Harry Winston opens a new salon in Shanghai
Harry Winston may specialise in exceptional diamond creations for the body but, with the opening of its new salon in Shanghai this month, it has also created an exceptional jewellery box to adorn the Chinese landscape. Built from scratch in the smart Xintiandi district and tucked cosily into the base of the Andaz hotel, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the Harry Winston pavilion reflects the shape and character of a faceted stone.
The structure and interior were overseen by Harry Winston's regular design associate, Bill Sofield of New York's Studio Sofield. 'Light was the starting point,' Sofield explained at the opening event. 'I've often thought that jewellery shops can feel like little prisons, so we aimed to have as much natural light flowing through the building as possible, as though it were being reflected in a diamond.'
Sofield has a point about the dark, claustrophobic nature of many high-end jewellery boutiques, products of an industry that is understandably furtive about drawing too much attention to the value of its wares. His design is a welcome antidote and completely transforms the retail experience.
While there are no closed-off areas, the two-tier building has viewing areas upstairs and down, where displays are carefully angled to reflect the products. Subtle colour and lighting variations make the men's and women's watch areas feel right for their intended consumer yet, at the same time, open to all.
The building succeeds in bringing the traditional, sometimes stuffy business of jewellery shopping elegantly up to date, welcoming casual wanderers and serious investors alike. Meanwhile the old-style gold font used on the exterior (created by a Winston designer in the 1930s) nods to the company's heritage (Harry Winston established his eponymous New York boutique in 1932) and adds a distinctive New York touch.
To celebrate its foray into Shanghai, Harry Winston has unveiled a range of limited-edition watches and a line of charms in platinum and diamonds, an HW monogram and lucky '8' among them. It has also launched the Qipao Ultimate Adornments collection to pay homage to the brand's latest destination.
ADDRESS
No. 188 Tai Cang Road
Shanghai
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Caragh McKay has been a contributing editor at Wallpaper* since 2014. She was previously watches & jewellery director and is currently our resident lifestyle & shopping editor. Caragh has produced exhibitions and created and edited titles for publishers including the Daily Telegraph. She regularly chairs talks for luxury houses, Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier among them. Caragh’s current remit is cross-cultural and her recent stories include the curious tale of how Muhammad Ali met his poetic match in Robert Burns and how a Martin Scorsese film revived a forgotten Osage art.
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