Beauty, diversity & innovation: Roberto Coin’s mantra in the Middle East

For Roberto Coin, the trick of the trade is to improve and innovate constantly. He tells The Retail Jeweller World what inspires his designs and how he intents to navigate through the Middle Eastern canvas in the future

Tell us about your brand. When did it start and how has the journey been?

It is a beautiful story. I founded the company on 1977 after leaving a successful career in the hotel industry. I have always been in love with creativity and fashion and I took the courage to leave everything and start a new adventure when I was 33. Today, I feel I can say that the courage and the curiosity I had in 1977 brought me to a great success besides giving me the chance to work with creativity, which was my dream. Since the very beginning of the Roberto Coin brand, I knew that diversity was the key word and the mission for my jewels, which had to follow uniqueness and authenticity as main values.

Talk to us about your operations in the Middle East.

I know the Middle East since the early 90s. It is a place where I feel at home and where many friends live. I am happy to come every time I can. During the last few years, we have dedicated a tremendous amount of time and energy to expand the presence of the brand in all the Middle East and to enhance the local awareness. The results have been extremely good.

Are there any specific trends that you notice in the Middle East? What kind of designs do you concentrate on to cater to this need?

Middle Eastern tastes align with beauty, diversity and innovation. This enabled us to create over 600 new models every year. This skill allows us to satisfy our international clientele’s demand and give them the chance to wear their uniqueness.

The Middle East is the hub of jewellery. How has your brand worked here and how do you plan to branch out?

During the pandemic, we constantly kept in touch with all our clients, and some results have been surprising. Some clients registered a double-digit increase, among them also our friends and partner Damas, and even better results were achieved by our local mono brand boutiques.

Talk to us about your collections. Which of these have done especially well in the pandemic scenario, especially in the Middle East? What price points do well here?

Today, people are inspired by brands that are transparent, guarantee the best quality and are ambassadors of strong values. All our current collections have performed very well in the Middle East, because they are all different and the differences make every woman special. Our variety in style satisfies the demand, both in terms of look and price.

Is there any precious stone or metal that finds itself as a signature in your designs? What kind of jewellery, metal and precious gemstones, in your opinion, have done well in the Middle East?

We are famous for our 18kt gold and for the eclectic use of all precious stones in order to create an unedited mix of colors. In Roberto Coin collections, you can find the super essential mono color look together with an entire rainbow of precious stones. It is almost taken for granted that the ruby is my favourite stone, it is the signature of each one of my creation for its beauty and most of all, for the meanings it keeps.

Are there any roadblocks you g=face while operating in the Middle East? If yes, what are they and how would you want the administration, retailers, manufacturers, and the whole of the jewellery fraternity to address them? Do you see any difference in the operational measures pre and post pandemic? Today, opening your own business in Dubai is complex but at the same time very easy. As far as we are concerned, there are no roadblocks in the Middle East.  Since before the Covid emergency, the Middle East and the market has been under a constant evolution. Innovation is a must and the best service is imperative. So basically, the strategy is to improve continuously.

Courtesy: Retail Jeweller World News