Hamilton Jewelers Elevates the Art of Celebration with Spectacular 2025 Holiday Events
For over a century, Hamilton Jewelers has been synonymous with elegance, heritage, and the enduring power of fine craftsmanship. As the 2025 holiday season unfolds, this fourth-generation family-owned retailer is redefining what it means to celebrate, transforming traditional retail moments into immersive, unforgettable experiences. This year, Hamilton Jewelers is taking its seasonal festivities to unprecedented heights—quite literally moving from the historic streets of Princeton to the open waters of Palm Beach—adding a dynamic roster of yacht-based soirees, exclusive trunk shows, and deeply impactful charitable initiatives to its calendar.
With a legacy that dates back to 1912, Hamilton has always understood that jewelry is about more than just gemstones and precious metals; it is about connection, memory, and emotion. This philosophy is on full display throughout November and December at the company’s three premier locations: the iconic flagship on Nassau Street in Princeton, New Jersey, and its two luxurious boutiques in Palm Beach, Florida—one on the legendary Worth Avenue and the other in Palm Beach Gardens.
A Historic Legacy of Festive Excellence
Stepping into a Hamilton Jewelers boutique during the holidays is a time-honored tradition for many families. The retailer is renowned for its “over-the-top” holiday decorations, which turn their storefronts into winter wonderlands that capture the magic of the season. In 2025, these installations serve as the backdrop for a series of carefully curated activations designed to engage clients in new and meaningful ways.
“Hamilton is always dedicated to engaging with our clients in a meaningful way,” explains Anne Russell, the company’s executive vice president. Her vision for the 2025 season is clear: to move beyond the transaction and create genuine moments of joy. “We like to try to create experiences for our clients in Q4 when everyone is feeling festive—it’s a great way to continue to surprise and delight our known clients and bring new faces to our website and into our stores.”
This commitment to “surprise and delight” has manifested in a calendar of events that blends high horology, exquisite jewelry, and the warmth of community spirit.
Setting Sail: A Luxurious Start in Palm Beach
The 2025 holiday season kicked off with a splash—literally. In a bold departure from the traditional in-store cocktail hour, Hamilton Jewelers took to the water on November 5th for an exclusive event in Palm Beach. Guests were welcomed aboard the Moonraker, a stunning 155-foot luxury yacht, for an evening of sophistication and horological discovery.
Against the backdrop of the shimmering intracoastal waters, the event spotlighted the adventurous spirit of Breitling. The gathering featured an intimate cocktail party where collectors and enthusiasts mingled with Thierry Prissert, the President of Breitling U.S. This was not merely a showcase of timepieces; it was an immersion into the lifestyle that Breitling represents—aviation, maritime exploration, and purposeful luxury. Guests enjoyed the rare opportunity to discuss the brand’s heritage and future directly with its leadership, all while experiencing the hospitality for which Hamilton is famous.
Time and Tradition: The Princeton Watch Fair
Following the nautical excitement in Florida, the festivities moved north to the historic Princeton flagship on November 7th and 8th. Here, Hamilton hosted a distinguished Watch Fair that paid homage to the artistry of timekeeping. The event’s centerpiece was a celebration of Bulgari, the Roman jeweler of time.
Transforming the Princeton boutique into a slice of Italy, the event featured a discussion that bridged the gap between Swiss engineering and Italian design flair. To complete the atmospheric transportation, guests were treated to a traditional aperitivo, sipping fine beverages while exploring new timepieces and interacting directly with Bulgari watchmakers. This educational component—giving clients a peek behind the curtain of watchmaking—is a hallmark of Hamilton’s approach to luxury.
Celebrating Craftsmanship with House of Craft
Hamilton’s dedication to horological education continued with another standout event in their “House of Craft” series. Presented in collaboration with the influential watch website Hodinkee and financial services giant UBS, this series is designed for the true connoisseur.
The recent session spotlighted independent watchmaker Laurent Ferrier, a brand revered for its understated elegance and technical perfection. Watch enthusiasts were granted a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship and heritage that define the Laurent Ferrier name. By facilitating these intimate encounters with independent watchmakers, Hamilton Jewelers reinforces its position not just as a retailer, but as a cultural hub for the watch community.
