
<PAGE>   1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              -------------------

                        WINDMERE-DURABLE HOLDINGS, INC.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            FLORIDA                                        59-1028301
-------------------------------                      ----------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization)                       Identification Number)


                             5980 MIAMI LAKES DRIVE
                           MIAMI LAKES, FLORIDA 33014
                    ----------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                               ------------------

                               DAVID M. FRIEDSON
          CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                        WINDMERE-DURABLE HOLDINGS, INC.
                             5980 MIAMI LAKES DRIVE
                           MIAMI LAKES, FLORIDA 33014
                    ---------------------------------------
                    (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (305) 362-2611
         -------------------------------------------------------------
         (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    COPY TO:
                              PAUL BERKOWITZ, ESQ.
                            GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A.
                              1221 BRICKELL AVENUE
                              MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131
                                 (305) 579-0685
                              -------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================================
                                                                      PROPOSED
                                                                       MAXIMUM                PROPOSED
           TITLE OF SECURITIES                AMOUNT TO BE          OFFERING PRICE         MAXIMUM AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
            TO BE REGISTERED                   REGISTERED            PER SHARE(1)          OFFERING PRICE(1)      REGISTRATION FEE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>                    <C>                      <C>
COMMON STOCK                                    2,100,000
  $.10 PAR VALUE......................           SHARES              $7.125-$24.50          $40,335,937.75           $11,213.38
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
      which was computed in accordance with Rule 457(h) on the basis of (i) the
      actual prices of $7.125, $7.375, $12.8125 and $24.50 for an aggregate of
      225,000, 402,500, 22,500 and 1,445,000 options, respectively, to purchase
      Common Stock being registered, which have already been granted under the
      1998 Stock Option Plan, and (ii) the average of the high and low sale
      price of the Common Stock on August 31, 1999 ($14.7188) with respect to
      5,000 shares of Common Stock subject to future grants of options under
      the 1998 Stock Option Plan.


<PAGE>   2



          PART I. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


ITEM 1.  PLAN INFORMATION.*

ITEM 2.  REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.*

---------------------

         * The document(s) containing the information specified in this Part I
will be sent or given to employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such
documents will not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") either as part of this Registration Statement or as the
prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. These documents
and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together,
shall constitute a prospectus which meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.







                                       2
<PAGE>   3

          PART II. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration
Statement the following documents or portions thereof as indicated:

         (a)      the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                  ended December 31, 1998;

         (b)      all other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section
                  13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
                  "Exchange Act") since the end of fiscal year 1998; and

         (c)      the descriptions of the Registrant's Common Stock and related
                  matters set forth under the captions "Description of Capital
                  Stock" and "Dividend Policy" in the Registrant's Registration
                  Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 002-28383) filed under the
                  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), including any
                  amendments to such descriptions in such Registration
                  Statement.

         In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to
the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to
be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein, or in a subsequently filed document
incorporated herein by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant has authority under Section 607.0850 of the Florida
Business Corporation Act to indemnify its directors and officers to the extent
provided for in such statute. The Registrant's Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation provide that the Registrant shall indemnify and may insure its
officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

         The provisions of the Florida Business Corporation Act that authorize
indemnification do not eliminate the duty of care of a director, and in
appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms
of nonmonetary relief will remain available under Florida law. In addition,
each director will continue to be subject to liability for (a) violations of
criminal laws, unless the director had reasonable cause to believe his conduct
was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, (b)
deriving an improper personal benefit from a transaction, (c) voting for or
assenting to an unlawful distribution and (d) willful misconduct or conscious
disregard for the best interests of the Registrant in a proceeding by or in the
right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor or in a proceeding
by or in the right of a shareholder. The statute does not affect a director's
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws. The
effect of the foregoing is to require the Registrant to indemnify the officers
and directors of the Registrant for any claim arising against such persons in
their official capacities if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
that he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.




                                       3
<PAGE>   4

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons
controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant
has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered hereunder, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

         (5.1)    Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

         (10.1)   1998 Stock Option Plan

         (23.1)   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

         (23.2)   Consent of Greenberg Traurig, P.A. (contained in its opinion
                  filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto)

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS

         (a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                           (i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement;

                           (iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) shall not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.




                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of
any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.





                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Registrant certifies that
it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Miami Lakes, State of Florida on August 30, 1999.


                        WINDMERE-DURABLE HOLDINGS, INC.


                                       By: /s/ David M. Friedson
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:  David M. Friedson
                                           Title: Chairman, President and Chief
                                                  Executive Officer

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, this Registration Statement
has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              SIGNATURE                                    TITLE                           DATE
              ---------                                    -----                           ----

<S>                                     <C>                                            <C>
/s/ David M. Friedson                   Chairman, President and Chief Executive        August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
David M. Friedson                       Officer (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Harry D. Schulman                   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial      August 30, 1999
----------------------------------      Officer (Principal Financial Officer) and
Harry D. Schulman                       Director


/s/ Jerald I. Rosen                     Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Jerald I. Rosen


/s/ Harold Strauss                      Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Harold Strauss


/s/ Lai Kin                             Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Lai Kin


/s/ Raymond So                          Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Raymond So


/s/ Leonard Glazer                      Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Leonard Glazer


/s/ Barbara Friedson Garrett            Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Barbara Friedson Garrett


/s/ Felix S. Sabates                    Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Felix S. Sabates


/s/ Arnold Thaler                       Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Arnold Thaler


/s/ Thomas Kane                         Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Thomas Kane


/s/ Susan Ganz                          Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Susan Ganz


</TABLE>



                                       6
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

              SIGNATURE                                    TITLE                            DATE
              ---------                                    -----                            ----

<S>                                     <C>                                            <C>
/s/ Desmond Lai                         Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Desmond Lai


/s/ Frederick E. Fair                   Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
Frederick E. Fair


/s/ J. Maurice Hopkins                  Director                                       August 30, 1999
----------------------------------
J. Maurice Hopkins

</TABLE>



                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



        EXHIBIT
        NUMBER                  DESCRIPTION
        --------                -----------
          5.1     Opinion of Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

         10.1     1998 Stock Option Plan

         23.1     Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

         23.2     Consent of Greenberg Traurig, P.A. (contained in its opinion
                  filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto)







