Nobel Watch Co., a supplier of mid-and luxury-priced watches, was back in business a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City.
Nobel is headquartered at 32 Broadway in the heart of the city’s financial district, just four blocks from the World Trade Center site. The company was closed for a month following the Sept. 11 disaster.
“We believe we were the only watch company forced to shut down,” says chief operating officer Israel Genuth. “We had no electricity and no phones. Many of the streets were closed and merchandise couldn’t be delivered. It was impossible to enter the area unless one was a resident with identification. We can’t estimate how much business we lost.”
Fortunately, none of Nobel’s employees was injured, and the company’s building is intact.
“We want to thank our authorized dealers who tried to contact us to express their concern,” says Genuth. “We are now back in business.”
Nobel Watch sells high-fashion stainless-steel watches ($249-$575) and 18k gold watches, with and without diamonds ($1,200-$6,000). For more information, contact Nobel Watch Co., 32 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004; (800) 662-3595.