It is a story that was a very long time coming… In reality, it comes all the way in which from TAG Heuer possibly 10 years in the past. Whereas numerous titles within the group have certainly scored interviews with Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin since 2013, WOW has not acquired one since at the least 2016 (at the least not within the period of this editor, who by no means had one in any of his earlier roles and firms – Ed). Provided that WOW has not too long ago managed to interview the CEO of each LVMH watchmaking model (from Hublot to TAG Heuer), it was notably galling that Babin eluded us. Nicely, no extra as a result of we lastly did it and thus achieved the LVMH Grand Slam of CEO interviews.

Severely although, Babin represents one of many final of the old-school watch and jewelry bosses, but is by no means married to custom. Certainly, he typically zigs while you assume he’ll zag, as they are saying. We, and little question you too, recall very nicely when Babin introduced Bulgari’s ultra-thin watch problem in BaselWorld, in all probability in 2013 or 2014. It was a deeply astonishing transfer from a person who had solely simply moved over from TAG Heuer, the place he had been CEO since 2000. The seeds for this had already been laid on the model he would lead from then proper as much as the current as a result of the Octo Finissimo had debuted in 2012 and the Serpenti was already profitable. On the boldest frontier but, Bulgari had already jumped into residence furnishing and the hospitality enterprise by Babin’s period.

Born in France however described constantly (by his personal crew and himself) as Italian at coronary heart, Babin differs from his friends in that he by no means inserts himself into the dialog. That’s true from the design language right down to communication in regards to the model’s identification; Babin is fairly clear about what he needs for Bulgari (one constant identification throughout all of the areas it operates in) and he is aware of he has the proper crew to ship. In reality, the crew he constructed at Bulgari is what he cites first when requested about his legacy – he singles out Vice President for Advertising and Communications Laura Burdese particularly as a result of she helps him with what Bulgari calls One-Model Elevation, which is that aforementioned technique of maintaining the model constant in all areas.

As a veteran of the commerce, Babin does communicate his thoughts – not like many Swiss model executives, he can and does usually point out his competitors by identify, proper right down to the product degree. All of that is on the document, in fact, as you will note. Babin can be unafraid to make daring claims – boldness is central to the Italian identification of Bulgari in spite of everything. When he initially lauded the ultra-thin achievements of Bulgari in watchmaking, he was taking the battle to some fairly large gamers and Bulgari had no expertise on this enviornment. The outcomes communicate for themselves there, though Babin is adamant that the thought was not likely to have a go at world information or seize headlines.

With that, we are going to let Babin take it away, with a salvo fired virtually from the beginning…

How was Geneva Watch Days for you?

As you understand, that is the fourth Geneva Watch Days in a row. We began throughout (the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown) as a result of we felt the necessity for a present to exchange BaselWorld (now defunct) and SIHH (now Watches and Wonders, and remodeled that 12 months right into a digital-only occasion). Geneva Watch Days was the primary bodily occasion for the watch and jewelry commerce that 12 months (though the bigger element was possible nonetheless the digital model as a result of individuals nonetheless couldn’t journey).

And this 12 months, it’s larger than ever with 40 manufacturers; that is a lot of manufacturers for a brand new present! Not solely do we’ve got the help of Geneva (the town and the Canton), however we now have the total help of the FHH on the bottom the FHH is the organiser of Watches and Wonders – Ed. So greater than ever, we’re the official Geneva watch honest! And it’s not even only a watch honest any longer; it has turn into a watch discussion board. By that, I imply that a part of all the honest is devoted by the manufacturers to boards and symposiums. Sure, the manufacturers are right here to introduce novelties however an enormous period of time can be (invested) in speaking (within the format of a discussion board, panel dialogue and so forth). Bulgari had an awesome symposium with Wei Koh (of Revolution) on the subject of brand name builders. I participated in one other one with Georges Kern (of Breitling) and Max Busser (of MB&F) on the way forward for retail. So, there are lots of actions at Geneva Watch Days, not forgetting additionally an public sale to learn the Geneva watchmaking college.

I discussed 40 manufacturers earlier however actually there are various extra benefiting from this large gathering (of ours) to organise their very own occasions. There are in all probability one other 20 to 25 (non-exhibitors) organising such occasions (throughout Geneva Watch Days), and this makes it one of the crucial necessary watch gala’s on the worldwide calendar.

So Geneva Watch Days is right here to remain then…

Nicely, you understand, I used to be at BaselWorld for a lot of, a few years – first with TAG Heuer after which with Bulgari. I visited the SIHH in Geneva nearly yearly too, pushed by curiosity. On the finish of the day, even earlier than issues got here to a head, I used to be very skeptical of the codecs and ideas of these gala’s however not as a result of I don’t like or imagine in watch gala’s (per se). So, 30 to 40 years in the past, the strategy was very clear and logical. With advancing know-how; evolving consumptions habits; new purchasers (of various markets and kinds); and digital media consumption, it was all getting a bit quaint… to not point out prohibitively costly.

