Harry Winston is growing stronger than ever

A legacy of luxury and eminence prevails at Harry Winston, initiated by its founder and namesake in 1932. Harry Winston was among the most revered jewellers in the world, and the status of his spectacular empire has only escalated with the brand’s expanding portfolio of sophisticated timepieces. The legend continued at the 2015 Baselworld exhibition, where a number of spellbinding watchmaking creations from the Maison’s talented craftsmen and artisans were presented in an opulent and distinctive booth to much fanfare  

‘Day and Night’ Magazine had the privilege of sitting down with the illustrious CEO of the legendary jewellery and watchmaking brand, and Chair of the Board of Directors of Swatch Group, Nayla Hayek, during the leading international industry event. Ms Hayek covers all avenues, from Swatch Group’s acquisition of Harry Winston to the exponential growth of the brands success and the ravishing Secrets Collection. An ode to the brand’s founder, Harry Winston, and specifically to the air of mystery and anonymity that surrounded him, Secrets boasts 29 pieces which all feature hidden compartments or multiple components that only add to the appeal of these incredible creations.

As the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Swatch Group, what was your role in the acquisition of Harry Winston?
Years ago the Board of Directors had the possibility to purchase Harry Winston and following the significant review we jointly came to the conclusion that Harry Winston does brilliantly complement the prestige segment of the Group, and an announcement of the purchase was made in January 2013. The Board of Directors realised the untapped market potential in the high jewellery and watches activities, and agreed that the acquisition of Harry Winston was best for the company – a predication that has proved successful. We are looking forward to what the future holds for Harry Winston and we are sure the next few years will be a success with the brand growing stronger than ever.

What led your appointment as the CEO of Harry Winston?
The Board of Directors collectively selected me for the position, as they decided that I possessed the necessary skills, and was best suited to meet the demands of job. When my name was volunteered, I believed that it would be an interesting challenge and that it would push me to do my very best; I therefore took on the role with a lot of enthusiasm and dedication. I am happy to work with such a vast network of people and I am sure this network will only keep growing as our relationships strengthen.  

Please elaborate on some of the challenges have you faced as CEO
The challenges I have faced as the CEO of Harry Winston are not unique, I would imagine that they bear some semblance to the issues that any person who takes over a company would have to endure. The challenges range from learning how the company operates, the DNA of the brand, and what drives it forward to meeting the company structure. You also have to learn who works within the company and how they operate to ensure that a smooth transition takes place which doesn’t disrupt daily production activities. Another challenging task was to bring the American spirit of Harry Winston into the Swatch Group, to merge the two entities and allow them to work in harmony; something which I think we have achieved. We have great people at both companies who are proud of the teamwork they deploy, of course there is room for improvement, but we are keen on making these relationships successful ones.

What has been the biggest highlight for you since joining Harry Winston?
I am proud to say that every day is a highlight! Especially here in Basel, where I enjoy seeing the clients, press and retailers engage with the dazzling products on display. Our collection is extremely popular and this is due to the team that works hard to create stunning pieces – so the highlight is really overseeing the relationship between employees who pour energy, enthusiasm and commitment into Harry Winston creations. I am delighted to be the head of such a brand.

Harry Winston is known for both watches and jewellery. Why hasn’t the brand debuted any jewellery at Baselworld this year?
The primary focus is on the timepieces at Basel. They are unveiled throughout the year in different locations. For example, the Secrets collection is new for the year 2015 and was launched in December 2014 in the USA, before being launched Asia and then Europe. It is preferable for us to launch various products throughout the year instead of unveiling everything at Baselworld.

Is there a reason why the Opus timepiece is not launched in Basel anymore?
There is indeed a very good reason. The Opus is a unique creation that is too special to be launched simultaneously with other collections at Baselworld. Such an exceptional piece warrants an exclusive presentation, where it can enjoy the limelight separately, without being overshadowed by other timepieces. The Opus 14 is due to be launched later on this year.

What have been the advantages for Harry Winston to gain a renowned parent company such as the Swatch Group?
There are many advantages to being owned by such an influential company, probably too many to list.

Primarily Harry Winston is a jewellery company. With the involvement of the Swatch Group, will your focus shift to just watches or will the jewellery range still play a pivotal role in the company?
For Harry Winston, both watches and jewellery are popular, but the brand will not change its fundamental DNA. Harry Winston timepieces have a lot of potential, totalling approximately 20-30% of the company turnover, but we will do our best to ensure that Harry Winston remains a jewellery brand and the involvement of the Swatch Group will not alter that.

Harry Winston acquired two remarkable diamonds; the Winston Legacy and the Winston Blue. What are the future plans for these gems?
The Winston Blue diamond is due to be set in a stunning necklace that is currently a work in progress at our workshop. The final polished piece should be complete in the next few months. The Winston Legacy diamond, however, will remain as it is for now – there are no immediate plans to set it into a piece of jewellery.

Are there any differences in design between this year’s Harry Winston booth and last year’s?
Some small adjustments have been made to this year’s booth. The brand needed more private viewing rooms for retailers and press personnel, therefore we incorporated that requirement into the design of the stand as we needed a bigger space to cater for the new markets we have just entered. We predicted an increase in the number of sales people and visitors who might gather at our stand at the same time, so we had to ensure ample space was available to exhibit our products. Another minor change we made was the external window displays, where we set the products out differently than last year.

What was the inspiration behind the Secrets Collection?
The inspiration is the founder of the brand, Harry Winston, who created a secret about his identity, ensuring that his face was kept hidden from the outside world. The main reason for doing this was because he did not want to be recognised on the street, in case he was carrying high value stones with him which would put him at risk. It is very difficult to find a photo of his face; whenever his picture was taken, it was either from the back or where his face was hidden with various objects or shadows. So the idea behind the Secrets collection is that every piece has a secret, just like the founding father of the brand.

Do you have a favourite piece in the Secrets Collection?
All of the pieces in this collection are uniquely beautiful in their own way, so singling just one piece out is difficult. Admittedly, though, I do love the Secrets Diamond Cluster perfume bottle, which is a beautiful piece where you can add your personality to the bottle and carry it around your neck on an exquisite diamond chain. The other item I am particularly fond of is the Secrets powder box, which is a stunning little creation.

Can you tell us a little bit about the Engagement Rings Collection, in particular the unique Logo Rings?
Within this large collection of Engagement rings, the featured diamond can be personalised, colours can be changed to meet the client’s requirements, in addition to the shapes and sizes of the diamond. The Logo Rings represent the name of the brand with the letters ‘H’ or ‘W’ as the setting for the primary personalised diamond. These rings are available with or without the smaller diamonds on the band, but the setting cannot be personalised to illustrate different letters of the alphabet.

Where do you hope to see the brand in five years?
I hope to see the brand on the right track, growing stronger and remaining successful. I would like to see our retail network expand and develop, and I would like to see a growth in our own boutiques; we currently have around 30 global salons, but we do hope to double that figure. We are keen on choosing the right location and not just opening stores to fill the gaps around the world; the city has to be special and selected according to the market and potential clientele. There is also the aspiration to increase the number of watches that are being produced, in order to strengthen the market share of our timepieces and attract more wholesalers.