With a strong emphasis on innovation, Saint Honore has created the rotating monogram, the panoramic glass and one of the first Tourbillon watches for women. Since 1885, Saint Honore has been synonymous with the famous Paris style by manufacturing collections of unmatched creations.
Throughout the world, its elegant style and watch-making expertise attract lovers of contemporary design. Offering all the assurance of Swiss Made quality, its timepieces have a unique character and are crafted in the finest materials with eye-catching details.
World-renowned as the creator of trendy watches, accessories and fine jewellery lines that are replete with characteristically elegant Swiss precision combined with fabled French flair, Saint Honore’s creations have made their mark in the discerning Middle East market. The brand’s creations are currently available at over 120 exclusive points of sale across the region.
Saint Honore offers watches, jewellery and accessories that continue to fulfill the desires of the day. At its two manufacturing sites, Saint Honore brilliantly combines craftsmanship and a passion that remains as fresh as ever.
To mark its 130th anniversary, Saint Honore designed a collector’s timepiece, the first ever to be made from a piece of metal girder from the world’s most famous monument – the Eiffel Tower.
Mounted on an elegant brown ‘croco design’ leather strap, the Tour Eiffel timepiece has been manufactured in a limited series of 1,885 pieces in steel (in homage to the year the watchmaking house of Saint Honore was established), offering a unique opportunity to wear on your wrist an exceptional symbol of France and the technological genius of Gustave Eiffel, according to Thierry Fresard, President of Saint Honore.
Saint Honore has used this precious component to make the bezel, its decoration and brown color an unmistakable reference to the French monument. The bezel surrounds a raised dial based on the same architecture, at its center, revealing the wheel train of the automatic mechanical movement specially personalized by Saint Honore.
With a strong emphasis on innovation, Saint Honore has created the ‘EclairTM’ finish, the rotating monogram, the panoramic glass and one of the first Tourbillon watches for women. These innovations feature on the leading timepieces in the collection – Opera, Orsay, Coloseo and Haussman. Today the brand is rapidly-growing and is represented in more than 60 countries, recognized for its distinctive style.
The brand has two production houses that utilize century’s old traditions and expertise and blend them with modern design trends to create a contemporary collection designed to meet the tastes of discerning audiences worldwide. Saint Honore’s Tourbillon 1885 range has firmly established the brand’s credibility and technical virtuosity amongst the elite of watchmakers and created a fan following among connoisseurs.
The brand focuses on three key areas i.e. developing the domestics market, French market and Europe while maintaining its stronghold in the Middle East and increasing sales in Asia thanks to the opening of new markets in 2016.
The Middle East market is very important for our brand where Saint Honore has strong partnerships with distributors since a long time and the region accounts for 30 per cent of the brands total global business. In an exclusive interview with Luxury Arabia, Thierry Fresard talks about the brand and its plans for the region.
What is your favorite watch from the novelties launched at Baselworld 2016 and why?
I have two favorite watches from two different inspirations – one from the classic and watch maker universe, it’s the new Carrousel with the open dial automatic Swiss made movement with 3 hands which is both chic and elegant. The other is the trendy Parisian-style Charisma which is simply divine. This watch is a perfect combination of innovation with the dial using the eclair-effect and the interchangeable strap system and other elements such as diamonds, color straps and shape of the case.
What are the current trends in the watch business in your opinion?
There are two strong and very different trends in the watch business currently. One is the return of a very classic trend especially for the design of the case or components such as the dial for example and the second is the development of the smart watch range.
What are your business projections for 2016 and beyond?
We are focused on three different growth markets i.e. our domestic market which is the French market and Europe while sustaining and growing our business in the Middle East and increasing our sales in Asia with the opening of new markets in 2016.
How important is the Middle East market for your brand? Please provide figures if possible or at least a percentage in terms of market share would be welcome?
The Middle East market is very important for our brand. We have strong partnerships with all our distributors in this area since a long time and the market represents 30 per cent of our total business volume.
What in your opinion is the significance of the smart watch industry and the Apple watch in particular and do you think it will have a long-term effect on the Swiss watch industry?
The Importance of the smart watch is undeniable in terms of image and thanks to the technological breakthrough, it will continue to develop in the near future and impact on every segment of the market. It will certainly have an impact on the Swiss watch industry. This category of product is going to take a share of the watch market because it will attract all types of consumers. In parallel it can be an opportunity to encourage a certain category of smart watch consumers, who previously had no interest in wearing a watch thereby creating more demand.
