In 1984, the Rustan Group brought Charriol to the country — the first country in Asia to carry the brand. Since then, Charriol’s cable motif watches and bracelets have become a statement piece among Filipinos, attesting to the brand’s universal appeal and Philippe Charriol’s deep appreciation of culture. Charriol, the brand, is now represented and exclusively distributed locally by the SSI Group.
The passing of Philippe Charriol, founder of the Swiss jewelry and watch manufacturer, Charriol, came as a shock to many of his followers around the world. The brand’s Celtic collection, its maiden offering, is as iconic as the man himself, and is seen on the wrists of Charriol fans of all ages. It is symbolic of his devotion to art and history, and reflects the deep cultural impact of the brand now known around the world, including the Philippines.
(According to a report by The Straits Times, the Frenchman was killed in a car accident at the Le Castellet racing track in southeast France last February 27. He was 77. Originally from Marseille, Phillippe had a passion for fast cars and had long frequented major race circuits, said circuit director Stephane Clair in a statement.
(The same report said that Philippe founded the Charriol brand, which specializes in luxury watches as well as jewelry, perfume and accessories, 36 years ago. Philippe visited Manila several times to promote his brand and renew ties with business partners and journalists. He also invited a number of Manila-based lifestyle journalists some years back to Hong Kong to personally announce a change in the brand’s name from Philippe Charriol to Charriol.)
Since the brand started in 1983, it has remained a family-run business in Geneva and, over time, carved a niche for itself as an international luxury brand of high-end Swiss watches, jewelry and accessories. A leader in revolutionary design, it holds exclusive rights to trademark gold and steel cable style, and has continued to use traditionally industrial materials with polished metals and smooth lines.
Of late, more feminine pieces have included crystals and precious stones, and made use of the steel cable treatment in a variety of bold colors, extending Charriol’s appeal to the younger, millennial market and proving further the enduring character of good, inspired design.
The Frenchman did not only have an eye for design, he also had a passion for racing. In his career, he often merged his two passions by designing limited-edition watches such as the Venturi Chronograph and the Diablo Chronograph, which he created when he began driving his Lamborghini Diablo. His travels also played a major role in crafting designs for the brands’ collection.
In 1984, the Rustan Group brought Charriol to the country — the first in Asia to carry the brand. Since then, Charriol’s cable motif watches and bracelets have become a statement piece among Filipinos, attesting to the brand’s universal appeal and Charriol’s deep appreciation of culture.
Twelve years later, in 1996, Charriol was transferred to Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and got its own standalone boutique. In the years that followed, the brand eventually gained a cult following, creating a niche market of their own. Its long history with the company helped shaped the Filipinos affinity to wearable luxury pieces, and at the same time built a lasting impression not only to the country but with the people working behind the brand as well.
Anton Huang, SSI Group president, shares, “We, at the SSI Group, mourn the sudden passing of a valued partner of the Rustan Group and a dear friend of the Tantoco Family, Mr. Philippe Charriol. His dedication to the art of luxury retailing is truly an inspiration to his business partners, employees and friends. Mr. Charriol was indeed a man of passion, and his success and the Filipino’s inherent love for the Charriol brand is a true testament to that. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
The man had a big heart, too. During his several visits to the country, Philippe established ties with local NGOs such as the Foundation for Professional Training, Inc., which offers technical-vocational training for women, and Carewell, a cancer support foundation. He also created the Philippe Charriol Art Foundation in 1985, promoting and supporting artists worldwide. To date, the country remains as one of the largest markets for Charriol, which is available at 17 points of sale in the country, including Cebu and Davao.
Prior to founding his own brand, Philippe, a company statement said, was a leader inside the maison of Cartier for 15 years, holding various positions including general manager, and then as brand president for the Asian market based in Hong Kong. But his entrepreneurial spirit, bold and fresh vision and extraordinary sense of independence led him to seek his fortune outside of the safety and comfort of this perch atop the established jewelry brand.
Upon leaving Cartier, it took seven years of bootstrapping before he opened the first stand-alone Charriol boutique in Hong Kong in 1990. Since then, the pace of growth accelerated throughout the 1990s, as he opened strategic locations from Singapore, to Hong Kong Prince’s Building and Times Square, new outlets in Bangkok, Tokyo, Doha and Riyadh followed by Geneva, Beijing, Shanghai, Dubai, Mumbai, Las Vegas and many more.
The visionary businessman also pioneered in online sales, being the first luxury Swiss watch and jewelry brand to emphasize its own e-commerce platform starting in 2008.
Philippe’s business and personal lives were intertwined, the company statement qdded, and he operated at full speed every day, even up to his final day, pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams as well as his personal passions such as motorsports, which he pursued at an almost professional level for the past 25 years. He was a true epicurean, fascinated by more refined pursuits including architecture, culture and the arts – the latter being of particular interest to him, as he created the Philippe Charriol Art Foundation in Hong Kong, which, for more than 20 years, gave annual awards to young artists to pursue their education in the arts.
Philippe is survived by his children, Coralie, the company’s creative director, Alexandre, visual director, and Laetitia, and his spouse Marie-Olga Charriol, PR director. He will be laid to rest in a family funeral service in Marseilles, and his life will be celebrated at a Memorial Service in Paris at the end of March.
