By Kien M. Lee
Frank Sinatra crooned about waking "in the city that doesn’t sleep" whilst with Jay Z, Alicia Keys sang about how the "streets will make you brand new. Big lights will inspire you."
They, of course were referring to New York City and its hectic pace of life where in an instant, things can pass you by.
Continuing on, Sinatra's declaration that "If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere" paired with Keys' homage to New York as the "concrete jungle where dreams are made of. There’s nothing you can't do" dovetails nicely with how as Tiffany & Co. puts it, the New York Minute is "60 seconds of pure possibility."
Indeed, it was the company's founder Charles Lewis Tiffany whose actions brought to life the notion of the #TiffanyNYMinute (The "New York Minute" would be a phrase that would only be officially coined a century later, in the 1960s).
Tiffany & Co. began selling watches in 1847 and in 1854 it was the first retailer in America to carry Patek Philippe watches following an agreement between Mr. Tiffany and Mesrs. Patek and Philippe.
In 1853, Mr. Tiffany unveiled the iconic 9-foot Atlas clock above his store on 550 Broadway, an assertive symbol of the city’s energy. The public clock quickly became the standard by which New Yorkers set their time, at work and at home.
When standard time was eventually adopted in 1883, Tiffany by then a renowned jeweller and watchmaker, began a weekly regulation of over 400 clocks owned by its customers.
Today, that Atlas clock stands above the entrance of the company's flagship on Fifth Avenue.
Tiffany & Co. draws from its heritage to now launch a new watch collection, the Tiffany CT60.
The new line of timepieces found inspiration from a Tiffany & Co. gold watch gifted to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, on the occasion of his birthday — he would wear it to the historic Yalta conference, a post-World War II meeting of the heads of government the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, to discuss Europe's post-war reorganisation.
On the caseback of FDR's Tiffany watch was the inscription, "Franklin Delano Roosevelt, with loyalty, respect and affection"
Possessing elements from both historic and modern Tiffany design, the Tiffany CT60 watches are powered by hand-assembled Swiss movement and finished with traditional watchmaking techniques that include Côtes de Genève, Colimaçon, and Perlage.
Chronographs powered by La Joux Perret caliber and 3-hand models are available in a variety of sizes for both men and women, in 34mm, 40mm and 42mm cases, in stainless steel or rose gold, with Sellita automatic-winding mechanical movements inside.
Silver or gold poudré numerals accentuate on blue, white, grey, and brown soleil dials, with blue, black or brown alligator straps or link bracelets, depending on the wearer's preference for a classic or sporty look.
A special edition 18 karat rose gold calendar 40mm watch on an alligator strap, with 42-hour power reserve, shock absorption system and sapphire crystal display back, limited to 60 worldwide, has gold poudré numerals on its white soleil dial.
Another exception is a 34mm on a steel bracelet that has round-cut brilliant diamonds on its bezel, with gold poudré numerals on a grey soleil dial.
The Tiffany CT60 watch collection is truly the embodiment of Swiss watchmaking expertise meets New York ambition. It is a celebration of the individuals who boldly imagine their own futures and work towards achieving that eventuality.
Charles Lewis Tiffany was one of them. So was Frank Delano Roosevelt.
It is both a measurement and recognition of time and the groundbreaking ideas that come to life in moments of sheer brilliance. It is that very vibrance that Frank Sinatra and Alicia Keys sing of.
Shop now at Tiffany.com
