New luxury watch mega-store in Chicago to be one of America's largest. New leadership has relocated from Switzerland to the Windy City.
C.D. Peacock is Chicago’s oldest business and the city’s first jeweler. It is celebrating its 185th anniversary this year and marking the occasion with an ambitious new project and a passing of the leadership torch. The company is planning to open a luxury watch and jewelry boutique by the fall of this year, aimed at being one of the largest in the United States, the company announced last week.
Plans include incorporating global luxury concepts into a 20,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor space, including a lounge, restaurant, and VIP rooms.
Leadership responsibilities have been passed from Seymour Holtzman to his son, incoming vice-chairman Steven Holtzman, and his wife Qi Holtzman. As part of the succession, they relocated from Switzerland to Chicago.
The World’s Oldest Watch Store
Passing leadership to a new generation is something the Swiss are very familiar with. In the world of watches, Beyer Watches and Jewels is the oldest watch store in the world.
The company was founded in 1760 and is now in its eighth generation of family management. René Beyer has been managing the firm since 1996, and is a trained watchmaker like his predecessors.
Swiss Watch Exports to the U.S.
Last year, the U.S. overtook China as the top destination for Swiss watch exports, with a total value of 3.1 billion Swiss francs (3.3 billion dollars), gaining 55 percent over 2020, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Among the watch brands the company sells are the Swiss brands, Rolex, Cartier, Tudor, Omega, IWC.
