Continuing the Harry Winston legacy

Swatch Group, which counts numerous haute horlogerie brands in its portfolio, hosted its exclusive “Time to Move” event to exhibit its high-end offerings. Nayla Hayek, CEO of Harry Winston, Swatch Group, and Chairwoman, Swatch Group Ltd, presents insights in the brand’s legacy, and its future growth trajectory…

Having acquired many famous gem stones like Hope, the Winston Legacy Diamond, and the Winston Blue just to name a few, how hard is it to source them?

Due to their impressive scale, colour and clarity, diamonds such as the Winston Legacy, the Winston Blue and most recently the Winston Pink Legacy only come around once in a lifetime. Diamonds of this quality and calibre are incredibly rare in the marketplace, which is part of their value and desirability. As Mr. Harry Winston once said, “nature produces so few perfect stones.”

The recent acquisition of our major diamonds not only represents our commitment to preserving Mr. Winston’s legacy as the “King of Diamonds,” but also demonstrates our promise to bring his beloved traditions into our future.

Harry Winston became synonymous for being the brand for Hollywood stars. How did that start?

Harry Winston has always had a strong connection and relationship with Hollywood. Known as the “Jeweller to the Stars,” the brand has shared its history with Hollywood for nearly 80 years dressing stars on- and off-screen in the most exquisite jewels. It was, in fact, our founder Mr. Winston, who helped to revolutionise the idea of red-carpet dressing as we know it today, loaning diamonds to an actress to wear for the Academy Awards in 1944, beginning a great tradition for the House that we proudly continue today.

Harry Winston is a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council. How important is that to Harry Winston?

At Harry Winston, we take the sourcing of our diamonds and gemstones incredibly seriously. We are a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and comply with the Kimberley Process governing the purchase of precious gemstones. For many years, all Harry Winston suppliers must certify that they maintain ethical business practices, and comply with applicable laws and regulations, including protecting basic human rights wherever they operate.

What was the inspiration behind the Winston Candy as it brought a splash of colour in the Harry Winston collections?

The Winston Candy Collection was inspired by a series of sketches from the House’s design archives, dating back to the 1950s and 60s, which featured cocktail rings in unexpected shades and were reminiscent of brightly coloured candies. Our designers were instantly drawn to these renderings – eager to put their own touch on these bejewelled confections – and began to seek out the most exceptional gemstones to complement their interpretations. Each one-of-a-kind ring is magnificent in its own right and an exemplary example of the creativity, expertise and rarity of signature Winston design.

Any update about the Opus series?

It takes a great deal of time to conceptualise and develop timepieces as complex as the Opus, so while I can tell you that we have plans for the future of Opus, and that Opus 15 is in development, I cannot disclose any details about the design concept or launch date at this time.

The Avenue watch case has been iconic for the brand. Why?

The Avenue has become an icon for the House, as it not only embodies the timeless sophistication of the Art Deco period, when Harry Winston first founded his namesake business, but it also caters to the modern woman who wants a streamlined timepiece that can easily transition from day to night.

The Avenue Collection – which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – was named after Fifth Avenue, which is the location of Harry Winston’s iconic flagship salon. The case of the timepiece includes diamond-set arches at both ends, which emulate the entryway to Harry Winston salons.

How do you balance the aesthetics with the complications in the Ocean line?

With the creation of any timepiece, we are constantly striving to strike the perfect balance between a watch that explores high complications and a watch that is functional to the wearer, while also being aesthetically pleasing. Our watch designers are always looking to unique artistic techniques, unexpected colour combinations and the latest in timepiece innovation in order to fulfill this goal.

The Ocean Collection is renowned for its bold, contemporary design codes and signature biretrograde displays and excentered hours and minutes, which perfectly achieves our mission to feature horological complications with alluring style and resiliency. Our special and limited project Z series is also part of the Ocean Collection.

Philanthropy is a core value at Harry Winston as it has supported many programmes around the world. In 2010, Harry Winston Hope Foundation was launched. Can you please elaborate on the role of this foundation?

The Harry Winston Hope Foundation is part of the Harry Winston Brilliant Futures Charitable Program, which supports organisations within our Salon communities that inspire hope and improve lives of those in need. The programme launched in November 2010, to commemorate Harry Winston’s historic donation of the Hope Diamond to Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Winston looked for creative ways to raise awareness and support for local organisations, often using the glamour, the magic, the story of his most famous and beloved diamonds and gemstones, as a way to reach a broader audience. Today, we are proud to continue this legacy of giving and to support organisations that strive to give young people access to a quality education and the skills necessary to be successful in life and enable healthy futures.

Harry Winston has just released the exquisite Premier Precious Micromosaic collection using the art of glass micro mosaic. Is this going to continue for the upcoming years?

Harry Winston has a longstanding tradition of creating bold timepiece designs, using innovative aesthetic approaches. The Premier Precious Micromosaic is that latest timepiece, in our vast collection, to feature our unique Metiers d’Arts. For upcoming years, it is our goal to further develop our métiers d’arts offering, by introducing new models that are strikingly beautiful in both artistry and design. So, while future novelties may not include the art of micro mosaic, they will incorporate another unique design element or artistic medium.

Swatch Group through the years have perfected the art of the Automaton. Will Harry Winston use automaton in the future?
Historically, Harry Winston has always produced unique, one-of-a-kind jewels and objets d’art for its clientele. So, with our timepieces, we like to incorporate this same sense of luxury, by introducing unique timepieces that marry the rich heritage and design DNA of the brand with our Swiss traditions in high-end watchmaking. Last year marked the first time Harry Winston unveiled a mechanical high jewellery automaton, which was developed with Jaquet Droz, the world’s leading automaton specialist. The Precious Signature was a desk clock that was adorned with opals and diamonds and capable of tracing the founder’s signature on command. Looking to the future, we will continue to make special pieces, but only those that tie back to our history and make sense for the brand.