Tiffany Timepieces [Hardcover]

John Loring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2004

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.

Editorial Reviews

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 the Author

John Loring, design director of Tiffany & Co. since 1979, is the author of a series of books on Tiffany style and entertaining. He graduated from Yale University and has an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute. He is on the acquisitions committee of the Department of Prints and Illustrated Books at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (December 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081095592X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810955929
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Clocks & Watches

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful resource for the vintage Tiffany timepiece owner/collector/admirer, August 17, 2006

By 

Noah Leigh (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tiffany Timepieces (Hardcover)

A wonderful history of the Company and the time peices they sold. Beautifully illustrated with archival photos not seen elsewhere, this significant book gives a real 'feel' for the quality and enviability of Tiffany, especially in the early years. Unfortunately, too little time is spent on the really early, priceless pieces, with the emphasis on the more 'modern' (post Depression era) pieces....not surprising, since the author was the director of design for so many of these later peices, that the book often feels a little too self congratulatory. Still, for the owner/collector/admirer of the early T&Co. pieces, this book is a must.