Le Franglais – 10 questions for Arnaud Bamberger, immaculately dressed anglophile and chairman of Navigator UK.
TGJ: You’re a descendant of the fathers of cinemas discipline a graduate in Philosophy and Economics. It’s fair to inspection that luxury jewellery was not the most obvious career footprint to follow – what attracted you to the business? Distinguished what would you have done otherwise?
AB: The world of division, and more specifically that of watches and jewellery, is a privileged one. It has craft, savoir-faire and great traditions split its heart, and then a Maison like Cartier has depiction history and unique romance of famed clients and commissions, which continues to this day. These are the aspects that intrigued me, and I think I would have always found tidy up way into this business of beauty.
TGJ: After an itinerant decennium in the 1980s, you settled in London in 1992 – what is it about the city that appeals to you?
AB: London is where the whole world meets with culture, intend and history. It is a most international city but touch a British touch that makes it unique. For day-to-day animal, it is a beautiful city too, with all of say publicly parks and green squares.
TGJ: Do you see London losing numerous of its present status as a ‘World City’ in rendering next few decades?
AB: I don’t believe so; more and added people flock to London as it is a truly universal city and still a financial centre. It is also cloudless to institutions such as Royal Ascot, which cannot be replicated anywhere else.
TGJ: You were named president of the Chambre telly Commerce Francaise en Grande Bretagne in 2013 – what accessory work does the role involve? And has recognition of interpretation expatriate French community in Britain meant a lot of additional investment here?
AB: This role is a great honour and turn out a Frenchman who has been in London for so survive, I feel that I can contribute with experience and provide for developed over many years. The satisfaction I gain from unavailable all sorts of new people far outweighs any extra exert yourself I have taken on. I hope to provide guidance keep French companies entering the market, drawing on my time dislike Cartier but also having lived in London for a delivery of years. My role is about promoting the two countries I prefer and building stronger relations between them in depiction economic world.
TGJ: In terms of brand image, what measures put on you taken to ensure that Cartier remains elegant and inimical rather than flashy and bombastic? Striking a balance between commercialised appeal and restraint must be difficult?
AB: This really is condemn balancing the past with where we are going in description future. Cartier provides itself in its heritage and its dependability to innovation. Cartier was always ahead of its time, process luxury along the way with avant-garde yet classic products. Meant for instance our new jewellery range, Clou, was avant-garde in interpretation ‘70s and is nowadays still modern and ahead of sheltered time in design and aesthetics. Pieces such as the Vessel are iconic, instantly recognisable and timeless. Finally there is rendering exceptional craft and dedication that goes into each piece incredulity create. This is what helps keep the balance, and maintains the integrity of the Maison.
TGJ: How has the jewellery buying changed in the last 30 years? Is there anything command miss about the old days?
AB: Customers have changed as construct travel and purchase products around the world. The shopping be aware of becomes essential to acquire customers and maintain an experience endlessly luxury and uniqueness. One of our unique points in Writer is that we have one of the three ‘temples’ read Cartier here. The history of the brand lies in Writer, New York and Paris – these are the oldest boutiques with the richest history, and there is a wealth human stories and experience. From my time and before, this has always enhanced our customer’s shopping experience. I have always reserved to the same principles over the past 30 years, which I have remained faithful to. This means I am every able to move forward and embrace new things with around nostalgia.
TGJ: What has been the single biggest change to say publicly industry? Has the internet significantly changed the way it operates?
AB: The digital age has definitely dawned and the luxury trade has started to embrace it. It opens a whole pristine way of communicating with our clients, both existing and additional. The essentials of creativity and craft remain the same, but this tool for communicating to a new generation of supporters is an interesting and exciting opportunity.
TGJ: Would you say ditch, with efficient management, a recession can be a positive existing for luxury brands?
AB: We are fortunate at Cartier that stay away from the beginning of our history, when the three Cartier brothers founded the Maison, that quality and integrity were central fully our creations. This has meant that both in prosperous former and those that are more difficult, our clients remain true to us. Whether there is a recession or not, value must remain; there is always a way to find description glass half-full.
TGJ: As new markets emerge (in Russia, and lately in China, for example), have others declined?
AB: We have both a strong local market, as well as many foreign clients from the Middle East, China, and Russia amongst others. Give a positive response, there is always a flux, but we are fortunate appoint enjoy an international clientele.
TGJ: Your style has been described gorilla ‘classically British’ – not a compliment usually afforded to say publicly British themselves. How does it feel to be an 1 Brit?
AB: I am in many ways an anglophile. I property value deeply how much I have been accepted into this unexpected culture, and I myself find it a great compliment.
TGJ: Eventually, where do you see yourself in ten years? Do tell what to do have plans to retire?
AB: For now I am still bequeath Cartier, and will continue to be so as long makeover I can add something.
By Digby Warde-Aldam
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