While the luxury sector was one of the first to be hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, it may also be the first to emerge on the other side. Already, there are encouraging signs of green shoots across the industry.
For instance, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s fashion and leather goods division in October reported a strong turnaround in third-quarter revenue, up 12% year on year, following a drop in sales in the first half of 2020. As safe-distancing curbs ease, wealthy shoppers are emerging from their homes to release their pent-up demand for luxury purchases. This is especially so in China, where consumers are estimated to account for 45% of global luxury sales this year, according to U.S. financial services firm Jefferies.
Travelers are also anticipating the easing of international travel restrictions and the return of luxury leisure travel. In this uncertain environment, however, discerning luxury travelers are likely to be even more selective in their destinations and choose locales and hotels that offer unparalleled experiences.
One such premium offering is the award-winning Pan Pacific London, which is set to become a striking architectural landmark in the heart of the British capital. To be unveiled in Spring 2021, the luxurious 43-story tower will be the first European property of the Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels Group, which has been recognized as the “Best Regional Hotel Chain” in Asia-Pacific, according to the Travel Weekly Asia Readers’ Choice Awards and the TTG Travel Awards.
Located in London’s premium Square Mile, Pan Pacific London will offer a unique blend of Asian hospitality and contemporary British elegance for both leisure and business travelers. The property has already made its mark in the hospitality world, with the hotel garnering various accolades for its architecture, design and mixed-use development.
For those seeking more exotic destinations far from the bustle of urban metropolises, The Residence by Cenizaro’s six luxury resorts are located in some of the world’s most desirable beachfront locations, including the Maldives, Zanzibar, Bintan and Mauritius. Each of the six unique properties in the collection offers breathtaking landscapes and memorable cultural experiences.
Meanwhile, those who can’t get away just yet are recreating premium experiences in their own home using the latest cutting-edge technology, such as Bang & Olufsen’s state-of-the-art home cinema solution. Its incredible audio quality will transport you to far-flung destinations around the world without leaving your living room.
It has been a challenging year on many fronts, but we can take comfort in the knowledge that when we emerge from this crisis, there will be plenty of luxe offerings waiting for you on the other side.
Personal care and dietary supplement company Nu Skin exemplifies innovation is the best driver of industry. For more than 35 years, the company has developed premium nutrition and personal care products that have a strong foundation in science and technology that help one to look and feel younger. In Singapore, the company reached a key milestone in 2020 when it celebrated its 20th year of achievements in the city-state. Through these two decades, Nu Skin has grown to become a leading health, beauty and wellness brand in Singapore.
A New York Stock Exchange-listed company, Nu Skin develops and distributes a comprehensive line of high-quality beauty and wellness solutions. Leveraging a world-renowned scientific advisory board and a team of more than 75 in-house scientists and researchers, the firm is committed to developing and delivering leading-edge proprietary products. These include the Nu Skin personal care brand, the Pharmanex dietary supplement brand, and the ageLOC brand, which focus on products that help one look and feel younger.
“Technological innovation is part of our DNA and continues to be a primary driver of our product development and business growth,” says Nu Skin President Ryan Napierski.
In 2019, Pharmanex was the No. 1 weight management and wellbeing brand in Singapore* for a second consecutive year, according to Euromonitor International. This was an important milestone for both Pharmanex and ageLOC TR90, Nu Skin’s 90-day weight management program, and a result of the company’s continued investment in innovation in the wellness category.
“Our winning formula is having a passionate group of Brand Representatives and a dedicated corporate team that stay aligned and focused on a common goal of empowering people to improve lives. In 20 years, we have not only grown the business considerably to become one of the leading direct selling companies in Singapore, but have also contributed to help make a difference to the less privileged. This Force For Good culture has attracted many people from various professions and backgrounds, with different qualities, to join us with a common goal to uplift others and discover their best selves through Nu Skin’s innovative products and opportunities.”
– Neo Chiou Yee
General Manager, Nu Skin Singapore
Chairman, Direct Selling Association of Singapore (DSAS)
A Leading Business Opportunity Platform
Beyond its portfolio of premium-quality products, the company also innovates through its direct sales programs. The company sells its products through a global network of brand affiliates in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. As a long-standing member of several direct selling associations globally, the company is committed to the industry’s consumer guidelines that protect and support those who sell and purchase its products through the direct selling channel.
