Mouawad

The Mouawad Company and brand began with David Mouawad (1865–1951) who spent more than two decades in New York City and Mexico learning the craft of watchmaker, goldsmith, and jeweler before returning to Beirut in 1891. He opened a small shop in Beirut in 1908 where he combined the trade of watch and jewelry repairs, with his passion for creating intricate clocks and fashioning one-of-a-kind pieces commissioned by wealthy clients.[7][8]

His son Fayez Mouawad (1917–1990) expanded the business in the 1950s when he moved to Saudi Arabia.[9] He was able to capitalize on the Middle East's increased oil wealth by making personalized jewelry for people in the area.[10]

The firm moved into the European and worldwide market under Fayez's son, Robert Mouawad. He had initially studied in Europe to become a doctor, but returned after being convinced by his father to join the family business. He started as a salesman with Mouawad in order to learn the business from the ground up, later entering into an agreement with his father to take over the business as the sole president. In the early 1970s, Robert moved the headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland.

He took many risks with the firm by purchasing some of the world's largest diamonds. He expanded the brand into Europe, Asia, and North America and began producing watches in the early 1990s. He's also contributed to jewelry education and research through support of the Gemological Institute of America whose campus in Carlsbad, California is named in his honor.[11]

Robert Mouawad acquired a historical residence in Beirut, Lebanon to host his collections of fine arts and antique pieces, and in 2006 established the Robert Mouawad Private Museum for his collections of books, ceramics, architectural elements, pottery, ancient weapons, carpets, jewelry, objets d'art and rare precious stones.[12]

In 2010, Robert Mouawad left the firm to focus on his real estate group, the Robert Mouawad Foundation, and his museum. He officially retired on January 1, 2010, and the company was then led by his sons Fred Mouawad and Pascal Mouawad.[13][14] Alain Mouawad joined to head up the watch division in January 2013.[15]

The Ahmedabad diamond

Indore Pears diamonds

The Mouawad Liliac diamond

Diamonds owned by the Mouawad family include the Ahmedabad which is a pear shaped diamond that weighs 78.86 carats with a D-VS1 Grade.

Mouawad is the owner of the Indore Pears which are linked to the Malabar Hill Murder. In January 1925, armed men attacked a car in Bombay which was being driven by an official of the Bombay Corporation. The passenger in the vehicle was a young Muslim woman who was the subject of the attack. The official was killed and four British officers came to the aid of the woman. Robbery was not the motive for this crime as the young woman was believed to be a dancer at the Court of Tukoji Rao III. The woman escaped from being a concubine and the murder was believed to be retaliation. The diamonds were purchased several times throughout the years until they were purchased by Robert Mouawad in 1987.[16]

The Queen of Holland diamond (it:Regina d'Olanda) is another in the Mouawad collection. Its origin is unknown; however, it was believed to have been brought from South Africa to the Netherlands. It was first cut in 1904 by F. Freidman & Co. who made it a cushion-cut and named it after Queen Wihelmina of the Netherlands, which is incorrectly referred to as Holland. The diamond was re-cut sometime after the 1960s into its current weight of 135.92 carats. It is judged to be internally flawless and 'D' color by the Gemological Institute of America.[17] This diamond was also formerly owned by William Goldberg.

Mouawad is the owner of the Jubilee Diamond. The Jubilee Diamond was known as the Reitz Diamond and is a colourless, cushion-shaped diamond weighing 245.35 carats (49.07 grams). It is the sixth-largest diamond in the world and originally named after Francis William Reitz who was the president of the Orange Free State at the time the diamond was discovered in the area.[18] The Jubilee is the largest diamond in the Mouawad collection.[19]

The Mouawad Lilac is estimated to be worth $20M (USD) and weighs 24.44 carat. It is an emerald cut pink diamond that is so saturated with color that it gives off a purplish, almost maroon, hue.