Van Cleef & Arpels satisfies Middle Eastern tastes
Alban Belloir, Managing Director at Van Cleef & Arpels, Middle East & India, spared a few moments to talk to “Day and Night” Magazine at the 25th anniversary of the SIHH.
The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie 2015 celebrated its quarter-century edition in Geneva earlier this year, where it showcased the very best from 16 exclusive brands chosen to exhibit their timepieces. Among the sixteen, was Van Cleef & Arpels who showcased its Poetry of Time collection.
How confident are you in Van Cleef & Arpels success in the Middle East?
Van Cleef & Arpels has had a long and successful history of watchmaking and jewellery production. It has been through a lot of ups and downs as the market is tough and competitive. However, I am quite confident and optimistic in our ability to strive in this volatile industry as we have a strong foundation. We recognise the level of creativity at Van Cleef & Arpels and we see the desirability of our creations in the Middle East, which gives us confidence in the knowledge that we are able to gain valuable new clients who are keen to discover the luxury timepieces we offer. We strive to develop and enrich our collection to satisfy demand in the market. We are extremely confident in our long term goals as planning ahead is the key to success.
Your clientele are primarily women. Are you looking to expand more into catering for men?
The spirit of Van Cleef & Arpels is very feminine, it is part of our identity and we are not looking to change this at the moment. Primarily we are a luxury jewellery house, and products like ours are generally aimed at women. We have been manufacturing watches for men for a long time, for example the 1949 Pierre Arpels timepiece has recently been re-launched to remind men that we cater for them. However, this area has room to grow and we will continue to develop more models specifically for men, like we did last year with the Midnight Planétarium.
Are sales in the Middle East what you expected?
Van Cleef & Arpels products have been available for a decade in the Middle East. It took the Maison a few years to establish itself and create product awareness but since then it has soared in terms of sales, as women desire to be owners of luxury accessories that are catered specifically for their taste.
What do you consider your greatest challenge to be?
In the long run, I am passionate about building a sustainable business. This is my greatest challenge as we work alongside many competitors in a volatile market and we need to be stable to be successful.
How would you characterize the tastes of the Middle East?
Clients in the Middle East are looking for two things, instantly recognizable timeless designs and diamond encrusted jewellery. Ladies are keen to purchase diamonds, as they are an investment for future generations.
