Exclusive interview with Mr. Guido Damiani, President of Damiani Group; Franck Muller inaugurates its first boutique in New Delhi

   
 
 

Interviews

 

Exclusive interview with Guido Damiani, President of Damiani Group

What does celebrate Damiani's 100th anniversary mean to you personally and to the company as a whole?

The celebration of our 100-year anniversary makes us so proud, and I think our parents and grand-parents would be so proud as well. It has been an exciting and emotional year for Damiani, as you can imagine a hundred years is an important and unrepeatable moment in a company’s path. Passion, creativity, craftmanship, Italianess and family are the values that have always represented Damiani soul since its origins, so we have decided to translate them into a special high jewelry collection.  100 unique jewels, made up by 100 rare stones coming from all over the world, showcased within magnificent exhibition called “Damiani 100x100 Italiani”. since its premiere in March 2024 in Milan, this exhibition has then travelled all over the world to arrive in Dubai last week. Dubai is a city full of energy, so I’m particularly happy that we brought our celebrations here. Anyway, though 100 years are an important result, they do not represent the finish line: in fact, I like to think that the most significant milestone is yet to come, because we are already projected to the future and to the next 100 years.

How has Damiani’s vision evolved over the past century, and what are the key milestones that have shaped the brand into what it is today?

If I must think of our history since the very beginning, there were so many important moments… Our know-how made of excellent craftmanship and creativity has passed from one generation to the other.  Our journey began with my grandfather Enrico, whose skills as a master goldsmith soon made him a point of reference among distinguished noble families, who relied on him for the creation of their most exclusive jewels, as he designed and crafted the jewels on his own. My father Damiano succeeded him, and his pioneering mind gave a strong innovative push to the company. Thanks to him, Damiani became a brand and conquered an increasingly international audience. He brought so many innovations, from revolutionary designs to disruptive communication campaigns featuring international movie stars… he was one of the first in the industry to engage international celebrities in advertising campaigns to build brand awareness. After his tragic dead in a car accident, the company passed to me, Silvia and Giorgio, the third generation. Under the three of us, the company has grown so much and has developed as a global business and Group, with branches all over the world. Silvia takes care of the image and communication aspects of the Group; Giorgio oversees the creative direction, production and supply chain, while as president of the company I supervise all the strategic and business-related activities. As you can see, each generation has brought something new to the Damiani legacy and future direction, but the DNA and the core values of the Maison have always remained the same since our origins: we protect them, without accepting compromises.  In fact, as we often say, Damiani is not just a brand, it is first of all a family name: the lastname of my grandparents and my parents, but most of all, the last names of our children and future grandchildren. This brings a huge sense of responsibility for us, along with a huge pride. In fact, we are the only international jewel brand still owned by the founding family. A Maison that is 100% Italian, in an industry dominated by big international Group corporations.

What are the standout iconic pieces or collections from Damiani’s history that you would consider iconic or particularly meaningful to the brand’s legacy?

We have created so many iconic pieces over these 100 years… You know that Damiani is the only Maison who has won as many as 18 Diamonds International Awards, the Oscar of the international jewelry world? We won the first one in 1976, with the bracelet Shark that was designed by our mother Gabriella. Apart from these masterpieces, we have many iconic fine jewelry collections: from Margherita and Belle Epoque, whose original designs arrive from my grand-father sketches, to Mimosa jewels, with its intricate apparent chaos in diamonds settings. These fine jewelry collections have been translated also in our high jewelry proposals. Another iconic collection that deserves mention is D.Side: everything started with the wedding ring co-created with Brad Pitt, for Jennifer Aniston, a pure celebration of love. The D.Side ring has two concentric circles in white gold or platinum that are joined together by brilliant-cut diamonds, epitomising the symbolic and emotional bond between two lovers. Since its creation, D.Side has expanded in full collection whole wedding rings are still must-have pieces.  

Damiani has a rich history of craftsmanship and Italian heritage. How do you preserve this legacy while embracing modern trends and innovations?

Balancing traditional values with new trends is not difficult for us because creativity is something that is incorporated in our DNA. We keep on distinguishing ourselves not only for our traditions and quality, but also for our capability to innovate. In fact, creativity, innovation, tradition, are all part of our heritage. These values may seem distant, but they can coexist.  We have always had a deep respect for our origins, and this has never prevented us from experimenting with design. You can notice how much creativity and innovation are rooted in our DNA, looking at my grandfather’s original designs, like Margherita for example: it is one of our oldest designs, but its lines are still so modern, so contemporary. My father was a visionary as well: we were taught to always look around, observe and be curious, to understand what people like, without compromising our integrity. You can find the same spirit also in the most recent fine jewelry collections, like Belle Epoque Reel, which is a fresher take on the Belle Epoque collection, one of our iconic collections of all time: we build up on our history, we don’t erase the past.

What have been some of the most significant challenges Damiani has faced over the last 100 years, and how has the company overcome them?

