One of their special offerings were Tiffany & Co. branded watches, many of which were made for the company by one of the fine manufacturers.
Although the maker's name was often hidden, the retailer contracted with a number of the world's fine watch and jewelry making firms to produce these treasured timepieces.
Popularized by Ginger Roger and Fred Astaire in their award-winning musical of the same name, the phrase came to stand for the glittering elegance associated with 1930's and 40's American high society. Patek Philippe, IWC, and Tiffany & Co. embraced this idea by offering an exclusive Top Hat model as part their other gentlemen's wristwatch selections.
Today's offering showcases this classically elegant Tiffany & Co. mens semi "Top Hat" watch made by Movado for the prestigious retailer. While a full Top Hat's lugs are hidden, this has a Top Hat design with thinner ribs with slight lugs at the end.
During Movado's glorious period from 1912 through the 1950's, when such innovations as the polyplan movement, Calendomatic, and exceptional in-house chronographs pushed the envelope of horological technology, and original designs such as the Museum watch took their place in history, their wristwatches enjoyed a level of prestige reserved only for works of the finest watchmakers.
It has all of its original parts and presents in excellent condition.
Its lovely rectangular case, which has a very tight seal, is in excellent condition with a bit of wear where it opens and on the pry lip, as its nice, tight seal requires a bit of force to overcome.
Its timeless light silver dial, now warmed to a light sepia tone giving it a true vintage look, was restored in vintage times and remains clean.
For the movement Movado used one of its very fine "in-house" handwounds movements fully made at the company's workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
One of our Master Watchmakers who used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center and has done contract watchmaking work for the Richemont Group, owner of Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin and others has fully serviced the watch which consisted of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, installing a new mainspring and a new correct mineral crystal, reassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $695 value). It is very clean.
It is running very strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a brand new Tiffany watch.
For the finishing touch, we have equipped it with a brand new Teju lizard strap making it ready for immediate enjoyment.
Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.
If you are looking for a special treasure for someone in your life, this is it. Modern Tiffany watches don't match the charm and romance of this vintage original.
Note: Similar watches are published in John Loring's work Tiffany Timepieces, 2004.
- Maker: Movado
- Retailer: Tiffany & Co.
- Country of manufacture: Switzerland, made for the U.S. market
- Year sold: c. 1940's
- Model: Ref. 43854
- Case no.: 388,732
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds
- Designed for: Men - today a midsized watch. While not a large watch, it presents larger than some of the small rectangular watches from the era.
- Case material: 14K gold
- Case condition: Excellent condition. Bits of wear where it opens and on the pry lip, as its nice, tight seal requires a bit of force to overcome.
- Dial: Silver - now warmed to a light sepia tone, gold applied baton and Roman indices, signed Tiffany & Co., restored in vintage times, excellent condition. Please inquire if you would like a fresh restoration.
- Dimensions: 25mm wide (at widest point excluding crown), 38.5mm long lug tip-to-tip
- Hands: Original, gold "batons"
- Movement type: Signed Movado, made fully in-house by the company, rhodium-plated, straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance, self-compensating cut bi-metallic balance, Breguet overcoil hairspring
- Band: Teju lizard , fully stitched, padded, brand new and unworn. We also stock a variety of other straps in various prints, skins, and colors. Please ask us if you're interested.
- Width between lugs: 17mm
- Crystal: MIneral glass, correct, mint condition
- Serviced: One of our Master Watchmakers who used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center and has done contract watchmaking work for the Richemont Group, owner of Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin and others has fully serviced the watch which consisted of fully disassembling the movement, carefully inspecting each part, installing a new mainspring and a new correct mineral crystal, reassembling and lubricating the movement, and extensive timing testing and regulation (a $695 value).
- Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is running very strong and true, keeping time essentially on par with a brand new Tiffany watch.
- Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email [email protected] for details. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts.
- Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
- Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee
