LUXE
Midnight Ride
”I think of luxury as exotic, rare, precious, and timeless. The
status is conferred by the quality of the product and what it says
about the owner, as opposed to the current model where status is
conferred by ‘brand ambassadors’ and massive advertising budgets”.
Conable founded William Henry in 1997. He established
the brand creating distinctive and award-winning pocketknives,
effectively transforming the archetype of all tools into a superb
personality statement. Today’s collections include men’s jewelry,
money clips, cufflinks, and William Henry has become one of the
most exclusive and admired brands in the often overlooked world of
luxury for men.
But what makes this brand so distinctive is that it has proudly
retained the aura and feel of an artisan workshop, where every
piece is designed and created exclusively in small, limited, often
unique editions.
The distinctive character of the artistry and the personality of
the materials make this brand’s every creation truly original. No two
pieces are alike.
“I like the idea that William Henry’s creations strike a personal chord in our clients,” says Conable. “Every now and then, it
is important to invest in objects that are personal, immediately useful, yet timeless in their appeal and relevance – these rare pieces
are imbued with the personality of their owners, and become part of
their living legacy”.
In the past century, movie stars and royals played a fundamen-
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tal role in propelling to fame brands like Bulgari or Cartier. It’s not
surprising that today’s search for exclusivity is brought forth by personalities and individuals that interpret style and luxury as a means
to affirm their distinctive personality, where choosing truly unique
creations is just as important as their intrinsic value.
William Henry’s customers represent a small, exclusive club
of canny individuals who realize simply paying more for something
may not make it special. The company is reserved about their client base, but we do know their clients range from high-profile types
like Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie to rock stars, royalty, and heads of
state, as well as less visible (but no less enthusiastic) entrepreneurs,
businessmen and even publishers of luxury magazines – including
the one your reading now.
Understanding the thin line that separates fashionable from
exclusive is an important challenge for most luxury brands. It describes the difference between the concepts of timeless and ephemeral, character and trend, and it defines the universally gratifying
feeling of possessing a truly unique personality.
Exclusivity is possible today as it was 100 years ago. You just
need to know where to look, and approach your choices with the
right mindset. As Matt Conable puts it: “Exclusivity is about being
you, not being like someone else”
William Henry is distributed through preferred retail partners
as well as being available for direct purchase via their e-shop at
www.williamhenry.com