Through both program and product innovation, the company is working to realize its vision of becoming the “World’s Leading Business Opportunity Platform.” One key aspect of this strategy is the Velocity Sales Performance Plan, which aims to provide a highly competitive and rewarding compensation plan for participants taking the next step to become entrepreneurs, who are known as Nu Skin Brand Representatives.
With Velocity, individuals can earn rewards and cash daily for sharing the products they love with others, while those who want to take their business to the next level can build a group of customers or lead teams of representatives to earn additional bonuses.
Velocity has helped to enhance the sales performance of Nu Skin sales leaders in Singapore since its launch in 2018, propelling the profile of the brand further as it celebrates its 20th anniversary in the country.
“To achieve continuous growth in a rapidly evolving world, an industry must stay relevant to its customers and be able to attract the future generation. In my past two decades partnering with Nu Skin, I witnessed how our R&D team continuously focused on innovation to develop products and solutions that have revolutionized the beauty and wellness industries. With an entrepreneur-focused business opportunity platform and a commitment to innovation, I am confident of Nu Skin’s potential to lead the growth in this industry.”
– Rayne Ho
Nu Skin Entrepreneur; Former Financial Consultant
“I never knew starting a Nu Skin career could be such a fun journey that encourages learning and growth. I learned to take ownership of my dreams, career progression and personal growth; to be a Force for Good and empower others to transform their own lives. I am thankful for my mentors who taught me how to lead a team, and in the process, I learned how to be the best version of myself.”
– Jordan Wang
Nu Skin Entrepreneur
“I am a firm believer that the gig economy is the way for more professionals to achieve flexibility in their lives and a better work-life balance. Nu Skin’s commitment to innovation extends beyond its products, as proven in its recent platform and program enhancements. Its globally seamless sales performance program has made building a business across markets and regions possible, without additional complexity or barriers, allowing me to grow my team and business beyond Southeast Asia.”
– Zan Zhou
Nu Skin Entrepreneur; Former Corporate Headhunter
Embracing Technology
To stay relevant in a fast-changing global landscape, the company is leveraging technology and a digital-first strategy to tap the growing influence of millennials and the gig economy. The younger demographic (ages 18 to 30) has been a key driver of Nu Skin Singapore’s growth in recent years. In 2019, customers in this category grew by 18% year-on-year, while the number of sales leaders rose 81%.
Among other technology-related initiatives, the company provides its sales leaders and customers with innovative digital tools to enhance their experiences. For instance, the My Nu Skin app allows sales leaders to track customer purchases and monitor team performance, and triggers their bonus payment.
Meanwhile, an upcoming skin-consultation app with machine-learning capability will offer customized product recommendations for different lifestyle and skin types.
This digital-first approach capitalizes on macro-trends such as the rise of the gig economy and the growth of social sharing that has made it easier to share products with friends and family.
Social media is opening a global market that is vastly different from any physical market, requiring the organization to be faster and more agile than ever before.
Leadership-Driven Growth
The company’s business model is designed to empower people to transform and improve their lives through “Products, Opportunity and being a Force For Good.”
Nu Skin sales leaders come from diverse backgrounds, including successful business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, corporate executives and even fresh graduates. The company currently has more than 1 million independent Brand Affiliates in nearly 50 markets around the world and is looking to significantly boost growth in Southeast Asia.
Over the years, the company’s pioneer leader entrepreneurs have also built a solid foundation on which the next generation of sales leaders can build at a much-accelerated pace.
In Singapore, the company’s sales leaders have been key to building a strong legacy and fostering a culture of success over the past 20 years.
A Force for Good
The company’s innovative sales platform also creates opportunities for its Brand Affiliates to give back and fund its philanthropic Force For Good initiatives.
In Southeast Asia, the company encourages its leaders to contribute 1% of their commissions to the Southeast Asia Children’s Heart Fund (SEACHF), which provides medical assistance to underprivileged children born with congenital heart disease.
Nu Skin Singapore currently has more than 1,500 SEACHF donors. These funds have helped support children through the company’s partnership in Singapore with KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Through its various initiatives around the world, the company is committed to being a force for good by empowering people to improve lives with rewarding business opportunities, innovative products and an enriching, uplifting culture.
