Harry Winston, Inc.

Harry Winston, Inc.
Wholly owned subsidiary
Industry Jewelers
Founded 1932 (1932), New York City, New York
Founder Harry Winston
Headquarters New York City, 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 store at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

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 City.[2]

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.[3]

History

Harry Winston opened its first store in 1932.[2]

Harry Winston was the first jeweler to loan diamonds to an actress for the Academy Awards, in 1943; after dressing Best Actress nominee Jennifer Jones in his signature diamonds, Winston became popular with Hollywood celebrities.[4]

After the death of the company's founder, Harry Winston, the company went to his two sons, Ronald and Bruce, who then entered into a decade-long battle over the control of the company.[5] In 2000, Ronald along with new business partner, Fenway Partners, bought Bruce out from the company for $54.1 million.[6]

In 2010–2011, the company's sales were €246 million in total sales and €36 million in watches.[7] The company also got a new CEO, Frederic de Narp, formerly of the Cartier North America. He succeeded Tom O'Neill.[8]

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.[2] 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).[9]

Noted acquisitions

The company bought the flawless blue diamond The Winston Blue on 15 May 2014.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "It's Official, Nayla Hayek Becomes CEO Of Harry Winston". Forbes. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Harry Winston – History". www.hautehorlogerie.org. Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Koltrowitz, Silke. "Swatch Group acquires Harry Winston for $750 million". Reuters UK. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "How Movie Stars Pick Oscars Jewelry For The Red Carpet". Forbes. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  5. ↑ Burleigh, Nina. "The Trouble with Harry Winston". www.nymag.com. New York. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Pristin, Terry (22 December 2000). "New Partners Hope to Expand Harry Winston". www.nytimes.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  7. ↑ Chevalier, Michel (2012). Luxury Brand Management. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-17176-9.
  8. ↑ "Harry Winston". www.worldtempus.com. WorldTempus. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "acquires the jewelry and watch brand Harry Winston Inc". Swatch Group. 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  10. ↑ "Harry Winston Renames World's Largest Flawless Vivid Blue Diamond, 'The Winston Blue". Forbes. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
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