Damiani has expanded a lot over the decades, we have created not only a global brand but also a Group that promotes Italian excellence through the synergistic blend of complementary brands and companies, established or acquired over the course of the years. As the brand has expanded to become a global Group, surely challenges have increased. There is a certain level of complexity in handling a global Group, but challenges are exciting to us. Along with Damiani nowadays our portfolio consists of other five brands: Salvini, a leading brand in contemporary jewelry; Bliss, which targets a younger audience; Calderoni, a historical Milanese high-end jewelry brand founded in 1840, that is now a Business Unit of the Damiani Group mainly dedicated to the sale of loose natural diamonds; ROCCA, founded in 1794, the only multibrand chain distributing high-end jewelry and timepieces in Italy who is now also expanding abroad; and VENINI, founded in 1921, a Murano-based glassmaker whose artistic glassware is on display in leading museums worldwide. Most of these brands have affinities and belong to the same industry, an industry that we have a deep understanding of: it surely makes it easier for us to manage everything, furthermore they can benefit from synergies. 

The luxury jewelry market has undergone many changes and several challenges.  How has Damiani adapted to changing consumer behaviors and market demands over the years?

We make adjustments and also create new collections if needed, but in doing so, we never compromise our core values. Tradition, creativity, innovation, are part of our DNA. I think that the coexistence of these values is fundamental to stay relevant and have success. We are keen observers of what happens around us, how the taste and the preferences of our customers, especially women, change over time and we adjust, without betraying our roots. One example of this is our newest fine jewelry collection, the Belle Epoque Reel, which is a fresher and contemporary take on our iconic Belle Epoque collection. We have introduced a rotating mechanism that really makes it more playful, and it’s being appreciated by everyone, especially by a younger audience, no matter the gender.

Looking forward, what are your aspirations for Damiani in the next 100 years? What direction do you see the brand taking in the future?

The 100 years anniversary is an important moment to enjoy and cherish the accomplishments reached so far, but it is the best moment to think about the next steps and plan the future of Damiani because we want the Maison to stay relevant for the next years, in the hope it will pass to the fourth generation. In fact, our children are still young at the moment, but they seem really interested in carrying on the family legacy. 
We have so many exciting projects, which I cannot disclose yet, we like to surprise our fans! In general, I can say that Damiani will keep on growing on a global scale, as a brand and as a Group, sticking always to its core values, without any compromises. 

How does Damiani plan to engage with the younger generation of luxury consumers, and what role does digital technology play in your strategy?

Digitalization has changed the world and the way of doing business.  Despite it has not changed the core of the craftmanship techniques, digital technologies have helped a lot to improve the quality of work in other areas, for example retail and in the design process which can be now rendered and have changed the way of doing marketing and communication activities. We now have new means to connect and communicate with our audiences, especially with younger generations. Specifically, social media are fundamental nowadays in the marketing mix, because everybody dedicates so much time to these platforms, all over the world, so t’s mandatory to integrate these new forms of communication in the strategy and make them coherent with the Values and DNA of the brand. E-commerce is also increasing its relevance on global scale, and will grow even more, however right now jewels remain such special items, in terms of economic and emotional investment, that most people still like to go in store to live an experience; clients search online but then they want to see the product in person and establish a relationship with the brand and meet in person somebody they can trust. Even in this case, the integration between physical and digital is crucial. We have an integrated marketing and communication strategy that connects all the different touch points, from traditional to the digital ones, like digital advertising, social media, influencer marketing and so on. The integration is what really matters here: different channels have different rules, but they need to transmit the same brand values and philosophy. 

What are the long-term expansion plans for Damiani in the Middle East?

The Gulf area plays a fundamental role indeed, in fact we have decided to bring such a special and emotional exhibition here in Dubai, furthermore I have decided to live here with my family since few years now. There are many potential growth opportunities for Damiani in the area. People here appreciate quality, art, culture, authenticity. Damiani is all this and much more! We have many exciting expansion plans: while we have recently opened a boutique in Kuwait City and one in Doha, we will soon arrive in Manama (Bahrain) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) with beautiful stores. And there will be more, you will see!

 
 
 

Company News

 

Franck Muller inaugurates its first boutique in New Delhi

Franck Muller opens its first boutique in northern India, in partnership with Kapoor Watch Company. Spread across 1168 sq. ft., the Franck Muller boutique is located on the first floor of DLF Emporio Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. True to the brand's aesthetic and exquisite watchmaking philosophy, the boutique’s design encapsulates the modern-day Franck Muller experience, aiming to immerse customers in the world of Franck Muller and fine watchmaking. The boutique brings Franck Muller’s iconic Crazy Hours theme to life. As one enters the store, they're welcomed by a symmetry of eye-catching watch towers in aqua tone. Each watch tower is suspended from the ceiling and offers an avant-garde and playful aesthetic, quintessential to the brand.

