Story Highlight
– Tiffany & Co. launches Enamel watch inspired by Jean Schlumberger.
– Features paillonné enamel, snow-set diamonds, rotating dial display.
– Paillonné enamelling is a complex, labor-intensive art.
– Watch displays cross-stitch motif in Tiffany Blue or white.
– Available in yellow or white gold with diamond accents.
Full Story
Tiffany & Co. has unveiled its latest high-jewellery creation: the Enamel watch, a sophisticated 36mm timepiece that draws inspiration from the renowned Croisillon enamel bangles, designed by French artist Jean Schlumberger in 1962.
This new watch transforms one of Tiffany’s iconic jewellery designs into a functional accessory. It features a blend of paillonné enamel, sparkling snow-set diamonds, and a whimsical rotating dial display that adds a unique touch.
Tiffany’s history with enamel craftsmanship dates back to the 1870s, marked by a notable exhibition at the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris. In a revival of the intricate art of paillonné enamelling, Schlumberger reintroduced this nearly forgotten technique to the world of high jewellery in 1962. This demanding art form requires skilled artisans to carefully position gold or silver leaf fragments under layers of transparent enamel, followed by repeated firings to achieve vibrant hues and a captivating depth.
The Enamel watch’s design reflects the cross-stitch pattern from the original Croisillon bangle, which has roots in Schlumberger’s family heritage in textile production from Alsace, France. The watch showcases this motif on a rotating outer ring adorned in either Tiffany Blue or white paillonné enamel, framed by stitches crafted from 18K yellow gold.
In a distinctive twist, the dial comprises two segments: a central disc encrusted with diamonds and an outer ring made of enamel, featuring twelve gold cross-stitch hour markers. Departing from conventional timekeeping displays, this outer ring spins with the wearer’s wrist movement, offering a striking and lively visual effect. Each ring is meticulously produced, demanding a remarkable 65 hours of craftsmanship.
The watch boasts a case and dial embellished with 613 diamonds, amassing more than four carats, all housing a precise Swiss-made quartz movement, although specifics about the movement remain undisclosed.
Available in two elegant variants—one in 18K yellow gold with a refined white leather strap, and the other in 18K white gold paired with Tiffany Blue and a fully pavé bracelet—the Enamel watch is completed with a dazzling sunburst case back that pays homage to Schlumberger’s Floral Arrows design.
