Ira Melnitsky has reached a milestone this year, celebrating a decade working in the watch business.
He first cut his teeth in the industry as chief executive of multiple watch retailer Tourneau, a position he stepped into in 2013.
The jeweler was acquired by Bucherer Group in 2018, and Ira has transitioned to CEO of Bucherer USA.
A born-and-raised New Yorker, it is natural that Ira was excited by the recent reopening of Bucherer’s TimeMachine store in Manhattan.
The opening marked the first time the Swiss giant had its name above a door in the United States.
The renovation, made more complex by Covid-related restrictions and the planning maze of Manhattan, took 18 months but the transformation has been spectacular.
“The launch of our TimeMachine flagship in New York City is a memorable event that may only be equaled by the launch of our TimeDome flagship in Las Vegas, which is one of the most exciting events in our company’s history,” says Ira.
“I am very fortunate to work with an incredibly talented team that brings the vision to reality.”
Ira is confident that Bucherer is well positioned to deal with new trends or changes in the US market in the coming year and beyond.
“We are seeing a lot of innovation and dynamism from our key brand partners,” he says.
“From new dials to collaborative participation in the pre-owned market, we look forward to pairing that with our innovative and elevated client experience.”
Given the pressure and responsibility that comes with being the head of an operation as large and geographically diverse as Bucherer is in the States, Ira is happy to be able to rely on his family as his rock.
“I have been married for more than 20 years and am the proud parent of two adult children, and I enjoy spending as much of my free time with them as possible,” he says.