“When I first understood the scalability and time flexibility that the business could offer years back, it motivated my wife and I to start the business almost immediately. As an entrepreneur and Board Member of the Southeast Asia Children’s Heart Fund, I feel encouraged that Nu Skin is not just about transforming people’s lives through products and business opportunities, but it also provides individuals the opportunity through its platform to give children suffering from heart disease a new lease on life.”
– Oliver Lim
Nu Skin Entrepreneur; Former Management Consultant
“If through teaching I helped my students discover their potential, it is through entrepreneurship that I discovered my own potential. With no network or connections and being an introvert, I discovered my potential through learning to make new friends, managing rejection and mastering my ego. With time, I developed a growth mindset and learned to lead with love. I sought knowledge and see every challenge I face as an opportunity instead.”
– Roziani Rashid
Nu Skin Entrepreneur; Former Educator
“Entrepreneurship is an exciting, ever-evolving and adaptive journey. As I grew my business, I sought opportunities with calculated risk, greater scalability and the potential to provide me with a balanced lifestyle. The direct selling industry, being highly versatile and designed for efficiency, allows me to tap seamlessly into current trends through today’s connected social space, with the potential to build a global business network. I see resilience in the industry and continued growth with this partnership.”
People around the world are constantly looking for opportunities to improve their lives. The chance to live healthy, to look younger and to do better for themselves and their families.
The Nu Skin business helps people earn leveraged income, it offers time flexibility and provides premium beauty and wellness products that are effective and backed by science.*
With more than 35 years of operations in nearly 50 markets around the world, Nu Skin has been ranked the World’s #1 At-Home Beauty Device System Brand for 2017 and 2018 by Euromonitor International.**
In a rapidly changing world, we evolve, adapt and emerge stronger. One thing we have always kept in mind is our corporate mission to be a force for good throughout the world by empowering people to improve lives. We help transform lives via our business platforms and product innovations.
Find Out How These Nu Skin Sales Leaders Face Challenges And Discover Opportunities To Be Their Best Selves During The Challenging Economic And Health Circumstances
“Have the right mindset and surround yourself with positivity.”
–Pichet & Pattarawan Sukkanivast
During crises, people fear the unknown. We think the key to overcoming this fear is to change the mindset and move away from negative thoughts. When we understand the online behavior of customers, we can select the right channel to share this Nu Skin opportunity. We found that our beauty device products are perfect for people who work from home. They can pamper their skin at home and even grab this opportunity to share with others!
“Master new skills to embrace changes.”
–Daniel Jr & Ella Laogan
The fear of failing and letting our team down made us really prepare and brace ourselves for changes. While some became paralyzed with fear of the unknown, we pushed ourselves to work even harder. We tapped the support available through Nu Skin to improve our use of digital tools. Besides mastering online skills, it is more important to master our fear and emotions to deal with change. We did our best to manage what we can control and left the rest to God.
“Success is about staying relevant, being professional and having the ability to help others.”
–Derrick Tia & Frann Ng
Each challenge is an opportunity to learn new skills. These past few months, many in my team have become more IT-savvy. The learned to present, organize, and manage online meetings. We had to learn new skills and upgrade. This business has given me the opportunity to meet people and learn about their lives, their trials and motivations. Helping to make a difference and improving their lives is really an inspiring process. This is my contribution to be a force for good.
“Embracing change with a team is easier than facing it alone.”
–Hendra Ramli
When you are so used to doing things a certain way, it can be difficult to see that there are other available options to deal with change. I tell myself and my team not to rest on past glories and those proven methods done in the past but restart anew like it is their first time in the business, with drive and hunger to succeed. We sell innovative health and beauty products and an opportunity that transforms lives—something that everybody needs now. Embrace this change!
“Make time for all the important things in life.”
–Jack Kerk
All of us have the same 24 hours a day. By leveraging technology, we can maximize these 24 hours and save time spent on traveling or being stuck in traffic. I now conduct online trainings almost daily and even though I find myself working more, I still have time to be a father and a son. With time flexibility, I prioritize what is important for me and my work. Now with a few clicks, I can meet with my partners all around the world! Nu Skin can be your truly seamless global business, from your home.
“Move away from your comfort zone and digitize your business fast.”
