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Harry Winston, Inc.

Harry Winston, Inc. is an American luxury jeweler and producer of Swiss timepieces.[2][3] The company was founded in 1932 as Harry H. Winston Jewels, Inc. and changed its name to Harry Winston Inc. in January 1936.[4][5] The company is named after its founder, Harry Winston, who was called by many as the "King of Diamonds".[2][6][7][8][9]

Harry Winston is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious jewelry manufacturers in the world.[10][11][12][13][14] The company has its headquarters in New York City, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swiss Swatch Group, which acquired it from the Toronto-based Harry Winston Diamond Corporation (now known as ACDC) in January 2013.[3][5][15]

History

Early history

American jeweler Harry Winston opened his first store under name Harry H. Winston Jewels, Inc. in 1932.[3][4] In 1936, the company changed its name to Harry Winston Inc..[4][5]

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.[16]

Recent development

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.[17] In 2000, Ronald, along with new business partner, Fenway Partners, bought Bruce out from the company for $54.1 million.[18]

In 2010–2011, the company's sales were €246 million in total sales and €36 million in watches.[19] The company also hired a new CEO, Frederic de Narp, formerly of the Cartier North America. He succeeded Tom O'Neill.[20]

On January14, 2013, the company was acquired by Swatch Group.[3] 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. It did not include the mining activities of parent company Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, which was renamed Dominion Diamond Corporation.[21]

Boutiques

Currently, there are Harry Winston retail stores in ‌China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macau, Monaco, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.[22]

Noted acquisitions

The company bought the flawless blue diamond The Winston Blue on 15May 2014.[23]

See also

External links

References

  1. It's Official, Nayla Hayek Becomes CEO Of Harry Winston Forbes, 10 May 2013, retrieved 7 August 2013^
  2. The "diamond king" now wears a Swiss crown – FHH Journal journal.hautehorlogerie.org, retrieved 2019-03-25^
  3. Harry Winston – History www.hautehorlogerie.org, Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, retrieved 2 December 2015^
  4. Company Overview of Harry Winston, Inc. www.bloomberg.com, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  5. Harry Winston - Swatch Group www.swatchgroup.com, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  6. Three of a Kind: Larger-than-Life Diamonds Sotheby's, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  7. 5 minutes with… A Harry Winston wreath necklace www.christies.com, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  8. Heritage, history and Mr Harry Winston The Telegraph, 2016-11-17, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  9. Carolyn Meers. Harry Winston Unveils Revamped Flagship in Beverly Hills Robb Report, 2017-12-08, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  10. Harry Winston Most Prestigious Jeweler JCK, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  11. Harry Winston Diamond Corporation: Exhibit 4 - Prepared by TNT Filings Inc. www.sec.gov, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  12. Clare Thorp. Why Harry Winston fine jewellery is a timeless gift The Telegraph, 2017-11-30, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  13. Agence France Presse. This Flawless 101-Carat Diamond Just Sold For $26.7 Million Business Insider, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  14. Harry Winston - Jewelry Artists - Artist Biographies - Macklowe Gallery www.macklowegallery.com, retrieved 2019-03-24^
  15. Silke Koltrowitz. Swatch Group acquires Harry Winston for $750 million Reuters UK, retrieved 14 January 2013^
  16. How Movie Stars Pick Oscars Jewelry For The Red Carpet Forbes, 25 February 2011, retrieved 7 August 2013^
  17. Nina Burleigh. The Trouble with Harry Winston www.nymag.com, New York, retrieved 2 December 2015^
  18. Terry Pristin. New Partners Hope to Expand Harry Winston The New York Times, 22 December 2000, retrieved 2 December 2015^
  19. Chevalier, Michel. Luxury Brand Management John Wiley & Sons, 2012^
  20. Harry Winston www.worldtempus.com, WorldTempus, 14 December 2009, retrieved 2 December 2015^
  21. acquires the jewelry and watch brand Harry Winston Inc. Swatch Group, 2013-01-14, retrieved 2014-05-16^
  22. Find a Nearby Harry Winston Salon^
  23. Harry Winston Renames World's Largest Flawless Vivid Blue Diamond, 'The Winston Blue Forbes, retrieved 16 May 2014^