For years, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos struggled to keep a watch for herself. The renowned collector and dealer would often share images of her latest acquisitions—unusual, sculptural timepieces—only to have clients of her eponymous New York gallery, Mahnaz Collection, persuade her to sell them.
“They’d see the photos and wouldn’t stop asking,” she recalls with a laugh. “Some were so persistent that I eventually gave in.”
Now, responding to growing demand, her Madison Avenue gallery is launching its first curated selection of vintage watches, chosen with the same discerning eye she applies to sourcing rare jewelry. Specializing in one-of-a-kind pieces by artists, designers, and goldsmiths, the collection includes a standout gold-and-diamond pendant watch by the late Italian designer Andrew Grima, whose avant-garde creations were favored by the British royal family. Another highlight is a 1970s gold-and-jadeite watch by Spanish designer Augustin Julia-Plana, whose bold, inventive work graced brands like Chopard and Tiffany.
“Julia-Plana was a brilliant jeweler and watchmaker,” says Ispahani Bartos. “He had an extraordinary talent for working with unconventional stones.” Tragically, his career was cut short when he passed away at just 41.
A Lifelong Passion for Rare Design
Ispahani Bartos’s connection to jewelry and watches runs deep. Born in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), she grew up surrounded by heirloom pieces. At seven, her grandmother gifted her earrings of yellow gold, turquoise, diamonds, and Burmese rubies—though they were lost when her family fled during the 1971 revolution.
Her mother later gave her an Omega watch designed by Grima, sparking a lifelong fascination with rare craftsmanship. This passion eventually led her to open Mahnaz Collection in 2013.
“At first, I didn’t focus on watches,” she admits. “But as my jewelry collection grew, I realized I needed to include the timepieces made by these same extraordinary artists.”
A Scholar’s Approach to Collecting
Before entering the world of fine jewelry, Ispahani Bartos earned a Ph.D. in international relations and worked with organizations like the Ford Foundation and the Council on Foreign Relations. She brings the same meticulous research to her gallery, compiling detailed catalogs and staging museum-quality exhibitions.
One upcoming Italian collection has been nearly a decade in the making, and her vault holds unreleased Ettore Sottsass-designed watches awaiting the perfect moment. “We’re always building collections behind the scenes,” she says. “Some won’t be shown for years.”
For collectors, this means Mahnaz Collection remains a treasure trove of hidden gems—each with its own untold story.