–Tram Ngo
Previously we conducted our Nu Skin business face to face. In the new norm, we have shifted all our prospecting and training online. This worked out well as we were able to organize a systematic online schedule that allowed more people to join and learn about the business. I think there is always a solution for any situation. We just need to have the belief and the want to do it.
*Generating meaningful compensation as a Brand Affiliate requires considerable time, effort and commitment. This is not a get rich quick program, there are no guarantee of financial success and results will vary widely among participants. A complete summary of earnings at each level in the Sales Compensation Plan can be found at: http://bit.ly/38iUBwd
**Source: Euromonitor International Ltd; Retail Value RSP terms; all channels, 2017 and 2018. Includes at-home Skin Care Devices exclusively paired with topical consumable of same brand. Based on Euromonitor custom research methodology, Jan/Feb 2019. Includes electric facial cleansers as defined in Passport database; does not include hair care/removal, body shavers, or oral care appliances.
Since its founding in 1975 by Henry Jacques Cremona, French haute perfume Henry Jacques has forged a reputation for creating bespoke scents for elite members of society—from members of royalty to captains of industry. The soul of Cremona’s creations lies in a laboratory in the town of Grasse on the French Riviera, where more than 3,000 formulas are housed. These are comprised of natural ingredients painstakingly sought from around the world by the brand’s perfumers. From the essences to the bottles, every aspect of a Henry Jacques creation is created in-house to ensure that the quality of the brand’s offerings are maintained at an exceptional level.
The perfume house has only recently expanded its exclusive distribution with the opening of a highly select number of retail shops. Its first-ever retail presence debuted as a store-in-store at Harrods in London in 2014. This was followed by two stand-alone boutiques in Asia; the first at the Singapore luxury hotel Marina Bay Sands, and another located at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur shopping center. These boutiques offer a diverse range of products—from the brand’s Couture collection, Masterpieces collection, High Jewelry collections and Les Classiques collection. As tribute to their heritage, the Henry Jacques boutiques offer the brand’s bespoke perfume service.
To create the exceptional scents contained in each bottle, Henry Jacques perfumers take inspiration from a variety of sources, resulting in a dazzling concoction of notes and blends, colors and textures, to delight even the most discerning nose.
The private viewing room
A Palette of Essences
Henry Jacques perfumes are created only with the highest quality natural essences sourced from around the world, which are as varied as the flowers from which they are extracted. This wondrous palette of essences includes velvety rose, intoxicating tuberose, sunny lavender, sumptuous jasmine, soft, sensual, heady musk, and the subtle heat of marine ambergris. Like highly skilled alchemists turning metal into gold, Henry Jacques perfumers then work rigorously in their laboratories to bring out the quintessence of each of these premium ingredients.
To ensure that their presentation accurately reflects the quality of the product within, the finished perfumes are bottled in intricately designed crystal flacons or customized jewel-toned flasks made by the world’s leading crystal-glass makers and jewelers.
Mr Henry Jacques Cr emona in the laboratory
Les Classiques Collection
In 2014, Henry Jacques’s daughter, Anne-Lise Cremona, introduced the world to the Les Classiques collection, which is made up of 50 scents that come in 15ml or 30ml flacons. Les Classiques was born from a challenge: to create an exquisite selection of perfumes to represent the perfumer’s extensive and diverse body of olfactory work in a single collection. The 50 unique fragrances act as a gateway for newcomers to the Henry Jacques universe. Each perfume is designed to enhance the personality of the person who uses it. In essence, the perfumer becomes a matchmaker between customers and the ideal life they seek.
Fittingly for such an exclusive collection, each fragrance is housed in a minimalist crystal bottle specially designed by the brand’s Artistic Director, Christophe Tollemer. Each Classique is presented in a varnished wood case embellished with gold leaf, opening to reveal a bottle resting on a silk cushion.
Henry Jacques is also working to revive the pleasure and satisfaction of assembling one’s own personal perfume collection; an art that is akin to building an elegant wardrobe. To this end, the brand has come up with Caves à Parfums, a cabinet to hold crystal bottles from the Classiques de HJ line. Selecting perfumes from Henry Jacques wide range of fragrances has added meaning as you piece together your own mosaic of scents in this exquisite cabinet available in two sizes: 10 x 15ml and 15 x 15ml.
