Cover Busy traffic and Grand Central Station at night, New York, USA (Photo: Harry Winston)
Busy traffic and Grand Central Station at night, New York, USA (Photo: Harry Winston)
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For American jeweller Harry Winston, there is no place like New York—a forever muse that has inspired icons such as the elegant and stylish Avenue Classic Graffiti timepiece, featuring details emblematic of the Big Apple
Beyond its towering skyscrapers, yellow taxicabs, and hustle and bustle, New York City is known for being the birthplace of many influential figures and icons across various spheres, from the worlds of art and culture to fashion, design, architecture, music, gastronomy and more. It is the city of dreams and possibilities, and its infectious energy and spirit continue to inspire and influence the world today.
One enduring icon to emerge from the Big Apple is the prestigious American jewellery house Harry Winston, which was founded in 1932 at the height of the Art Deco era strongly associated with New York City. In addition to putting down roots there, the brand has consistently looked to its home town for design inspiration—after all, rich history and creativity abound in the city that never sleeps.
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Above Harry Winston Avenue Classic Graffiti in white gold set with diamonds, with a mother‑of‑pearl dial set with pink and blue sapphires, and an alligator strap (Photo: Harry Winston)
Harry Winston Avenue Classic Graffiti in white gold set with diamonds, with a mother‑of‑pearl dial set with pink and blue sapphires, and an alligator strap (Photo: Harry Winston)
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Fifth Avenue, for instance, has played muse to the brand’s designs. Largely recognised as the most luxurious shopping strip in the world, the area, home to Harry Winston’s flagship salon, represents a big part of New York and its collaborative passions, architectural prowess and trailblazing style. Harry Winston pays homage to this street and important part of its heritage with Avenue, an elegant collection of watches that takes design cues from the Art Deco period as well as the house’s New York City salon.
The Avenue timepieces come in several iterations: the Avenue Classic, the Avenue C and the Avenue C Mini, all of which are distinguished by a sleek white or rose gold rectangular case anchored by Harry Winston’s iconic arch motif—a nod to the house’s Fifth Avenue flagship store. The larger models, the Avenue Classic and the Avenue C, have specially crafted cases that are designed to comfortably fit the natural curvature of the wearer’s wrist.
While all the elegantly striking Avenue offerings capture the spirit of the street from which they take their name, it is the Avenue Classic Graffiti, part of Harry Winston’s New York high jewellery collection, that those leaning into street art will most appreciate.
Above Harry Winston Avenue Classic Graffiti in white gold set with diamonds, with a mother‑of‑pearl dial set with brilliant‑cut diamonds and an alligator strap (Photo; Harry Winston)
Harry Winston Avenue Classic Graffiti in white gold set with diamonds, with a mother‑of‑pearl dial set with brilliant‑cut diamonds and an alligator strap (Photo; Harry Winston)
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One need only look to legendary artists the likes of Keith Haring and Jean‑Michel Basquiat—both American artists are often credited for giving credibility to street art and elevating it to the mainstream in the 1980s—to recognise the tremendous influence that the New York City graffiti and street art movement has had globally on art, fashion and beyond. Drawing from this significant facet of the metropolis, the Avenue Classic Graffiti boasts a stunning stylised dial design that sees gemstones—brilliant‑cut diamonds or pink and blue sapphires—spell out “Harry Winston” in graffiti‑style letters, lending a vitality and modernity to the classic timepiece that is reflective of the energy of the city.
Further capturing the vibrant colour and art influences of downtown New York, the diamonds are paired with a blue and white mother‑of‑pearl dial and a white alligator strap, while the sapphires are set against a dial in pink and blue or blue and white mother‑of‑pearl, accompanied respectively by a pink alligator strap and one in blue.
Taken with the diamond‑set white gold case, which measures 21.4 mm by 36.1 mm, the Avenue Classic Graffiti is a precious, dazzling expression of both the house’s know‑how as an esteemed jewellery specialist—its founder was, after all, known as the “King of Diamonds—and its enduring love for its home city.
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
