P41 Marilyn
14 January 2013
The jewellery arm of the Canadian diamond company made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the song Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend has been acquired by Swatch for $1 billion (£620 million).
Swatch, the Swiss watch giant, is to pay $750 million in cash for Harry Winston Diamond’s jewellery and timepiece division, plus up to $250 million of debt, to expand into selling luxury bracelets, rings and necklaces.
Founded in 1924, the Toronto-based diamond firm achieved global prominence when Marilyn Monroe sang “Harry Winston, tell me about it,” in the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Nayla Hayek, the chairman of The Swatch Group, said: “diamonds are still a girl’s best friend.”
