In Cannes with Caroline Scheufele, Chopard Co-President and Creative Director

Lara Mansour   |   14-09-2016

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During the Cannes 69th Film festival we met with Caroline at the Chopard Lounge at rooftop of the Martinez hotel, a ritual we do every year and we had the following chat about the brand’s latest collections and news.

You’ve been the Official Partner of Cannes Film festival since 1998 showing glamour on the red carpet. Tell us about the “Red Carpet” collection this year and its inspiration. It is 69 pieces right?

Yes, this is an ongoing collection and we add 1 piece each year in line with how old the festival is. We started that at the 60th film festival when Chopard celebrated a 10 year partnership.

The collection this year is very colourful and modern in design. Lots of titanium pieces mixed with gold. We have a lot of high jewellery necklaces that are not around the neck, but long dropping necklaces and chandelier earrings that I’ve been working on for years. I went back and revisited the Cashmere collection and the oriental paisley pattern. The inspiration stays the same. It is and will always be women from around the world.

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After the fairmined gold and the fairmined Opals, the showstopper this year was the fairmined Emerald? Tell us more.

This year we are finally working with precious stones and coloured stones. It is a very complicated subject, since with emeralds there is no real norm for certification like there is with diamonds and gold. So with Eco Age we applied the same criteria as we did with gold, to ensure the highest standards:

  • Mines are safe.
  • People get fixed salaries.
  • No children working.
  • No terrorist money involved.
  • When they mine they don’t spoil the planet.

 

We work with Gemfields because they have different mines. This one is in Zambia and they are the most advanced within the standards.

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Do you think the clients today care whether the stone is farmined or not? Does it affect their decision?

The ultimate luxury is to know how your product, jewellery, or haute couture piece, is made and if it is produced in an ethical way.

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Last year it was a collaboration with Marion Cotillard. How was the collaboration with Julianne Moore this year?

She’s a beautiful soul and such a beautiful and balanced person. She’s an actress with great talent and she’s very involved. I met her in New York, where we had a great time doing interviews together. She’s really a great spirit and a great family person.

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Red Carpet Collection 2016

What can you tell us about the watch collections released in Basel this year?

We had two important bursts this year. We started to celebrate the 20 years of the L.U.C manufacture. My brother has presented some anniversary pieces and there will be more towards the year.

On the ladies’ side, we celebrate 40 years of the “Happy Diamond” concept with a whole new collection with lots of colours and precious stones. It is such a strong concept and it really is our DNA at Chopard that sets us apart from our industry colleagues.

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Happy Diamonds

What is a challenge you face today?

The challenge is to really be active and control your markets. We were very influenced by price fluctuations of currencies all of a sudden and we had to adapt as we go on. But so far “touch wood” we are at the same level as last year.

If you look at what you’ve done so far, what do you still want to achieve?

There are always some goals that I set to myself. One goal is definitely the green initiative, since it is something so close to my heart. I hope to stimulate other companies to start doing it, I don’t want to be the only one. It has to come from all sides. From demands, from consumers, and the products that we offer as jewellers and watch houses. I am really trying to lobby everybody, the banks, the clients, the mines, my friends and the partners we work with. I still have many dreams. However, I am superstitious so will not tell you!

How do you describe your personal style?

I like easy dressing during the day, and in the evening I love the glamour. I like to mix styles. I don’t necessarily like the big labels, well maybe a piece, but then I mix it with Zara or Topshop because I think it’s more fun. I travel a lot so my suitcase always has a pair of jeans, T-shirts, sneakers, always a little black dress, and a long dress since you don’t know what can come up. The other day I was in Kazakhstan and got invited to a wedding so I was running around last minute to find a dress. So I always pack prepared.

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What is your favourite precious stone?

If it’s coloured it’s Emerald, but Diamond remains king.

How do you spend your “me-time”?

I like nature, and I like animals, which is why I made the animal collection. I love the sea. My time off is on a boat without the phone or my watch. I just want to wake up when I want and swim when I want with some friends.

What’s a life lesson or motto you live by?

You have to be ambitious. No is not an answer. You have to be positive and open-minded. I always say a smile doesn’t cost anything. Smile a lot, as when you’re older wrinkles go up and when you’re grumpy you’ll look old.

What do you like to tell the women of the Middle East?

I am very happy and proud that we are appreciated in the Middle East. A big thank you and I hope our new creations attract our clients that are our friends of the house.

By Lara Mansour Sawaya

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