(PRESS RELEASE)
WASHINGTON – One of the world’s top jewelry design houses, Harry Kotlar, celebrated its 70th anniversary and the opening of its new boutique at Tiny Jewelry Box in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 8.
“Both Harry Kotlar and Tiny Jewel Box have decades-long histories,” says David Wiener, Harry Kotlar’s president and head designer. “The opening of the Harry Kotlar boutique inside Tiny Jewel Box represents a confluence of those two histories. It’s also a tangible proof of our shared commitment to excellence and luxury.”
The focus of the event was the anniversary collection, which gathered seven key pieces — one for each decade of the brand’s existence. Each piece references popular design hallmarks of the time, but are nonetheless timeless.
Guests of the event, which included Kotlar collectors, jewelry enthusiasts, influencers and editors, witnessed the unveiling of the anniversary collection. Each of the pieces were curated and presented in museum-like vignettes with a unique Museum Audio Guide. Eighteen of Harry Kotlar’s collections were also presented in a museum-like environment. Guests also had an opportunity to create their own Harry Kotlar pieces with a Harry Kotlar Illustrator onsite.
Viewed as a whole, the collections told the story of Harry Kotlar’s dedication to jewelry-making.
Now, About that Surprise Gold Kotlar Locket…
There was actually an eighth piece in the collection, and it caused quite a stir among attendees.
That piece was a golden locket, made in the image of Harry Kotlar’s personal golden pocket watch. During World War II, Harry used his own watch as an exchange to guarantee safe passage for his family. That sacrifice paved the way for his family’s bright future — and the future of the brand.
The locket was crafted with tthe high craftsmanship given to all pieces in the anniversary collection. At the center of the locket was a opal from Helen Kotlar’s personal collection. The front of the locket is adorned with a special Lily Artisan Pavé, a tribute to Harry’s wife Helen, who adored flowers. Re-envisioning Harry’s pocket watch as a locket allows its bearer to insert their own mementos and photographs, in effect making them become a part of the jewelry design house’s decades-long history.
An Exceptional Book & Film for An Exceptional History
Each of these pieces were featured within the pages of an exclusive coffee table book and fashion film, which was also released at the boutique opening. The book and two-minute film give the audience a first-hand look into the evolution of Harry Kotlar’s design philosophy and dedication to the craft.
Each chapter shows Harry Kotlar’s evolution of design and the inspiration behind each anniversary piece. One of the key fashion inspirations? The little black dress, which has proven to be a common element through all the decades.
“The little black dress, much like our jewelry, has also evolved through the years and remained classic and sophisticated — which is why I decided to dress the model in versions of the dress that epitomizes each decade,” says Czarah Cabrera, brand & creative director for Harry Kotlar. “Combining fine jewelry with fashion was intentional; most contemporary jewelry compositions look cold and impersonal. By adding a fashion element that visually tells a story — specifically, the evolution of the little black dress — we give the photographs and the film a keen sense of humanity while maintaining their timelessness, poetry and iconic status.”
The result is a book and film designed to serve as a tribute to the Harry Kotlar legacy. All the attendees took home one of these remarkable books for them to keep.