London’s Knightsbridge hosts US diamond dealer

Samer Halimeh NY, the Manhattan-based retailer of high-end diamond jewellery has opened its global flagship store in London's luxury retail district.

For wealthy lovers of high-end bling, London’s upmarket Knightsbridge is now the place to go.

Samer Halimeh NY, an international diamond jewellery brand, has unveiled details of its new global flagship store and collection at 161 Knightsbridge in the heart of the UK capital’s luxury retail district.

The result of a two-year construction programme costing more than £10 million (Dh47.5m), the new 3,000 sqft store showcases the brand’s diamond jewellery collection over ground and first floor. It is complete with a basement vault.

Samer Halimeh NY, which has its HQ on Fifth Avenue in New York’s Manhattan, worked alongside luxury construction specialist DMG Design & Development and the Parisian interior designer and artist Caroline Perrin of AC Matiere to develop the outlet.

And security has been a key part of the design.

The facades are created from anti-ram steel and reinforced concrete faced with black polished stone, with picture windows made from 30mm bullet-proof glass.

The 300kg sculptural doors are carved from 6mm thick steel.

The jewellery collection is showcased in bespoke glass, steel and marble display cases made in Milan and weighing 150kg each.

The lighting was custom-made by the lighting specialists Lasvit, who have created bespoke lighting for the Olympic Games, the Dubai Opera House, Mandarin Oriental and Shangri-La hotels.

On the first floor is the boutique’s VIP client suite where clients can view finished jewellery and review loose precious stones used to create unique pieces. The VIP suite opens on to a drinks and cigar terrace whose main feature is a Rhino Sospeso sculpture made by lthe Italian artist Stefano Bombardieri.

The sculpture is displayed because Samer Halimeh NY supports the WWF-SA Save the Rhino initative, and the rhino is the inspiration for a new fashion jewellery collection that the brand plans to launch.

On the lower ground floor security including motion sensors, CCTV cameras and infra-red beams guard access to the 12-tonne vault room, which is embedded in reinforced concrete.

“Our brand has an existing presence on Fifth Avenue in New York and boutiques in Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur, but our new London flagship store enables us to showcase our complete collection,” said Samer Halimeh, the founder and chief executive of the company, “We chose London because it is a premier world-city which serves as a hub for Europe, Scandinavia and Russia/CIS and benefits from luxury brand shoppers from the Middle East, India and Africa.”

Established in 1999, the brand specialises in coloured and rare diamonds such as pink, blue and yellow, ranging from D Flawless to GH VS stones.

But it is primarily for those with deep pockets. Prices for Samer Halimeh NY diamond jewellery range from £5,000 up to millions of pounds.