Tiffany & Co., an iconic presence in the Big Apple, has introduced a new luxury collectible that may become your next prized possession.
Recently unveiled by the renowned jewelry brand is The Tiffany Taxi, a clock priced at $50,000, drawing inspiration from the 1950s New York City taxicab. This stylish horological creation pays homage to the Golden Age’s popular Tailfin Fender design, complete with a yellow taxi sign positioned above its windshield. Crafted meticulously in aluminum, the clock features a striking paint job in Tiffany & Co.’s signature Tiffany Blue, along with a license plate that subtly references the brand. However, the real fascination lies within its intricate details.
The Tiffany Taxi houses a clock boasting two independent movements, each with its own power source. The first movement, situated in the driver’s seat, is dedicated to timekeeping. It utilizes rotating stainless-steel disks on the air filters, which feed the dual carburetor banks on top of the engine, to display hours and minutes. Regulated by a visible 2.5 Hertz escapement in the “driver cap,” this eight-day movement is powered by a mainspring visible in the passenger seat. Setting the clock is made possible by a counterclockwise rotation using its three-spoke steering wheel.
While the model-car clock won’t allow you to burn rubber, it does come with a dashboard key that starts the engine, causing the pistons of the V-8 to move up and down. The second movement, completely independent of the timekeeping mechanism, powers the engine. To enhance the interactive experience, Tiffany has incorporated a manual-gear lever, enabling users to choose between winding the time movement, winding the engine, or placing it in neutral. Selecting the appropriate gear and pulling the car backward allows users to wind up the clock.
This isn’t Tiffany & Co.’s inaugural foray into creating a car-themed timepiece. Last year, the jeweler, under the umbrella of LVMH, introduced a clock inspired by vintage racers as part of the Tiffany’s Time for Speed collection. The initial limited-edition version of the racer clock, priced at $215,000, featured 316 round brilliant diamonds with a combined weight of 19 carats.
The Tiffany Taxi, with compact dimensions measuring 5.5 inches in height, 7.4 inches in width, and 18.6 inches in length, weighing 11.7 pounds, is set to be available globally starting this month. An exclusive edition will be offered at The Landmark, located at 727 Fifth Avenue in New York City, featuring a gold and blue license plate with the inscription “NY-727” as a nod to the iconic address, available for $52,000.
