{{short description|Private jewelry company}} {{Infobox company | type = Private | foundation = {{Start date and age|1890|df=yes/no}} | location = Dubai, Geneva | key_people = Robert Mouawad, Fred Mouawad, Alain Mouawad, Pascal Mouawad and Jimmy Mouawad | industry = Retail | products = Jewelry, watches | num_employees = 500+ (2013) | homepage = {{URL|www.mouawad.com}} |}}
'''Mouawad''' is a family-owned international company of Lebanese origin that makes and sells jewelry, objects of art, and luxury watches. The firm has headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with a Middle East headquarters at Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai, as well as locations in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States. Founded in 1891 in Beirut, Lebanon by David Mouawad, the firm is now led by 4th generation co-guardians Fred Mouawad, Alain Mouawad and Pascal Mouawad.
==History== ===First generation=== The Mouawad Company and brand began with David Mouawad (1865–1951) who spent more than two decades in New York City and Mexico learning under watchmakers, goldsmiths, and jewelers 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.<ref>{{cite web | last=About Mouawad| first=Mouawad Company Website | title=Our Story | url=http://www.mouawad.com/about/our-story/ | access-date = 7 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The Mouawad Magic | url=http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/mouawadmagicdiamond.html | access-date = 26 March 2012}}</ref>
===Second generation=== His son Fayez Mouawad (1917–1990) expanded the business in the 1950s when he moved to Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{cite web | title=Christies Jewelry Guide | url=http://www.christies.com/features/guides/jewelry/jewelers.aspx#item10 | access-date = 26 March 2012}}</ref> He capitalized on the Middle East's increased oil wealth by making personalized jewelry for people in the area.<ref>{{cite web | title=About Us | url=http://www.mouawad.com/about/our-story/default.aspx | access-date = 7 April 2013}}</ref>
===Third generation=== 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.{{cn|date=October 2025}}
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.{{cn|date=October 2025}} 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.<ref>{{cite web | publisher =Gemological Institute of America | title= Campus Overview | url=http://www.gia.edu/gem-education/carlsbad#campus-overview | access-date = 7 April 2013}}</ref>
===Fourth generation=== 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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Middle East Media LLC |title=Robert Mouawad announces his retirement from the Mouawad Jewellery Group |url=http://www.mpp-me.com/NewsDescription.aspx?Pkey=9AFD3C7F-AEA3-4C6F-96E2-49B6E3779E34 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910013436/http://www.mpp-me.com/NewsDescription.aspx?Pkey=9AFD3C7F-AEA3-4C6F-96E2-49B6E3779E34 |archive-date=2012-09-10 |access-date=26 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Arab News | title=A New Era For Mouawad | url=http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/offbeat/article569892.ece?service=print | access-date = 26 March 2012}}</ref> Alain Mouawad joined to head up the watch division in January 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2013 |title=Alain Mouawad new Guardian of Mouawad Watch |url=https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/30356 |access-date=13 April 2023 |website=saudigazette.com}}</ref>
{{Gallery |title= Generations of the Mouawad Family |width=160 |height=170 |align=center |File:DavidMouawadProfilePicture.jpg|David Mouawad |File:FayezMouawadProfilePicture.jpg|Fayez Mouawad |File:RobertMouawadProfilePicture.jpg|Robert Mouawad |File:Fred, Alain and Pascal Mouawad.jpg|Alain, Fred & Pascal Mouawad }}
===Diamond collection=== {{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}thumb|The Ahmedabad diamond thumb|Indore Pears diamonds thumb|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.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
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.<ref>{{cite web | last=Moawad Company Site | title= Mouawad Diamond Collection: Indore Pears | url=https://www.mouawad.com/en/diamonds/diamond-gallery/idora-pears | access-date = 5 April 2012}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=May 2020}}
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.<ref>{{cite web | last=Antique Jewelry History | title= Queen of Holland | url=http://www.langantiques.com/university/index.php/Queen_of_Holland | access-date = 5 April 2012}}</ref> This diamond was also formerly owned by William Goldberg.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
Mouawad is the owner of the Jubilee Diamond, a colourless, cushion-shaped diamond weighing 245.35 carats (49.07 grams) and formerly known as the Reitz Diamond. 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.<ref>{{cite web | last=Encyclopædia Britannica | title= Jubilee diamond (gem) | url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/307073/Jubilee-diamond | access-date = 5 April 2012}}</ref> The Jubilee is the largest diamond in the Mouawad collection.<ref>{{cite web | last=Mouawad Diamond Collection | title= Jubilee Diamond | url=http://www.mouawad.com/about/diamond-gallery/ | access-date = 5 April 2012}}</ref>
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.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}
==Guinness World Records== thumb|The Mouawad Splendor diamond Mouawad has five Guinness World Records: The most valuable jewellery coffer in the world — the Flower of Eternity Jewellery Coffer ($3.5M),<ref>{{cite web|title=World's most valuable jewellery box valued at $3.5m unveiled in Qatar|url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/22/02/2017/World-s-most-valuable-jewellery-box-valued-at-$3.5m-unveiled-in-Qatar|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref> the most valuable necklace in the world ($55M) — the Mouawad L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace featuring the world's largest internally flawless diamond, the Incomparable diamond (407.48 carats).<ref>{{cite web|title=The most valuable necklace in the world ($55M) — the Mouawad L'Incomparable Diamond Necklace|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/2000/most-valuable-necklace|access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref> The most valuable handbag in the world—the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse ($3.8M).<ref>{{cite web|title=The most valuable handbag in the world—the Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse ($3.8M)|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/8000/most-valuable-handbag|access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.mouawad.com/ Company Website]
Category:1908 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Category:Companies based in Dubai Category:Clothing companies of Switzerland Category:Emirati brands Category:Fashion accessory brands Category:High fashion brands Category:Swiss brands Category:Watch manufacturing companies of Switzerland Category:Companies established in 1890