Patek Philippe, for Tiffany

Patek Philippe

Art Deco diamond and sapphire cocktail watch

1923

Movement No. 806.XXX

Platinum rectangular case set with 4.80cts diamonds and 0.85ct sapphires. The inside of the case is stamped 806XXX

Silver dial signed Tiffany & Co. with black paintedArabic numerals and blued steel spade hands

The rectangular 8''' lever movement is signed Made for Tiffany & Co. by Patek Philippe & Co. Switzerland 806XXX

Silk strap with yellow gold buckle

This exquisite gem-set platinum watch was exclusively made by Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. This is confirmed not only by Patek's engraving on the movement, but also by the certificate issued by Patek Philippe. Tiffany, Young & Ellis (as Tiffany & Co. was formerly known) began stocking Patek pocket watches (as well as other Swiss and English brands) upon opening its second store in New York, in 1847. Only a decade old, the jeweller was already enjoying a growing international reputation for its silver and exquisite objects and the move to offer Swiss timepieces provided its clientele an alternative to American brands like Waltham and Elgin. Creating Tiffany-branded pieces was the next step, and in 1874 Tiffany opened a watchmaking factory in Place de Cornavin, which is also the location of the Geneva train depot. The Tiffany factory was an interesting, albeit short-lived, exercise. It made a splash with the Swiss press (an American watchmaking facility in Geneva!) but was ultimately something of a misstep for Tiffany. Manufacturing watches proved an expensive proposition that diverted time, attention, and resources from what had made Tiffany famous: the silver and jewellery trades. So in 1878 it sold the factory to Patek. The agreement provided that Patek would supply Tiffany with movements of the highest order and that Tiffany would '...attend to the interest of Patek Philippe & Co. in America as if it were their own.' The jeweller retained the exclusive right to sell Patek Philippe watches in the US.

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