Harry Winston, Inc.

Harry Winston, Inc.
Wholly owned subsidiary
Industry Jewelers
Founded 1932, New York, New York
Founder Harry Winston
Headquarters New York, New York, United States
Key people
 Nayla Hayek, CEO[1]
Harry Winston, Founder
Products Jewelry and timepieces
Parent The Swatch Group
Website harrywinston.com
Harry Winston's headquarters, 718 5th Avenue, New York City

Harry Winston, Inc. is an American luxury jeweler and producer of Swiss timepieces. Named after its founder, the jeweler Harry Winston, the company has its headquarters in New York.

Harry Winston is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Swatch Group, which acquired it from the Toronto based Harry Winston Diamond Corporation in January 2013.[2] Harry Winston, Inc. has retail locations (called "salons") in more than twenty cities worldwide, including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Paris, London, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Tokyo, Manila and Singapore.

History

Harry Winston opened its doors in 1932, quickly gaining a reputation as a purveyor of fine diamonds and gemstones. Winston created jewels favored by royals, maharajas, and Hollywood's elite.

Harry Winston was the first jeweler to loan diamonds to an actress for the Academy Awards, in 1943, influencing red carpet style. Dressing Best Actress nominee Jennifer Jones in his signature diamonds, Winston set a new standard celebrity style, and he became popular with Hollywood celebrities.[3]

In 1949, Harry Winston acquired the Hope diamond. Arguably the world's most famous gemstone, the Hope is a 45.52-carat (9.104 g) dark blue diamond. The Hope was donated by Harry Winston to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958 and it is on display in the Smithsonian's Harry Winston Gem Gallery.

The song Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend, as sung in the 1953 motion picture Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Marilyn Monroe, includes the spoken line, "Talk to me Harry Winston, tell me all about it!"

In 1989, to celebrate the fiftieth birthday of the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, Harry Winston, Inc. constructed a pair of ruby slippers made of real rubies and diamonds (as opposed to the original movie props, which used sequins).

In September 2009, Harry Winston, Inc. announced a project to re-design the Hope's setting to commemorate the 50th Anniversary Winston’s donation of the stone to the Smithsonian. The setting design was chosen by the American public in an online poll, and the new setting was revealed in November 2010.

In 2010/2011, the company's sales were €246 million in total sales and €36 million in watches.[4]

In April 2012, Harry Winston, Inc. opened its largest salon in the world in Shanghai Xin TianDi.

On January 14, 2013, Harry Winston, Inc announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its luxury brand diamond jewelry and timepiece division, Harry Winston Inc., to The Swatch Group Ltd. for US$750 million plus their assumption of up to US$250 million of pro forma net debt. The transaction included the brand and all the activities related to jewelry and watches, including the 535 employees worldwide and the production company in Geneva (Switzerland).[5] The company bought the flawless blue diamond The Winston Blue on 15 May 2014.[6]

Salons

References

  1. ↑ "It's Official, Nayla Hayek Becomes CEO Of Harry Winston". Forbes. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Koltrowitz, Silke. "Swatch Group acquires Harry Winston for $750 million". Reuters UK. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "How Movie Stars Pick Oscars Jewelry For The Red Carpet". Forbes. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. ↑ Chevalier, Michel (2012). Luxury Brand Management. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-17176-9.
  5. ↑ "acquires the jewelry and watch brand Harry Winston Inc.". Swatch Group. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  6. ↑ "Harry Winston Renames World's Largest Flawless Vivid Blue Diamond, 'The Winston Blue". Forbes. Retrieved 16 May 2014.

External links