About Us

Spotlight Mouawad

Founding

Family Name:

Mouawad

Founder’s Name:

David “Daoud” Mouawad

Earliest Documented Business Name:

Mouawad

Founding Year:

1908 (conceptualized by founder in 1890)

Founding Location:

Beirut

Today

Current Operating Status:

Operating

Family Business Name:

Mouawad

Headquarters Location:

Geneva, Switzerland and Dubai, UAE

Key Industries:

Diamonds, Jewelry, and watches

Number of Employees:

200 – 500

ABOUT THE FOUNDER
David (Daoud) Mouawad was born in modern-day Lebanon in 1865. Around the age of 25, he left his hometown and sailed to the United States. For the next two decades, David lived in New York and Mexico, where he undertook a succession of apprenticeships in watchmaking, goldsmithing, and jewelry making. In 1908, he returned to Beirut and married. His first child, Fayez, was born in 1917.

FOUNDING STORY
During David’s time abroad, a railway network had emerged linking Beirut to major Ottoman cities including Damascus, which helped spur an era of relative economic prosperity. David established his first workshop in Beirut soon after his return in 1908, where he offered watch and jewelry repair services. Over time, he started to craft his own clocks and jewelry pieces. His handmade work attracted the attention of upper-class Lebanese clients, who commissioned bespoke creations. David’s son, Fayez, who was involved in his father’s business since childhood, developed a fascination for the world of jewelry and watches that would lead him to follow his career path.

GROWTH PHASE
In 1950, 33-year-old Fayez spotted an opportunity to expand his father’s business. Almost two decades after the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the oil industry was starting to yield its significant first results. For Fayez, this meant the emergence of a potential Saudi client base, especially as there were few if any fine jewelers in the kingdom. Fayez moved to Jeddah, marking the first geographical expansion of the business beyond its home city. One year later, David passed away at the age of 86.

Fayez established a jewelry salon in Jeddah, which was undergoing major infrastructure and urban development, most importantly in its harbor and airport, which proved very beneficial for imports and commercial exchange. Fayez brought many prestigious Western watches to Saudi Arabia for the first time, such as Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Longines, Patek Philippe, and Rolex. He also specialized in personalizing and embellishing clients’ watches with precious stones. Standing out for the craft and exclusivity of his offerings, he formed an elite Saudi clientele and network, including members of the royal family.

Fayez’s son Robert was born around 1945. Upon graduating school, Robert headed to Paris to become a doctor, but Fayez convinced him to return to Saudi Arabia and join the family business, initially as a salesman. Although he was not the eldest of Fayez’s sons, Robert was still not married, so he was more available to focus on the business.

By the early 1970s, Robert had taken over the business as sole president. Much like his father in his early years of leadership, he was ambitious to expand the operation’s geographic reach, now beyond the regional to the global. In 1972, he moved the headquarters to Geneva amid a period of major technical advancements in the Swiss watchmaking industry. He strengthened research and development to elevate production standards, and the brand began to gain recognition in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Robert had three sons: Fred, Alain, and Pascal. They were involved in the business in various capacities until Robert officially handed leadership to the fourth generation in 2010. Pascal, interested in Hollywood culture and viewing celebrities as modern-day icons, relocated the US office from New York to Los Angeles and established collaborations with high-profile partners. The company’s broader shift toward the North American market proved successful in terms of both sales and brand awareness.

Meanwhile, the fourth generation began offering some collections at more accessible price points to widen the client base beyond the ultra-wealthy, particularly in the Gulf region. By 2020, the company had transitioned to exclusively selling its own brand, replacing multi-brand retail operations. This marked an important milestone, as the products had reached world-class standards and global recognition.

TODAY
Today, members of the fifth generation have joined the business, which operates in more than 16 countries with key offices in Dubai, Geneva, and Los Angeles. The family holds several records for creating some of the rarest and most valuable jewelry pieces in the world. Alongside the main company, family members also manage various other businesses and philanthropic initiatives.