Harry Winston Opens Salon in Harrods

International luxury brand, Harry Winston, on Friday opened a salon in Harrods, marking its second retail location in London and 27th worldwide.

Located in the luxury department store’s fine jewelry room, the salon was designed by Studio Sofield, Inc. of New York. The 631-square-foot space uses a soft taupe and grey color palette complements the custom designed black lacquer and antique bronze furniture and display vitrines, with vintage floor lamps, bespoke chandeliers and hand beaded silk walls completing the look.

The salon contains dedicated high jewelry, bridal jewelry, and timepieces, including one-of-kind pieces from the brand’s Ultimate Adornments. Harry Winston’s largest high jewelry collection to date, was on display for the grand opening.

Frédéric de Narp, president & CEO, Harry Winston Inc., said the new salon is part of the company’s expansion plan.

“Harry Winston salons are located in the finest shopping destinations across the globe,” he said. “As one of the great international cities, London is a key and critical part of our retail growth.”

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Royal Asscher’s Stars of Africa collection at Harrods

Royal Stars with orange diamonds

London’s luxury department store, Harrods, has begun selling the Stars of Africa floating diamonds collection from the Royal Asscher Diamond Company.

Harrods will have the largest collection of Stars of Africa jewelry in the U.K., including the limited editions with pink diamonds and the Royal Stars with orange diamonds (pictured), which is a tribute to the Royal Dutch family for the extension of the Royal title earlier this year.

Launched in 2009, the collection (comprised of rings, earrings, pendants and cuff links) consist of diamonds encased within fluid-filled sapphire domes, which allow the diamonds to float freely like snowflakes in a snow globe. The result is cascading diamonds that emit light, fire and beauty.

Sales from the jewelry collection benefits Royal Asscher’s Africa-focused fundraising initiative, Stars of Africa, which aims to improve infrastructure in Africa by generating funding for healthcare, education and self sufficiency programs.

Royal Asscher is renowned for its heritage and history, which includes cleaving the world’s largest rough diamond in 1908, the Cullinan, presently housed in Great Britain’s Crown Jewels. Royal visitors to the Amsterdam based company include Japan’s Emperor Hirohito, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands.

Tissot’s Interactive Window Display at Harrods

Those of you who read this website regularly know that Swiss watchmaker Tissot has been using augmented reality displays to market its products at department stores and online. This time, the famous Harrods department store in London gets the interactive treatment.

The company is showcasing its Ladies and T-Touch collection in one of Harrods window displays on Brompton Road as part of the store’s new promotion celebrating all things Swiss. The window display allow consumers to virtually “try on” watches by placing a paper band around their wrist and showing it to the interactive display screen on the window. The fully interactive touch screen allows these potential customers to engage with a wider range of Tissot watches than in the past.

The augmented reality display, which began April 1, is live and fully interactive on weekends between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. The display will be in place till April 24.

As part of the promotion, customers have the opportunity to win a Tissot Jungfraubahn watch and a holiday to Jungfraujoch to witness the mountain panorama in Switzerland.

The display is provided by London-based Holition, which specializes in 3D and augmented reality applications online, in-stores and at live events for luxury retailers and brands.