Les Classiques Collection
Les Toupies I
Les Toupies II
A Haven for the Senses
Henry Jacques has always been discreet about how it distributes its exclusive products, only setting up a retail presence as recently as 2014. The decision to do so was accompanied by months of consideration and reflection over how these boutiques could best reflect Henry Jacques’ brand values.
Tollemer led the creative process, designing each space as a haven to escape daily life; a place where customers can realize the most idealized versions of themselves through the brand’s offerings. Each of the boutiques feature cabinets of curiosities, elegant design, comfortable furnishings and discrete service to reflect the Henry Jacques legacy. While the perfume organ takes center stage, the collections themselves are hidden from sight, waiting to be discovered.
The Henry Jacques Singapore shop was its first stand-alone boutique. The space was inspired by the old-world charm and grandeur of historic Parisian apartments, but given a twist of modernity to suit today’s consumer tastes. “The entire boutique was conceived and assembled in France, and reassembled in Singapore by our team. This long process was the only way to guarantee uncompromised French craftsmanship. Like our perfume, each component is of rare quality,” says Tollemer.
Les Toupies: A Fairytale Fragrance
One standout piece from Henry Jacques Masterpieces collection is Les Toupies. This collection was creatively envisioned as part of a tale, with each perfume representing a character in a love story.
Les Toupies, which means Spinning Tops, are made up of couples: two unique and exclusive fragrances—one for men and one for women. These creations are designed to be timeless while showcasing a distinctive style all of their own.
The first two from the collection were “Mr. H and Mrs. Y,” followed by the next couple, “No. 16 de HJ and No. 81 de HJ.” Each fragrance is inspired by French romance and elegance. The perfumes are housed in extraordinary crystal flacons that took more than three years to develop and represent a technical and artistic breakthrough for Henry Jacques perfumes.
They are specially designed for those who are passionate about art and historic French craftsmanship, with every detail meticulously crafted by Tollemer. He created a bottle that is both multifaceted and symmetrical, but with no central point. Despite their intricate design, these crystal marvels sturdily hold the precious nectars within.
The men’s flacon is slightly larger than that for the women, but the curves of each appear to respond to each other in a reflection of their synergy. says Henry Jacques: “We imagined the Toupies collection as a great fresco, filled with myriads of stories and characters, like [Honoré de] Balzac’s ‘The Human Comedy.’ One Toupie after the other, one fragrance after the other, we wish to express the immensity and fragility of life and its many romances.”
As travelers become savvier and more demanding, hospitality players are leveraging technology and design to upsize the guest experience for their customers. Comfortable, well-designed rooms and premium services are just the starting points in an increasingly competitive landscape. To truly stand out in a crowded market, hotel and serviced residence operators must offer a seamless and enriching experience throughout the entire customer journey.
Progressive regional and international players are doing just that. For instance, Singapore-based hospitality group The Ascott Limited has rolled out a group-wide digital transformation strategy to support its growing global portfolio that encompasses eight world-class brands. One key initiative in this effort was the launch of the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) earlier this year. ASR is the serviced residence industry’s first loyalty program that offers members the full flexibility to earn and redeem points.
In Manila, pioneering integrated-resort Solaire continues to reinforce its position as a leading leisure destination in booming Entertainment City. To complement its old-world opulence, the property is pushing the boundaries of innovation. For instance, Solaire’s high-tech “Players Stadium” features the world’s largest suspended center display, spanning 360 square meters and offering the equivalent of 310 65-inch screens merged into one.
The younger generation of travelers is demanding that the brands they patronize prioritize sustainability. One hotel group that is leading the way on this front is Singapore’s Pan Pacific Hotels Group. The group was recognized as the “World’s Leading Green City Hotel” for PARKROYAL on Pickering, its flagship property in Singapore. Pan Pacific is continuing its sustainability efforts with plans to launch another eco-friendly property, Pan Pacific Orchard, in 2021. The new hotel aims to offer guests a resort-style experience in the heart of Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping and lifestyle district.
Amid the focus on technology and sustainability, however, simple pleasures such as an exceptional fine-dining experience continue to be important to discerning travelers. One hotel that has taken this to heart is Lotte Hotel Seoul. Korea’s premier luxury business hotel is known as one of the country’s best “gourmet” hospitality establishments. In particular, the hotel’s two leading restaurants—the Korean restaurant Mugunghwa and French eatery Pierre Gagnaire à Séoul—have helped make Lotte Hotel Seoul a must-visit for foodies.
