Tiffany & Co.
Legendary New York jeweler Tiffany & Co. might be best known for its iconic jewelry designs and defining the luxury retail experience in the United States, but savvy watch collectors recognize that the true value of a watch retailed at a Tiffany & Co. lies in the dial stamp at 6:00 which certifies its authenticity and rarity. Since 1837, Tiffany & Co. has remained the gold standard for jewelry and watch retail in the United States, particularly that of Patek Philippe, which has enjoyed a special partnership with the retailer since 1851, when Tiffany & Co. became the first official retail partner for Patek Philippe in the U.S. Market.
Few names in the American retail lexicon have retained the same level of prestige and desirability for the better part of the last century than Tiffany & Co. Long after the brand’s formative years establishing the silver standard and retailing its wares to American luminaries and style icons alike, the brand’s modern light blue colored gift boxes are now recognized as an international symbol for sophistication and unparalleled design. Founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany, the legendary retailer would go on to set the standard for the American luxury retail experience, while defining modern jewelry design as we know it. Tiffany would also be credited for establishing the diamond engagement ring as an enduring symbol of love while serving as the jeweler and watch retailer of choice for those in the know — including beloved actress Audrey Hepburn. While Tiffany’s own watch offerings like the tank style East-West and the classically minded CT60 have remained quietly excellent since their introduction, it is the “Tiffany Stamp” that perhaps remains the brand’s most important contribution to watchmaking. Certain high-end watches retailed through the Tiffany & Co. store network, many of those from Patek Philippe who has retained a longtime relationship with the American retailer since 1851 when Tiffany became the exclusive seller of Patek Philippe watches in the United States. Since then, Patek watches retailed at Tiffany bear a special stamp at 6 o'clock on their dials, certifying their rarity and collectible status for those in the know.
At the beginning of 2021, it was announced that luxury group LVMH had completed its acquisition of Tiffany & Co. for $15.8 billion, kicking off a string of celebratory collaborations, including a highly limited, and wildly coveted “Tiffany blue” Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 finished with the Tiffany & Co. stamp at 6:00. The first publicly available reference in this collaboration was sold at auction by Phillips in December of 2021 for $6.5 million. All of those proceeds were donated to charity.