ARNAUD CARREZ Cartier’s international marketing and communication director dishes out on his favourite pieces, major trends, and sentimental values of timekeeping. By Amy Yasmine.
What is most important when it comes to choosing a piece of jewellery or watch? The most important thing for you is to find a creation that fits your character and personality; the way you want to express yourself to the rest of the world. What sets a great timepiece apart? Design. Cartier is, first and foremost, a creator of shape and design, and so that is important for me. We create the design and shapes which become references across the decades. For us, design is a quest for excellence. If you could live with only one timepiece, what would it be? The Cartier Santos Dumont watch in pink gold. What are your favourite pieces for women? The first would be the high jewellery Koinobori bracelet watch with 16 rubies from Mozambique. It’s inspired by the carp fish, and it’s a great piece for storytelling. Another piece is the Clé de Cartier flying tourbillon watch, which features our own manufacture’s movement. Lastly, the Cartier d’Art Ronde Louis Cartier filigree panthers décor watch, which is a piece of art and reflects the Cartier values. We’ve seen a return to traditional craftsmanship at Cartier. Which is your favourite style? The filigree. It symbolises Cartier the most. We constantly reinvent ourselves, find new expressions of the panther while ensuring we are true to who we are, and the filigree watch is exactly that. How does Cartier maintain its relevance in this new world of luxury? We are always careful when we create new products. In April 2015, I went to Silicon Valley to meet with Google executives, and they were impressed with Cartier as much as we were with them. They asked, “How did you manage to go through so many wars and crisis?” That’s the beauty about Cartier – it goes on forever. Where do you see Cartier in 100 years? Reinforcing its leadership, especially in jewellery and watches because people are getting more informed about what is authentic. That’s why I am very confident about our future. I see Cartier being stronger and more desirable. LC-G05, Ground Level, Suria KLCC. Tel: 03-2788 0299 Can’t live without – Cartier Santos Dumont timepiece in pink gold