Interview: John Simonian, Wrist Watch Entrepreneur, Owner of Westime Los Angeles

Simonian is regarded as having an excellent eye for successful newcomers, as well being a businessman with enviable skills. Those unable to match his clever decision *** and tactics are often most vocal about him. “Simonian is a shark, and the smartest person in the watch industry that I know of.”Of Armenian descent, John grew up in Lebanon, moved to Switzerland, and then eventually to the US. The obvious analog is Nicolas Hayek, “ruler” of the Swatch Group who didn’t quite make it to the US from Switzerland, and is also from Lebanon. Simonian speaks several languages, but isn’t quite sure where he picked up English. Among them are Arabic, Armenian, Turkish, French, German (Swiss German as well), and a spattering of words and conversational skills in others as well. Learning this makes me jealous that I only know two languages. It seems that many successful business people are multi-tongued.Listening to John on the phone, it sounds like he won’t choose a preferred language.He pointed out the outline of tape on the floor. “That will be my desk.” He preferred I not take pictures of him at his temporary desk. A handyman was drilling audibly in the other room while on a ladder. This is John Simonian’s new office space. A short stroll from the previous location, no doubt the shrewd businessman took advantage of depressed real estate market to upgrade his surroundings – roughly tripling the size of his domain. Though most people who indirectly do business with John won’t ever see it, save for a few select clients who are fortunate. Simonian is the owner of Westime, the popular luxury watch store situated around the corner off Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Though he really does a lot more than that.The watch don is friendly at his desk. His own office includes a conference table and toys. I recognize the wisdom of having company meetings in the room he feels most comfortable in, that is him. Soft in his tone and extremely congenial, my impressions of John all began before I met him. The watch industry is a small place, and its most important players are the subject of reputation and reference.