the fine craftsmanship of the Tiffany creations, from vintage gold filigree and jewel-encrusted pieces to the bold geometric stylings of modern designs. This book slides out of a full-color, die-cut slipcase—a package as eye-catching as the watches within.
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About this edition

• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 081095592X
• ISBN 13: 9780810955929
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304