The Return of the Festive Fête: A Weekend of Wonder
Building on the success of its inaugural launch in 2024, Hamilton has brought back the “Festive Fête” for the 2025 season. This special weekend event is designed to make holiday shopping a pleasure rather than a chore, offering a relaxed, convivial atmosphere filled with unique treats and personal touches.
The Festive Fête has been rolling out across locations, taking place last weekend at the Palm Beach Gardens store and arriving today and tomorrow at the Princeton flagship.
Curated Collections: Dinh Van, Roberto Coin, and Viltier
For the Princeton edition of the Fête, the product selection is as exquisite as the setting. Hamilton is showcasing expanded collections from some of the world’s most sought-after jewelry brands. Visitors can explore the modern, architectural designs of Dinh Van, the timeless Italian elegance of Roberto Coin, and the vibrant, colorful creations of Viltier.
Adding to the exclusivity, Saturday features a special trunk show by Lingua Franca NYC. Known for their sustainably sourced cashmere sweaters hand-embroidered with cheeky, pop-culture-infused phrases, Lingua Franca brings a touch of whimsical luxury that pairs perfectly with fine jewelry.
Personal Touches with Cozy Croissant Embroidery
What truly sets the Festive Fête apart, however, is the emphasis on personalization and comfort. Understanding that it is often the small details that make a gift memorable, Hamilton has partnered with Cozy Croissant Embroidery, a charming embroidery studio.
During the two-day Fête, guests are treated to complimentary personalized napkins, embroidered live on-site. This activation adds a layer of theater to the retail floor, as customers watch their bespoke items come to life one stitch at a time. To keep the winter chill at bay, Hamilton is also supplying gourmet hot chocolate, encouraging guests to linger, browse, and soak in the holiday spirit.
“Seasonal events like this are fun for staff, customers, and jewelry brands alike, and are a nice way to end the year,” Russell notes. The energy in the store during these events is palpable, transforming the solitary act of shopping into a communal celebration.
“This year we have had the incredible opportunity to bring in one-of-a-kind and ultra-rare gemstones, jewelry, and timepieces for various events at each of our boutiques,” she adds. “We are so thankful for our partners, who love to collaborate, and our team, who work tirelessly to create memorable events and activations that will create buzz and excitement for Hamilton Jewelers.”
Giving Back: The Heart of the Holidays
Amidst the glamour of yachts and gemstones, Hamilton Jewelers remains deeply rooted in its values of responsibility and community support. The company understands that the holidays are a season of giving, not just receiving.
On Giving Tuesday, celebrated on December 2nd, the Princeton store unveiled a special “Giving Tree.” Far from a standard decoration, this tree featured ornaments adorned with QR codes. When scanned by clients, these codes provided direct information and donation pathways to local charities that are vital to the fabric of the community.
Supporting Local Heroes
The fundraising efforts are hyper-localized to ensure maximum impact in the communities where Hamilton operates.
- In Princeton: The Giving Tree benefits Mercer Street Friends, a food bank and community resource center; HomeFront, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness; and the Princeton Nursery School, which provides affordable early childhood education.
- In Palm Beach: The jeweler directs its fundraising power toward the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity, helping to build stability and hope for families in Florida.
- By integrating these charitable components into the retail environment, Hamilton invites its clientele to join them in making a tangible difference. It is a subtle yet powerful reminder that true luxury involves generosity.
Creating Lasting Memories
As 2025 draws to a close, Hamilton Jewelers stands as a testament to the power of evolution. By honoring its 113-year history while simultaneously embracing modern, experiential retail, the company ensures it remains relevant for the next generation of clients.
“Our brand was founded on community, and we strive to connect with our clients, brand partners, and locals with differentiated experiences that enrich our relationships,” Russell says, summarizing the ethos behind this year’s ambitious calendar.
For the Siegel family and the entire Hamilton team, these events are about weaving their brand into the personal stories of their customers. Whether it is a couple celebrating an anniversary on a yacht, a collector discovering a rare movement, or a shopper warming their hands with hot chocolate while waiting for a monogrammed napkin, these moments build a bond that transcends commerce.
“While it is important to activate year-round, we especially love gathering for the holiday season and being part of our clients’ gifting and love stories, while educating and having a whole lot of fun along the way,” Russell concludes.
As the lights twinkle on Nassau Street and the sun sets over Worth Avenue, Hamilton Jewelers has indeed made merriment an art form, proving once again that the most precious things in life are the memories we create together.