In the battle for travelers’ hearts and minds, these hospitality groups have hit on the right formula to ensure that their guests keep coming back to their world-class brands, wherever they may be.
THE PLAZA Seoul as seen from Deoksugung Palace (foreground).
Swimming Pool and Seoul Ice Rink.
THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection, the five-star hotel at the heart of central Seoul, celebrates the arrival of 2019 with a special package inspired by the East Asian concept of feng shui. Embracing the new hotel culture of storytelling—to bring guests into the heart of local culture and history—the package is the first of its kind in Korea and includes an exclusive range of products and services, plus the chance to earn 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Feng shui is based on traditional geomantic principles that link good fortune to the art of placing buildings and other structures to be in harmony with the natural environment. Seoul was chosen 600 years ago as the location for the new capital of the Joseon dynasty, which went on to rule Korea for half a millennium. Surrounded by mountains to the north, south, east and west and with a large river flowing below, it was considered a perfect embodiment of feng shui principles. Still today the site is regarded as highly auspicious by scholars and feng shui specialists. Guests staying at THE PLAZA Seoul enjoy a location at the heart of the ancient capital, surrounded by historic royal palaces, relaxing urban streams and, in the distance, the peaks of the mountains that guarded the city through the centuries. Nearby is the former site of the Taepyeonggwan, a building used to accommodate foreign envoys during the Joseon period, further underlining the area’s historic spirit of hospitality.
PLAZA SUITE Room
“Hotels today are positioned not just as places for staying the night but as destinations offering valuable cultural experiences in a local context,” says MY YOON at Marketing Department of THE PLAZA Seoul. “At THE PLAZA Seoul, we always strive to go beyond providing a mere break to become a place of experience and unforgettable memories.”
The Feng Shui Package, offering relaxation and happiness in Seoul’s most auspicious location, is available for multiple-night stays and is priced from 410,000 won (US$363) a night, plus tax and service charges.
It’s hard to miss a Richard Mille timepiece. With their cutting-edge designs, audacious use of color and extreme technical sophistication, the watchmaker’s creations stand out in a sea of cookie-cutter offerings. Its new Bonbon collection is no exception. Released in January at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, it proves yet again the brand’s willingness to break new ground in the world of luxury watchmaking.
The daring but elegant collection features 10 models, each limited to just 30 pieces, that inject a dose of playfulness from our childhood. Their designs are inspired by the colors and tastes of candy, and would be at home in the wild and wacky world of Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory.
The Bonbon collection took more than 18 months to develop, and follows the spirit of Richard Mille in its willingness to upend convention to push the boundaries of creativity. All the watches in the collection use the construction of previous Richard Mille timepieces as their base. Recognizable models such as the RM 07-01, the RM 016 and the RM 037 have been completely transformed and sport a refreshed aesthetic.
These creations are the brainchild of Cécile Guenat—the daughter of Richard Mille’s founding partner Dominique Guenat—who served as the artistic director for the series and has brought the carefree spirit of childhood into the world of serious craftsmanship.
“’Bonbon.’ Just saying the word is enough to make you smile. It manages to convey a combination of pleasure, openness and sharing all at once. This collection is disruptive, elegant, daring and playful. In a word: creative!” says Guenat, who set herself the goal of reinventing classic sweets such as marshmallow, licorice and gelato with a horological twist.
She adds: “For me, it was truly an opportunity to let loose and have fun revisiting childhood. Nonetheless, it was an ambitious, daring project entailing 18 months of development, and entirely faithful to the spirit of Richard Mille, a serious brand that’s not afraid to break with tradition.”
A Sugary Inspiration
The Bonbon collection’s 10 releases are divided into either the Sweets line (four models) or the Fruits line (six models). Some of the timepieces feature miniature fruits and candies across the dial, while the crowns and case bands on others have been crafted in the shape of cupcakes and bowls of gelato.
For Guenat, the outrageous idea of creating a watch collection around the theme of confectionery was not a totally surprising one. She explains: “It was quite a natural step, you see. The crown of the RM 07-01 is reminiscent of a bonbon, and so is the texture of the ceramic. For its part, the case of the RM 016 made me think of a licorice roll-up. It was also an opportunity to revisit existing collections from a new perspective and give them a bit of a twist, make them fun.”
