Harry Winston and the Time Aeon Foundation announce
The ‘Pleiad’, an International Horological Competition to support and nurture the art and craft of fine watchmaking, Harry Winston and the Time aeon Foundation are pleased to announce the Pleiad project, with the aim of selecting a promising watchmaker and underwriting the development and promotion of their timepiece. The name “Pleiad” refers to a cluster of brilliance, in this instance, independent master watchmakers. The master watchmakers of the Time aeon Foundation are: Robert Greubel, Stephen Forsey, Philippe Dufour, Vianney Halter and Kari Voutilainen.

The competition is open to all watchmakers who have not yet created or sold watches under their own brand. Selected by a prominent international jury, the winner will have the opportunity to develop their watch under the guidance of the legendary watchmakers of the Time aeon Foundation. Harry Winston will underwrite the Project. The limited series of timepieces produced will be sold under the Harry Winston brand with the name of the winner featured on the watch. The Pleiad project continues the spirit of collaborative innovation Harry Winston began in 2001 with thenow famous Opus series, which introduces remarkable technological advances to the world of Haute Horlogerie. The deadline for submissions is the 28st February 2009. The winner will be announced summer 2009.


ABOUT HARRY WINSTON
Harry Winston Diamond Corporation (NYSE: HWD; TSX; HW) is a specialized diamond enterprise with assets in the mining and retail segments of the diamond industry. The company supplies rough diamonds to the global market from its 40% interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine. The company’s retail division Harry Winston Inc, is a premier jewelry and timepiece retailer with salons in key locations including New York, Paris, London, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo and Beverly Hills.

For more information, www.harrywinston.com

ABOUT THE TIME AEON FOUNDATION
The Time aeon Foundation is a not for profit organization founded in Switzerland in 2008. The Foundation’s aim is to support, promote, and safeguard the art and craft of fine watchmaking. A vital role of the Time aeon Foundation is to aid, train encourage the next generation of Independent Master Watchmakers so that the craft of fine watchmaking continues on through them.

For more information, www.timeaeon.com

Source: Harry Winston / Time aeon Foundation
(Please credit europastar.com)

For more information about the competition, the rules and inscriptions: www.timeaeon.com