Affordable-luxury watch brand Savoy opens first Asia boutique in Manila

  When fashion tends to be a lack of creativity and individuality today, the same thing could be said with the cookie-cutter appearance watches.

For out of the doldrums design industry, came Pascal Savoie, President and CEO of Savoy collections, with a single case and bracelet with interchangeable inserts.

"As a retailer to make watches in their windows, you can not tell who belongs to which brand watch," said Savoie (pronounced "savWah"). "We have made a mark in the shape of the clock is unique The square barrel with a round face."

The clock is also from the makers of silicon with metal inserts in black or gold, to create a different look. These accessories allow the user to customize the clock to his taste.

"This is completely new to the industry," said Savoy, who came to Manila start the first Boutique Savoy from Asia to the New World Hotel. It is distributed through time-limited negotiations led by banker Arthur "Chito" Bautista.

Figurehead

A figurehead of the watch industry worked Savoie, 45, has for the Richmond Group, the luxury brands such as Cartier, Piaget, Baume & Mercier, Montblanc. He then traveled to Florida to raise the profile of some of the luxury watches and became president of Hublot in America.

In 2004 he created his own brand of watches with his wife Lola as Vice President and Creative Director. The Savoy collection is based is supported by the international luxury group in Switzerland, one of the leading companies in the fashion world.

With prices ranging from $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 (P50 ,000-P100, 000, tax included) Savoy is positioned as an affordable luxury.

Prompts observed two types of buyers who made $ 10,000 buy watches, but are of overspending and younger consumers who want to give the bank the luxury market, without getting tired.

"People who want to buy high-end watches do not wear often., You want to be safe on the roads carefully. When traveling, the clock is stored in the safe of the hotel. At the end of the day, you do not want to carry the clock . We want to see a quality that you can use. $ 1000 for it is neither cheap nor expensive. "

Savoie said many luxury brands because of their high transparency and expensive image.

"The complexity of the case, the movement influence (the mechanism that determines the time), and what you put in the price of the clock When you say, to see Leonardo DiCaprio." I love my Tag Heuer "or James Bond (Daniel Craig) promoting the new Omega, it costs a fortune to pay for these people. Consumers pay for marketing."

Although Savoie uses the same high-end manufacturers that produce watches for other luxury brands, it is advisable, with its advertising.

"That's why I created Savoie., It need not be expensive., You can make a beautiful clock, the various at an affordable price."

Simple elegance

While Savoy is not a fashion clock that follows the trends, it is attractive because of its elegance. The types of watches follow the current trend for big watches 40 to 45 mm in width compared to the standard 35 mm for men.

Although women's watches are 35 mm, they are still great for delicate wrists, but rather as a chic bracelet. The most popular types are metal gun as an option for black. The men also prefer carbon deposits.

On the other hand, women can change their bets depending on the season, such as white for summer and black for fall-winter. Hot pink and turquoise watches sell well a comeback.

Savoie said quality watches are recognized "Swiss Made" at the bottom of the dial. A "Swiss Made" watches have certain criteria. First, it must have Swiss watch. This means that the parts are of Swiss origin and must be at least 50 percent of the total value of motion, and that the mechanism was assembled in Switzerland in a Swiss factory.

In addition, the clock in Switzerland and the Swiss manufacturer (Savoie was born Geneva) must be included.

"If you follow these three legal criteria, then you can put" Swiss Made "," this is something you have to be careful. Many brands in Swiss movement and Swiss design, but it is not "Swiss Made". If they say "Swiss Movement," the movement from Switzerland, but the parts or assemblies may come from China. They lure the customers to think that it's a good show, because it has a Swiss watch. It may be better than others because of the Swiss movement, but it is not a "Swiss Made" clock. For us it is important that we have as a Swiss watch. I am Swiss. It is a Swiss company. Everything is manufactured and assembled in Switzerland. "

Great on the wrist

When asked how to differentiate the clock as well-made accessories, Savoy said. "Even though I do not see it, it feels good on the wrist silicone we use is extremely soft metal, a weight is important to some.. Ladies watches are lightweight because they are made of folded steel., it is empty inside. A good quality clock is made of solid steel. If watch is very light, then something is wrong. "

The Board added that the details are important. "We sell more chronographs (watches with chronograph functions), the counters and pushers.'s Watch industry, we call complication. Here you will learn more than time. In real life, you use a timer? But it looks good on watches . Both men and complex mechanical things. they are being attracted by the chronograph's why. "

Savoie said that men change their watches often today than 10 years ago. Despite mobile phones are now used as watches, are an expression of personal style, especially for men, Savoie said.