Diamond in the Rough
Marc Jacheet of Tiffany & Co views Asia Pacific as a fast-paced market perfect for the business of luxury jewels
Who can ever doubt Holly Golightly’s devotion to Tiffany & Co? The iconic free spirit, played to perfection by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, views the jewellery brand as a haven to retreat to when things get rough. Another individual who is eager to talk about Tiffany & Co is Marc Jacheet, the vice president for the Asia Pacific region. Jacheet’s first tangible encounter with the brand occurred in his early 20s when he visited the brand’s flagship store on 5th Avenue. “I thought it was the embodiment of everything that personified New York chic; it was so grand and luxurious. It was like the epitome of a dream,” reminisces this European gentleman. In his personal opinion, a visit to the store was almost equivalent to seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris! He opines that Tiffany & Co is a place one seeks because it is such a happy place to be in. He says, “Tiffany & Co connects. It bridges people together; it celebrates the best things in people’s life—anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, you name it. Customers usually visit the Tiffany boutique on their best days!” Jacheet revisited his passion and interest for the brand once he joined Tiffany & Co in 2013. Prior to that, he worked for other luxury brands, dabbling in sectors such as fashion retail and champagne. Adapting to Tiffany & Co came easily to him, thanks to an innate curiosity about it and the luxury business. About the Asia-pacific market, Jacheet humbly admits that his time here is too short for him to say confidently that he knows the region inside out. “I am going to say I do not know every single thing there is to know about the Asian market. But I can say I have opinions, insights, perceptions and ideas… but definitely with careful consideration, I still have a lot to learn.” He continues, “Asia is changing very fast. It is diverse. It is different in each country. Yet the fundamental idea of luxury remains the same across borders. As mentioned, they want to connect with the brand, its values and its qualities. They want happiness. I don’t think this is any different than other parts of the world.”