 

Greubel Forsey releases The Art of Invention book

Celebrating 20 years of pioneering excellence, Greubel Forsey proudly announces the release of The Art of Invention, a special-edition book by renowned author and expert Michael Clerizo. This publication offers an in-depth exploration of Greubel Forsey's journey, revealing the philosophy and artistry behind each groundbreaking timepiece. The Art of Invention provides a rare entry into the heart of Greubel Forsey’s Atelier. Through exclusive conversations and experiences with Co-founders Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey. Clerizo illustrates how Greubel Forsey is "not a company or a brand: it’s an adventure, one that they have lived for over twenty years." Set against the backdrop of Robert Greubel’s farmhouse in the Jura Mountains, the book delves into Greubel Forsey’s insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of perfection.

 
 

Product Launch

 

Arnold & Son launches the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Platinum, Fern Green edition

Moonlight illuminates a botanical green dial. The “Fern Green” version of Perpetual Moon 41.5 borrows the cool tones of the moon. The paleness of the platinum, the freshness of the fern green, and the midnight blue of the sky create an original flow of colours. Maturity, diversity and mechanical exclusivity: the Perpetual Moon collection is constantly being enriched with new creations, consistently reaffirming the watchmaking and artistic talents of Arnold & Son. Following two other editions, one with salmon pink accents and another in sky blue, Perpetual Moon 41.5 Platinum is now available in this limited fern green version of 28 timepieces. Its hue is inspired by the unique colour of the fern, an undergrowth plant found in abundance in the English gardens of Cornwall, the county where John Arnold was born.

 

Introducing the new Régulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter

With their second collaboration, Louis Erard and Vianney Halter go bold, integrating Steampunk craftsmanship and the distinctive codes of Antiqua into the Régulateur. The design of the Louis Erard Régulateur aligns perfectly with Halter’s unmistakable split-time subdials. The outcome: a piece pulsing with deconstructed energy. This watch orbits between reality and fiction, transcending the boundaries of both time and space. Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Vianney Halter II is more than a watch: it’s a tribute to those who dare to dream and venture beyond convention.

 

Armins Strom introduces Tribute2 – Copper Edition

Armin Strom is expanding its Tribute collection with the new Tribute2, featuring a distinctive open worked design and remarkable three-dimensionality. The visible mechanical elements of the innovative movement and the elaborate hand decorations impart an intriguing visual depth to the watch. The Tribute2 – Copper Edition features a mainplate with a distinctive grattage design in an elegant copper hue. Limited to just 10 pieces, this edition underscores Armin Strom’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and exclusivity. The logo on the back, “Horomariobro x Armin Strom”, pays tribute to the inspiring contribution this close friend of the brand has made to the new edition.

 
 

Exhibitions & Events

 

Jewellery Arabia & Scent Arabia achieve record success this year

Under the Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, The Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Jewellery Arabia & Scent Arabia achieved a new record with over 51,000 visitors and 703 exhibitors for the 2024 edition. Jewellery Arabia has a proud history of success and is recognised as one of the most prestigious jewellery and watch exhibitions in the world. By attracting global industry leaders and consumers, the event positively impacts Bahrain’s tourism, retail, and hospitality sectors, and contributes directly to Vision 2030 by strengthening Bahrain’s economic and cultural position in the region.

 

Jewellery, Gem & Technology in Dubai attracts more global visitors

Building on the momentum generated by its new show dates, new venue and new buyer resources, the third edition of Jewellery, Gem & Technology in Dubai (JGTD) surpassed expectations with a solid increase in international attendance, notably from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the CIS countries. Held from 12 to 14 November in Halls 1 & 2 South of Expo City’s Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), JGTD debuted at DEC in the presence of Her Excellency Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority of the Government of Dubai, who inaugurated the three-day show. JGTD attracted 4,925 unique visitors, with nearly half of them from overseas, representing almost 120 countries and regions.

 

VO Vintage makes its return with Collector’s Jewels and Watches in Vicenza this January

VO Vintage, the elegant, B2C fine vintage jewellery and watch event organised by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), will be back from 17th to 20th January 2025. An unmissable event for enthusiasts and collectors in search of iconic and unique pieces that have marked the style of an era and continue to define the concept of elegance. Numerous new entries at the sixth edition, open to the public in the foyer on the first floor of Vicenza Expo Centre (Hall 8.1), where about forty top Italian and foreign dealers will be presenting the best selection of fine jewellery, bijoux and wristwatches from the past and the most sought-after models to physically touch, wear and purchase.

 
 

Celebrity News

 

Zendaya shines in Bvlgari at Gotham Awards

Bvlgari Global Ambassador, Zendaya shines in BVLGARI while attending the 34th Annual Gotham Film Awards. Zendaya chose a High Jewelry ring in white gold with 1 oval diamond and a pair of High Jewelry diamond stud earrings for this special occasion.

 
 
 
 

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