Here we have a gorgeous Art Deco design of watch. This is a 1929 Tiffany signed silver crosshatched dial, 9ct rose gold banana style rectangular watch. The case is thin and curved to fit the wrist, it has a width of 17.25mm with a total length of 44.5mm. The dial is formed of silver and has the engine turned cross hatch finish. The railroad minute track is rectangular with the exaggerated Arabic numerals set within. It is signed Tiffany below 12, with Swiss below 6. The hands are of thermally blued Plume style. It has the fixed wire lugs to the top and bottom. The case back has the hallmarking from Glasgow assay office for 9ct gold. Inside it has the 15 jewel Swiss lever movement which has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time.

Tiffany & Co. opened their first London store on Regent Street in 1891. This was driven by high demand from British customers and American expatriates, following the brands success at the 1878 Paris World’s Fair.

The brand then opened their prominent flagship store on Old Bond Street, which features a historic Victorian façade formed of Cornish serpentine, commissioned by JW Benson.

The dial is typical of the simple, yet extravagant form seen during the Art Deco period. It is formed of silver and has the cross hatched engine turned finish, which adds texture and draws the eye. The minute track to the exterior has the railroad layout with the rectangular form following the case. It has the exaggerated numerals which pull towards the edges of the case. This is a restrained variation with the larger 12 and 6 separated to the top and bottom and 1-5 and 7-11 in a row on the sides. It is signed with the ‘Tiffany’ name below 12 o’clock. Engraved below 6 o’clock is the ‘Swiss’ text. It has the simple hour and minute hand of Plume style, which have the thermally blued tone. This shine brightly in the light with the electric blue tone.

The case measures 17.25mm wide, with a length of 40.5mm and a total lug to lug measurement of 44.5mm. It sits comfortably with a thin depth of 12mm.

The Art Deco Banana case is a really neat design. It is elegant yet impactful on the wrist. Elegant due to its thinner width and narrow strap design and impactful due to the curvature and length over the wrist. These watches really span the wrist, using it as a canvas to stretch over. It is noticeable curved with the curved dial and top of the case. The thin surround to the glass allows the dial to take centre stage. The bottom of the case is also curved, allowing it to sit neatly on the wrist. To the right-hand side is a neat coin edge crown with the domed face, in the rose gold tone. The lugs are formed of the gold wire and unusually there are original, with the crisp 9ct hallmarking visible on both.

To the rear is the hallmarking from Glasgow assay office for 9ct gold. The letter ‘g’ dates the watch to 1929. It has the ‘GS’ makers mark for George Stockwell, the renowned importer of good quality Swiss watches into the UK. It also has the A5M mark which was registered by J Veron Grauer & Co of Geneve. They acted as agents for Swiss watch case manufacturers, carrying cases to Britain, submitted them for hallmarking and then returned them to Switzerland to be finished before being sold to retailers.

Inside is a 15 jewel Swiss lever movement, which is manual wind. It is tonneau shaped to fit the thin case and is marked as having two adjustments. It has been recently serviced and is keeping accurate time for the age of the watch.

The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.

Dial:
The dial is formed of silver and has been silver dipped, which has lifted the tarnished tone to a bright silver, allowing the signing to contrast more. It is original and has the clear signing which has the feathered appearance.

Glass:
The curved acrylic lens is a good fit to the watch and is free of major scratching.

Crown:
The crown is original and is in decent condition. It has wear to the rose gold plating on the face.

Case:
The case is formed of 9ct gold and is in good condition with the polished finish. It is free of denting and noticeable scratching. The wire lugs are good and original with clear hallmarking.

Caseback:
The hallmarking to the rear is slightly rubbed as expected by is still clear. The back closes tightly and is in good condition.

Strap:
The watch comes on a vintage leather strap for fixed bar lugs. It is in good vintage condition.

Movement:
The movement is a 15 jewel Swiss lever movement, which is manual wind.

It has been recently serviced and is in good condition, keeping accurate time to a 60 seconds variation a day, with an amplitude of 260 degrees and a beat error of 1.0m/s.

Case dimensions
Case width: 17.25mm
Case width with crown: 19mm
Case length: 40.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 44.5mm
Case depth: 10.25mm
Lug width: 12mm