My Precious Time and the Rosebud heart (right).
How do you sustain the continuous development for a fine watchmaking
brand like Harry Winston?
NH: Coming up with a “wow” factor watch that may or may not work or sell
is not part of our plans. It will never be. We will however innovate “wow”
factor watches that do function. The person who is buying such a watch
should be able to enjoy wearing it and using it, instead of just putting it in a
display box to look at it, which in that case probably he should buy a
painting instead.
Harry Winston’s Premier collection includes some fascinating and skillful
Metiers d’Art timepieces. Is there any specific reason for you to focus on
extremely rare elements and inspirations when producing watches in this
category like the marquetry, plumasserie and embroidery, to name few?
NH: The Metiers d’Art is one line of Harry Winston’s timepiece collections
where every year we introduce a new kind of Metiers d’Art that for sure is
very special. Many brands are producing Metiers d’Art watches but those are
mostly using the engraving, painting, metal, construction and such attributes.
We are trying to take elements either from nature or from fashion or other
parts of the various worlds of art that do not belong to the watch industry.
Therefore we are looking outside of the watch industry to bring in new
Metiers d’Art creations inside our watches.
Are you concerned about the current eco-political situation around the
world with the progress of Harry Winston?
NH: I am not concerned v/s the progress of Harry Winston but I am
concerned versus the world, because I think everybody who lives in this
world has a family and children and people around him has to be concerned
because it’s not a very positive surrounding at the moment.
152 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2017