So I used to be planning to withdraw from BaselWorld anyway after which got here COVID-19, which accelerated issues; since I didn’t just like the historic format of the gala’s, some buddies and I who shared the identical imaginative and prescient determined to begin one thing new. With out COVID, we’d have began this anyway, possibly in 2021 or 2022, however (like I mentioned, issues acquired accelerated). It was the worst doable time…there have been lockdowns…we needed to transfer the date 3 times… However ultimately, in August of 2020, we made it (although the world was removed from again to regular).

It was a hit, confirming that our philosophy and the pillars of our new idea have been way more in tune with time than (the previous gala’s), and this is the reason Watches and Wonders doesn’t like us a lot… Clearly it’s all the time painful to see a small group of medium sized manufacturers organizing a good fairly simply for little or no price whereas getting the help of authorities who by no means gave their help to the larger standard gala’s which might be very pricey…

Issues have modified lots in watchmaking over the course of your profession. How have issues modified for you personally, out of your time at TAG Heuer to your current function in Bulgari?

To start with, Bulgari is sort of a group, you understand, as a result of we’re working in many alternative areas. Bulgari is a small luxurious group in contrast with LVMH, in fact, to which we belong, however we’re working in jewellery, in watches, in hospitality, in fragrances, in equipment, in luggage… TAG Heuer is primarily a watchmaker, though it was clearly profitable in eyewear too. We made some inroads into luxurious cellphones however TAG Heuer was and is a watchmaker. Without end.

So, the primary distinction is that I’ve to be way more agile, mentally, to change from one class to a different. It is because Bulgari is competing towards totally different manufacturers in numerous classes. This competitors is pushed by various factors; consumer expectations are totally different from class to class and due to this fact I want the agility to leap from the one to the opposite whereas maintaining a really strict body (of reference encompassing all features) in order that finally for the consumer, there may be one model solely, although it’s in a number of classes. To attain this, I’ve outlined – in a really express means – that Bulgari is primarily an impressive Roman jeweller, and that the whole lot else we’d do can be related to being Roman and being a jeweller.

Which means we’re the Roman jeweler of time; the Roman jeweller of treasured skins; of olfactive feelings (for fragrances); and of hospitality for the lodges (and so forth). So the whole lot is finished with the identical obsessive consideration for perfection, for magnificence, for element, for excellence of beliefs. That is the thread (connecting all of the classes) that I’m accountable for as a result of I don’t have an inventive director accountable for general model consistency and creativity. I’m the one ensuring all the companies converge with the mission. Along with my Advertising Vice President Laura (Burdese), we be certain that out of our range, the patron and consumer notion is that there’s one model solely. Ideally, it’s the most fascinating expertise in luxurious you will get worldwide (in watchmaking, to quote the novelties of Geneva Watch Days, that is very like the rose gold bridges paired with platinum micro- rotors marking the calibres BVL138 and BVL305 that energy the Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Automated and the Perpetual Calendar). So, we’re on our means. It’s not but achieved as a result of, you understand, it’s a very bold aim. However that is the imaginative and prescient, and this imaginative and prescient drives us.

Given the superb fame Bulgari has as a jeweller – reviews on LVMH constantly opine that Bulgari’s jewelry enterprise is larger than all of LVMH’s watch enterprise, however right me if I’m mistaken-

No, no, I received’t right you!

Okay! So why deal with all these different areas? Why put all this effort into making Octo Finissimo the thinnest watch on this planet, over 10 years and throughout problems?

Nicely, first, you understand, the watch market is sort of a giant one and we’ve got a comparatively small share. We’re an necessary participant, however no model has a commanding share, besides Rolex.

Clearly, when the market is fragmented, it’s typically simpler to get market share, supplied you’re inventive and constant, with a qualitative strategy. We spent lots of effort on micro mechanical engineering with the Finissimo, sure, but additionally within the Piccolissimo for women (which later resulted in some highly effective fashions within the Serpenti vary, which is Bulgari’s biggest-selling line)… That is to say that making ultra-thin watches was by no means for the sake of beating world information. It was to execute our imaginative and prescient of favor for males; the imaginative and prescient was the last word masculine modern magnificence.

In ready-to-wear, we name it slim match. And so, as gents indulged in slim match, they wanted a slim watch as a result of in any other case there’s a mismatch. This was the genesis of the ultra-thin Octo Finissimo! The slim match model obliged us to reinvent the mechanical motion with a view to make it appropriate with the aesthetic imaginative and prescient. And we’ve got been so profitable on this that we’ve got the ultra-thin document in each class…you identify it, we’ve got it!

This text first appeared on WOW’s Festive 2024 problem.

For extra on the most recent in watch reads, click on right here.