Fruits
From gumdrops and swirling gelato to marshmallows and barley sugars, the Fruits line’s six models are each adorned with eight, 12, or 16 miniature depictions. Every model comes with a different piece of decorative confectionery that is unique to that timepiece.
All the miniatures are machined from sheets of solid titanium, and can be a mere two millimeters in thickness. They are entirely painted by hand to give the look and feel of a sugar coating and feature hues that embody mouth-watering flavors. Whether it’s the Litchi (Lychee) and the Myrtille (Blueberry) RM 07-03, the Citron (Lemon) and the Fraise (Strawberry) RM 16-01, or the Cerise (Cherry) and the Kiwi RM 37-01, these timepieces are vibrantly colored and irresistibly delightful.
Simply put, each miniature is a work of artistic craftsmanship in its own right. All the Fruits watches use Carbon TPT® or Quartz TPT®—the same layering materials found in popular Richard Mille models, such as Rafael Nadal’s RM 27-03 Tourbillon.
Sweets
Meanwhile, the Sweets line features four models inspired by Sucette (Lollipop), Cupcake, Réglisse (Licorice) and Marshmallow. Each is crafted from two-tone ceramic that evokes a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth surface.
Shaped like giant sweets, the dials of the RM 37-01 the Sucette, the RM 07-03 Cupcake and the RM 07-03 Marshmallow have been made with one of the most complex decorative techniques in watchmaking: the grand feu enamel. This technique involves creating shallow depressions that outline the desired motif for each model in plates of rose or white gold, which are then filled in with powdered enamel.
Beyond mere decoration, however, the Richard Mille team has used the technique to enable the creation of green, yellow and pink shades that evoke the sense of playfulness that is at the heart of the Bonbon collection. The firing and glazing skills used to produce the artisanal confectionery are also different from traditional methods. On these elegant canvases, the motifs of the Sweets line stand out and enhance the variations in texture. These creations are certainly objects of desire to be savored slowly and intensely. Much like a kid enjoying a lollipop, it is a childhood dream come true.
An Explosion of Color
The extravagant use of color is not new to the Richard Mille family, and is indeed one of the brand’s signature design flourishes. Beyond the use of titanium, gold and Carbon TPT®, Richard Mille has continuously introduced a wide and vibrant palette of shades to express an adventurous vision that is ever-evolving.
The Bonbon collection boasts its own burst of vibrant colors, including cherry red, kiwi green, the lavender TZP ceramic of the Marshmallow and an unprecedented turquoise shade.
Guenat explains that the combination of Quartz TPT® and Carbon TPT® in the Fruits line “makes it possible to create nuance in some pretty flashy colors.” For instance, alternating black and bright hues produce cases that sport the look of Neapolitan ice cream. The technology used to create these effects is not unlike the science behind baking, where a delicate balance of ingredients, proportion and cooking time is key to success.
Aurèle Vuilleumier, Research and Design Manager at Richard Mille, says a new color takes a year of development to perfect before it can be used. “Every new color is the outcome of innumerable tests. We use prepreg quartz filaments to observe interactions between the constituents and the resin. We evaluate the visual appearance after firing,” he explains. “Each pigment, all of which are natural, has a unique set of chemical reactions.”
It is the exacting and rigorous process that has enabled the launch of a new color, Quartz TPT® Turquoise, which was created especially for the RM 07-03 Myrtille.
Pushing the Boundaries of Creativity
Underlying the playful designs of Richard Mille’s Bonbon collection is a highly sophisticated level of technicality as well as exquisite artistic craftsmanship. For instance, it takes about 45 minutes for an experienced craftsman to paint just one of the candies by hand. In all, 3,000 hours of work were required to apply the acrylic paint and complete quality control on 3,000 components.
With this new collection, Richard Mille has proven yet again that his unorthodox methods and his ability to surprise with each new release continue to fuel demand for his timepieces. This time around, Guenat and her team has done so by successfully refreshing previous generations of Richard Mille watches with her whimsical take on classic pieces. In the process, she may also succeed in bringing out the child in even the most serious watch collector.
THE BONBON COLLECTION
The Fruits line consists of the following 6 models:
