[TIFFANY & CO.] Tiffany Unveils Restored Historic "Astronomical Clock" Commemorating 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence

Tiffany & Co. will unveil its historic "Astronomical Clock," originally created for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. This clock's movement features 21 intricate complications, primarily related to astronomy. Many of these are rarely seen in modern watchmaking, and one mechanism, in particular, uniquely displays the number of years elapsed since the independence of the United States. In 2026, it will display "250th" to mark this historic milestone.

Acquired by Tiffany in 2025, the piece underwent approximately seven months of meticulous restoration at Tiffany's watchmaking atelier in Geneva. Great care was taken to preserve both its aesthetic beauty and its performance as a sophisticated mechanical timepiece. Following its unveiling on July 3, 2026, it will be exhibited and made accessible to the public at Tiffany's flagship store, "The Landmark," located at 727 Fifth Avenue in New York.

The case, designed in the Louis XV style, stands approximately 2.5 meters tall and is adorned with elegant floral motif carvings and intricate marquetry. The front features 13 silver and enameled dials with gold-plated borders, beautifully arranged within a frame inlaid with California mother-of-pearl. The piece was crafted in the fourth-floor workshop of the Tiffany store on Union Square, under the direction of Tiffany's master clockmaker, Joseph Lindauer. Its completion took over two years, representing a masterpiece symbolizing the history of horology, embodying the exceptional skill and passion of Tiffany's artisans.

Tiffany's history in watchmaking began in 1847 with the commencement of sales of watches and clocks. In 1868, the company opened an office and watch assembly workshop in Geneva, and in 1874, established a manufacture in the city center. Tiffany's watchmakers, active on both sides of the Atlantic, developed and patented numerous innovative mechanisms based on their superior technical skills and horological expertise. Their journey embodies an unwavering pursuit of design, craftsmanship, and technological innovation.

The restoration of the "Astronomical Clock" and its unveiling in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence serve to reaffirm Tiffany's significant role in the history of watchmaking and its legacy of exceptional craftsmanship. As the custodian of this unique cultural heritage, Tiffany plays a vital role in preserving history and passing it on to the future through precious works that honor its origins and resonate with collectors and historians.

The "Astronomical Clock" is exceptionally special for its 21 complications that express the complex interactions of celestial bodies within a single timepiece. It merges diverse concepts of time, from the daily passage of time indicated by a 365-day calendar and 24-hour display, to mechanisms that directly track astronomical phenomena.

Technical Information

The front features 13 silver and enameled dials with gold-plated borders within a frame inlaid with California mother-of-pearl. The upper dial indicates the apparent position of the sun and moon against the backdrop of the sky. Below this, the sea is depicted on a horizon line, showing tidal movements at all times. Two further dials follow; the right one serves as a perpetual calendar, displaying the zodiac, month, date, day of the week, leap year, and Gregorian year. The left dial is a 24-hour disk indicating meridians and degrees relative to Greenwich. This dial also lists 31 major cities worldwide, with a separate rotating plate showing the local time (day or night) in each.

Complications

Westminster Carillon

A mechanism not visible from the front of the clock, it chimes the hours and quarter hours.

Standard Time Display

Perpetual Calendar

Displays the day of the week, date, length of months, year, leap year, and zodiac.

Hour and Minute Display

Shows local time, Greenwich Mean Time, and Washington D.C. time.

World Time

Simultaneously displays the local time in 31 major cities around the world.

Sun and Moon Display

- Apparent position of the sun - Sunrise time - Sunset time - Apparent position of the moon - Moon phase - Tides (represented by a horizon line over the sea)

Historical Displays

U.S. Independence

Displays the number of years elapsed since 1776.

Julian Period

A rare astronomical display that shows a continuous count of years, introduced in 1583, to simplify the calculation of long-term celestial cycles.

Astronomical Displays

Equation of Time

Indicates the difference between mean solar time (24-hour clock) and actual solar time.

Solar Cycle

Shows the position within the 28-year cycle used to determine the sequence of days of the week.

Solar Declination

Indicates the angle between the sun's rays and the Earth's equatorial plane. It varies throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, reaching its maximum at the summer solstice and minimum at the winter solstice.

Lunar Declination

Shows the moon's position relative to the celestial equator. It varies due to the moon's tilted orbit and affects the moon's height in the sky.

Golden Number

A sequence of numbers used in calendars to indicate the date of the new moon within the 19-year Metonic cycle.

Epact

Indicates the age of the moon on January 1st according to the ecclesiastical calendar, primarily used to determine the date of Easter. The epact varies annually due to the difference in length between the solar and lunar years.

Sunday Letter

A rare complication that determines the day of the week for a specific date and is indirectly used in creating an ecclesiastical calendar for any given year.

The last three complications are extremely rare individually, and their combination provides even more unique functionality. By using the Solar Cycle, Sunday Letter, and the Epact derived from the Golden Number, it is possible to calculate the ecclesiastical full moon following the spring equinox, and the first Sunday after that full moon is designated as Easter.