Global citizen
Charriol will need all optimism she can gather in the weeks and months ahead, not only steering the House of Charriol through perilous economic times, but also filling the shoes of her larger-than-life father Philippe, who founded the luxury watch and jewelry brand in 1983.
Charriol became executive chairwoman, while remaining creative director, of Charriol only recently. The circumstances that led to her current role was tragic: her father met his untimely death in a car racing accident last year. But Charriol has never been more ready, having learned the ropes of the luxury trade by her father’s side. Looking back, she says joining the family business came naturally.
“Dad never made it feel like work, so I think I was always interested,” Charriol explains. “I started out on the creative side, but was so lucky to spend so much time with him, picking up more about marketing and business. We worked together for almost 20 years before he passed. I am grateful for every one of those years working together… My only wish is that he was still here to guide me today.”
Her first job in the company was in its public relations and events department, helping to oversee the launch of the Megeve watch in 2000, which was a huge affair. Soon after, Charriol started traveling with her father as a brand ambassador and to help with marketing and events, including boutique openings across Asia and the Middle East.
“I was basically his ‘right-hand guy’ on those trips. He didn’t necessarily teach me, per se, but I learned by observation. He let me take my own initiatives and make my own mistakes, of which there were many!” Charriol says.
“He gave broad directions and strategy to the team, but still didn’t tell any of us what to do or how to do it. We had to figure that out on our own just as he did when he started. Since then, I’ve grown up, matured and changed. I was once totally naive, impressionable, and parrot-like — just repeating everything Dad did or said — but I think that almost 20 years later, I feel more confident in my own decisions because they are backed by my own experience.”
Charriol enjoyed a nomadic upbringing. She grew up in Hong Kong, London, Paris and Aspen, Colorado, changing schools every two years. She graduated from Tufts University, Massachusetts, then went to Geneva, Switzerland, to begin working for the company. But just a couple of years into her work life, she moved to New York City, where she lived for over 15 years. She returned to Geneva to fulfill her new role.
“All of those cities have influenced me in various ways. My love of surfing, perhaps, comes from being born and living my first months literally in front of one of the best surfbreaks on Oahu, Hawaii. My love for food and art was developed in Paris; London was high school, which shaped me socially. Aspen and Megeve (France) defined my love for the mountains. Boston and Tufts for learning, maturing and taking shape as an adult,” Charriol says.
“But at my core, I am a global citizen — a true mix of Asian, European and Western cultures. I love to travel, and that is where I find my inspiration for new jewelry collections each year.”
While her father was “(one who enjoys the good things in life), a true gentleman and a dandy,”