In 1965, Jean Schlumberger created the Bird on a Rock brooch for Tiffany & Co., drawing inspiration from yellow cockatoos seen in Asia and the Caribbean. This iconic jeweled pin became a celebrated motif at Tiffany & Co., evolving into various jewelry pieces. Today, Tiffany & Co. revisits Schlumberger’s avian creation to mark its advancement into high watchmaking with the introduction of the Bird on a Flying Tourbillon watch, its first flying tourbillon timepiece.
Exquisite Craftsmanship
Tiffany & Co.’s unparalleled jewelry-making expertise is showcased in the Bird on a Flying Tourbillon watch. The dial features a pair of diamond-set white and yellow gold birds (147 diamonds) in flight, alongside a diamond-set time display subdial (168 diamonds) and a flying tourbillon. The tourbillon, adorned with a diamond, is placed under a hand-faceted sapphire crystal dome, a first for watches according to Tiffany & Co. This faceted dome rotates with the tourbillon, casting light and shadows across the dial in a mesmerizing display.
Iconic Tiffany Blue Dial
The dial’s sky background is crafted from 16 cloud-like shapes cut from wafer-thin slices of natural turquoise gemstones. These hand-polished clouds are set on varying levels to create depth, a meticulous process that took about 45 hours to complete. The use of Tiffany Blue and turquoise marquetry adds a distinctive touch to the watch.
Luxurious White Gold Case
Encasing the whimsical dial is a 39mm white gold case adorned with 340 round brilliant snow-set diamonds. The winding crown, designed to resemble Tiffany’s famous engagement ring with a six-prong setting, secures a solitaire diamond. The case back features 143 snow-set diamonds, enhancing its opulent appearance.
Bespoke Movement
Powering this masterpiece is the bespoke Caliber AFT24T01, developed by Swiss movement maker Artime under Tiffany & Co.’s creative direction. This manual-winding movement comprises 205 components, operates at 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz), and offers a 60-hour power reserve. High-polished star-shaped bridges secure both the tourbillon and time display subdial, inspired by the six-prong Tiffany setting and punctuated with a blue Tiffany & Co. logo.
A Limited Edition Marvel
The Bird on a Flying Tourbillon watch is paired with a navy blue alligator strap, fastened with an 18k white gold T buckle set with 49 round brilliant diamonds. In total, the watch features 848 diamonds, amounting to 3.9 carats. This limited edition watch, with only 25 pieces available (ref. 74863264), exemplifies Tiffany & Co.’s commitment to high-jewelry and high-watchmaking, combining creativity, artistry, and immaculate execution.
A New Era for Tiffany & Co.
By venturing into the realm of flying tourbillons, Tiffany & Co. signals its intent to expand into high-horology. The Bird on a Flying Tourbillon watch is a magnificent example of this new direction. Despite requests for pricing details, Tiffany & Co. has not disclosed the retail price, though it is expected to be exceptionally high. This exquisite watch is a testament to Tiffany & Co.’s legacy of innovation and craftsmanship.
TiffanyAndCo #HighWatchmaking #LuxuryWatch #FlyingTourbillon #Diamonds #Jewelry #SapphireCrystal #TurquoiseDial #Handcrafted #SwissMovement #LimitedEdition #WatchCollector #Horology #Timepiece #Artistry #Innovation #LuxuryLifestyle #ExquisiteCraftsmanship #IconicDesign #ElegantTimepiece