CEO of Charriol, Coralie Charriol Paul, talks about today and tomorrow for the luxury brand
Early this month, Manila Bulletin Lifestyle had afternoon tea with the current CEO of the Swiss luxury marquee Charriol, Coralie Charriol Paul. The conversation took place at 4 p.m. via video chat in the Philippines, and for Coralie who was in Geneva, our meeting was an elevenses, with a time difference of seven hours.For those unfamiliar with the term, elevenses is a short break or morning tea taken around 10 or 11. The details and the word differ depending on the country but have been widely used in pop culture from Winnie-the-Pooh to Paddington Bear to J. R. R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings."
Formerly the vice president and creative director of Charriol, Coralie exuded a commanding presence during the video call as she now wears the mantle of company head. As a visionary whose dynamism and energy fuel her passionate endeavors and dedication in upholding her father Philippe Charriol’s legacy, she is the right fit for the job. A designer, an entrepreneur, a mother, a surfer, and a philanthropist, Coralie has done it all.
A NEW CEO RISES
“For 20 years I have been living in New York, but I moved to Geneva after the sad passing of my dad,” she introduced herself. “I took over his company. It’s been quite a challenge losing the founder, surviving Covid, and all the things that all of us have had to do,” she furthers. “But I feel like we’re coming out of it. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. People are trying to live with it and be positive. Maybe change our ways for the better.”
She proceeds to show us her latest video campaign that featured two French models wearing and using Charriol’s leather and jewelry products. “The girls in the video are twins. One is a lawyer, while the other a jewelry designer—women who are accomplished. I love their energy and dynamism, and I thought they showed what the Charriol women are,” Coralie explains. “I think twins are cool. I did marry a twin… I’m into twins,” she jests before presenting the video, which was created to give a flair of France, as well as to show the fun, energetic, and dynamic spirit of the brand.
Becoming a more environmentally friendly brand
Coralie goes on to tell of Charriol’s role in saving the environment with three chronometers—the Forever Turtle, launched two years ago from the Ocean Tales Collection, the Forever Elephant, which she shares was the mascot of her alma mater Tufts University and her favorite animal, and the Polar Bear dial, a soon-to-be-released watch this year. She has been for a long time an environmentalist, incorporating into the brand her mission to cultivate the arts and culture while saving Mother Earth.
Formerly the vice president and creative director of Charriol, Coralie exudes a commanding presence worthy of company head.
If one recalls, 10 years ago, Coralie with her husband Dennis Paul produced a non-profit educational program called "React to Film," which leverages documentary films to promote social responsibility. She is also the executive producer of Discovery network’s documentary "The Story of Plastic" about the heroes at the frontline in Indonesia, Philippines, and around the world who are working to stop plastic pollution from damaging the environment. Charriol has been 100 percent plastic-free since 2020. Finally, the new CEO divulges that she has been looking at sourcing recycled steel. These are just a few of her initiatives.
WHAT’S NEW
Charriol began in 1983 and has since become a symbol of elegance and ingenuity, known for its iconic cable and exquisite Celtic design. It is in 60 countries with 3,800 retail points and 285 boutiques. Due to the pandemic, the brand is adapting to become fully digital.
The artist, who finished her studies at Tufts University in Boston, and took up certificate programs at the Gemological Institute of America in New York, and the New York Film Academy, also announced the brand’s latest accessory releases, one of which is the Celtic Legacy that honors the late Philippe Charriol by reinventing the brand’s classic timepiece with small but fun changes. This wristwatch has a streamlined, thin case, with a simple design, and a much more visible dial. The bezel is in yellow or rose gold. The crown is at four, and the sub-dial at seven. The cable bracelet, the DNA and identity of Charriol, is, of course, a constant, made exclusively in the middle of Switzerland. There are six strands, each with 19 threads of steel and titanium alloy as thin as human hair, twisted and welded together to make the flexible bracelet. The perfect watch for the bon vivant in all of us.
FEELING NAUTI Bracelet Silver Marina reef knot
Other new items include the Marina, a silver, stainless steel cable, gold plated, colored string bracelet with three motifs namely the Porthole, Reef Knot, and Anchor chain, as well as the Forever Starfish watch, which has a figurative and poetic design that pays a tribute to the beauties and testimonies of nature.
OCEAN CHARM Forever Starfish watch in rose gold
“I miss being in the Philippines. It’s one of my favorite places,” Coralie concludes. “I can’t wait to get back there, be in the sun, on the beach, with everybody,” she says before wishing for the safety of Filipinos amid the pandemic.
Exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., in the Philippines, Charriol has stores at Greenbelt 5, Power Plant Rockwell, Trinoma, Central Square Bonifacio High Street, Rustan’s Makati, Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang Town Center, The Podium, Newport Mall, Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Magnolia, Marquee Mall Pampanga, Rustan’s Ayala Cebu, Abreeza Davao, and SM Mall of Asia. It is also available online at Trunc.ph, Rustans.com, and Zalora. | ssilife.com.ph | facebook.com/CharriolOfficial | @charriolph | @ssilifeph.