It’s been 100 years since London Jewelers founder Charles London opened the doors to his Glen Cove, NY, store. Cementing a family legacy, the company is still in the hands of the founding family four generations later and has expanded from a single shop to a total of five locations: Manhasset, East Hampton, Southampton, Glen Cove and Short Hills, New Jersey.
“One hundred is a special milestone for our family, and we don’t take that as a small thing,” says Zach Udell, London Jewelers’ vice president.
In honor of the anniversary, London Jewelers published a special commemorative book with a look back at the retailer’s history, including never-before-seen historical photos and anecdotes from clients and former employees.
The celebrations have been a yearlong affair, which will continue at London Jewelers’ 16th annual Watch Fair, taking place from October 23-25 at the retailer’s 2118 Northern Blvd. location in Manhasset.
According to Udell, the Watch Fair is a marquee annual event for the jeweler. “There’s a lot of excitement,” he says. “We always set a new bar, and it’s something that our clientele looks forward to every year.” And people come to the fair from all over, Udell says, including those who have never visited the store before. “We love to make people happy, and we are often able to. It’s our biggest, well-attended event, and it’s informative and experiential.”
Udell works nearly two weeks straight in the lead-up to the fair — not that he’s complaining. “It’s just like fun and adrenaline,” he says. “And I think that’s true for our entire staff.” In addition, the event serves as the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season. “These days, a lot of people start their holiday shopping early,” says Udell, “especially in the watch world.”
At last year’s fair, Udell had a special moment with a client from Westchester who had never visited the store before and ended up purchasing a vintage Cartier watch that Udell had recently acquired and serviced. After sharing his in-depth knowledge about the piece — including the reason why he opted not to polish the case and chose that particular strap — Udell sealed the deal. “It’s so fulfilling to match a customer with the perfect product,” he recalls.
Representatives from top Swiss watchmakers will be in attendance at the Watch Fair, showcasing their latest launches, sharing their brand’s history and explaining the intricate mechanics of their timepieces. The fair offers a rare opportunity to see special-edition timepieces, some of which will be in the US for the first time. Fair attendees will experience London’s legendary hospitality, including activities and tasty treats.
Early next year, London Jewelers’ clients will be able to discover a highly anticipated, completely reborn and reimagined watch salon. The London Jewelers flagship in Manhasset has been entirely redone, in a near-total renovation. “We literally rebuilt the structure,” Udell says. “Everything from the elevator to the staircase is brand new.” The store, which spans over 13,000 square feet, will have an added third floor, part of which will be a lounge and an outdoor seating area to accommodate more events and activations throughout the year. There will also be a custom-built Baccarat bar. “It’s going to be very cool,” he predicts.
Also very cool: exclusive London Jewelers’ 100th anniversary limited-edition watches from brands including Gerald Charles and H. Moser & Cie. The Gerald Charles watch is crafted of lightweight titanium, with a graduated turquoise dial and matching Velcro strap, and is a limited edition of 100 pieces. London Jewelers’ “100th” logo is above the date window at 6 o’clock. The watch’s caseback features the London logo and, as a finishing touch, London Jewelers’ “LJ” is engraved on the watch’s rotor.
The H. Moser & Cie. 100th anniversary timepiece will be limited to just 10 and is a true standout. “It has a very interesting new dial color they haven’t done before — a gradient orange enamel,” Udell says. The watch is a perpetual calendar, and in usual Moser fashion, “it doesn’t say Moser on the dial, or London; the only thing you see is the date window,” he says, pointing out that Moser and London are on the caseback. The stylized Art Deco font, meanwhile, is a clever nod to London’s roaring ’20s roots.
The 100th anniversary watches aren’t the only timepieces that have caught Udell’s eye this year. Vacheron Constantin’s new Traditionnelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calendar, he says, “looks phenomenal from the front even if you don’t know anything else about the watch, and the twin beat is pretty cool.” Patek Philippe’s new Cubitus 5840P-001’s skeletonized dial highlights the craftsmanship of the perpetual calendar movement, and its platinum case “makes it even more special,” he says.
The H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Perpetual Moon Concept Meteorite is another highlight. “This is not your typical moonphase,” says Udell. “It’s the actual silhouette of the moon, and it needs just one correction every 122 years.”
That’s 22 years longer than London Jewelers’ history, but given their track record, they’re bound to get there.
London Jewelers’ VP Randi Udell-Alper takes a shine to new styles
CATCHING A WAVE
“The Patek Philippe Nautilus 7118 is an iconic Patek design that feels more like jewelry because it’s on a bracelet and it has a wave pattern on the dial. It’s understated but recognizable, a refined, feminine watch that’s wearable for day and night.”
TWO IN ONE
“The proportions of the Cartier Baignoire are so beautiful, and it’s so feminine. It’s a hybrid between jewelry and watches. You can stack it with bracelets or wear it alone, and it can be dressy or casual.”
Rolex
JUBILEE YEAR
“The new 100th anniversary Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36 is so fun, and so recognizably Rolex. Its multicolored Jubilee dial is great for a woman to wear because it matches everything you have on.”
London Jewelers
ANNIVERSARY PREMIÈRE
“The new Chanel Première Galon watch in white gold had its global launch at
London Jewelers for our 100th anniversary and is exclusive to us. I love its iconic octagonal case and minimalist dial — it really looks more like a piece of jewelry than a watch.”
All at London Jewelers, 2118 Northern Blvd. Manhasset, LI
London Jewelers’ VP Scott Udell dives into exceptional introductions
BACK TO THE FUTURE
“‘What’s old is new again’ is trending. The Vacheron Constantin 1921 is a very good relaunch for the brand. With the interesting case shape, beautiful blue hands and numerals, and the contrast of the gold and blue, it pays homage to their history. It’s a cool refresh of a vintage-looking piece.”
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
“The Cartier Cloche is a very niche piece; it’s a watch from their archives that they’re bringing back again in very limited production. It’s a sideways shape that’s very iconic to their DNA. With its beautiful blue hands and yellow gold case, it’s quintessential Cartier.”
FRESH BEGINNING
“With the new Patek Philippe 5270P-016 Perpetual Calendar, I love the freshness of the blue dial color and the updated strap with the blue stitching. And it’s a grand complication from Patek. That’s their historical legacy; that’s where they excel.”
ROCK STAR
“This classic Rolex Day-Date comes in Jubilee gold, the company’s new 18k gold alloy, developed and produced in-house. The aventurine stone dial gives a beautiful pop of color.”
All at London Jewelers, 2118 Northern Blvd. Manhasset, LI