Harry Winston: Truly Premier

It was in 1932 that Mr Harry Winston founded his eponymous brand in New York City; it would go on to become iconic for its famous diamonds, jewellery and watches. Paying homage to the city that saw its rise, the marque’s collection this year is evocative of the Art Deco architecture of the city. We speak to the brand’s CEO, Nayla Hayek, on inspirations, and more…

Why has Harry Winston concentrated on the Premier collection this year?
The Premier was Harry Winston’s first official timepiece collection, launched in 1989, so it holds a very special place in our hearts. With the Premier, due to its case size and signature design codes, the collection lends itself to more interesting and unexpected artistic approaches and allows our designers to really explore the breadth of their creativity and imaginations. And as you can see from our offerings this year, our designers found inspiration from a wide variety of sources, which resulted in dials that feature bold, colorful palettes, to geometric prints, to ones with floral motifs.

We love the Premier Majestic Art Deco watch; how did the idea of a black and white watch come to be?
The Premier Majestic Art Deco is an ode to the origins of the House. Harry Winston incorporated his business in New York City in 1932, during the height of the Art Deco movement, when now iconic landmarks and cultural institutions were built around this particular architectural aesthetic. The Art Deco period is closely linked to New York and is characterised by bold geometric patterns, structured linear lines and a dramatic colour palette of contrasting hues and finishes. It is for this reason that we chose to use the colors black, grey and white in the Premier Majestic Art Deco. To further capture the elegance of the time, we used a combination of meticulously selected black jade, brilliant diamonds and mother-of-pearl to further illustrate the beauty of the motif. Overall, it took approximately 150 hours to create each dial on the Premier Majestic Art Deco.

The Premier Kaleidoscope collection is a true marriage of colour and design; what are your thoughts on the collection?
The Premier Kaleidoscope is a truly special collection, with its beautiful display of colors, geometric shapes, and use of precious materials. To create the hypnotizing, yet dimensional, kaleidoscope effect, the dial required a high level of expertise with shimmering beaded mother-of-pearl accented with diamonds and cabochons. For me, the Kaleidoscope Collection evokes a sense of pure joy and reflects the true expertise of the House.

Will we see other iterations of the Kaleidoscope collection in years to come?
Harry Winston designers spend years developing a collection; first exploring the House’s rich history and vast archives, then drawing references from the world around, and finally conceptualising ways to bring their inspirations to life on a small surface. It is for this reason that when a collection launches, there is always the possibility to further explore the motif and introduce new members into its family. A kaleidoscope produces an endless array of patterns, and it is our hope that our collection lives up to its namesake.

Harry Winston is a brand that is mainly for females, but lately, we have been seeing more attention than usual being given to male watches. Why so?
For timepieces, we have been developing collections for both men and women. In the recent years, we have put more focus on expanding the women collection and this year is no different. We are introducing new models that are at once practical, functional, and imaginative.

While many watch brands have delayed watch releases for 2020, why has Harry Winston launched an extensive collection for the year?
Our timepiece collections are planned, conceptualized, and come to life many months prior to their actual launch, so our 2020 novelties were completed prior to the onset of the global pandemic and now that we see positive signs of recovery and markets coming back to normal like China and Japan, we felt it is important to present it and share it with our audience.

Did Covid-19 pandemic affect Harry Winston in sourcing the best diamonds and precious stones, as is usual for the brand?
No, Covid-19 has not impacted our ability to source stones and now that our workshops are beginning to reopen, we will continue to produce jewellery with the same level of superior quality and the attention to detail that the House is best known for.

It is thought that last year’s collection from Harry Winston was definitely the best it has ever released, but this year’s collection managed to be even better. Does that put more pressure on you for next year?
Every year brings a new opportunity for us to present our latest timepiece creations and with that, there is of course the hope that what we produce continues to surprise and amaze our clients. Our designers are constantly challenging their imaginations to push creative boundaries in the quest to create watches that live up to our reputation for only the exceptional.

What comes to your mind when you see a lady or a man wearing a Harry Winston timepiece?
When I see someone wearing a Harry Winston timepiece, I feel an incredible sense of pride. Whether a piece of jewellery or a timepiece, to witness the creation of something, from an idea, to a sketch, to a rendering, to the entire design process with craftsmen and gem-setters, to ultimately seeing it worn – is truly remarkable.