Industry insiders consider the company a “best-kept secret.”
It’s been 15 years since Waldan International last made a watch, but the acclaimed luxury brand is set to begin a new chapter under new leadership, the New York Times writes. The article explains that Oscar Waldan founded the company in 1979, but because of his advancing age and unsold inventory, the watch maker stopped production. Now Oscar’s 23-year-old son, Andrew, has taken the reins, and the company is preparing to launch its first collection designed by the younger Waldan.
Daryn Schnipper, Sotheby’s senior VP and chairman of its international watch division, told the NYT that the Switzerland-made watches cost between $8,000 to $36,000 and are known for a high number of complications. “They’re very highly jeweled, they’re well finished and they are attractive, and their price point is very reasonable,” she says. The article also cites a renowned watch dealer in Rhode Island, who considers the business something of a “best-kept secret.”
Read more at The New York Times
Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
