REDEFINING ROYALTY

Chaumet's Charles Leung talks to BAZAAR about the beauty and the resilience of the 244-year-old French jewellery brand in a new era.

- WINDY AULIA

It was a hot June summer, and the city of Paris was bustling with Olympic preparations.

But the sophisticated vibe at the biannual Haute Couture week and Haute Jewellery presentations was somewhat in contrast to the city's rather chaotic and frenetic atmosphere. Chaumet was showing their latest collection in the Maison's historic Place Vendôme home, which is the usual practice for the brand. What was different this year was that we would be meeting with chief executive Charles Leung.

Leung's appointment in January 2024 did not come as a surprise to insiders. It was sort of a homecoming for the industry veteran. Cutting his teeth at Chaumet earlier on in his career, the Francophile was instrumental in the brand's growth in Asia. However, his appointment was a historic one for LVMH, Chaumet's parent company, and for the high jewellery industry in general. Chaumet is a 244-year-old French jewellery house, the crown jewel of LVMH, and is steeped in the nation's rich history. Leung is the only head honcho within LVMH from Asia, and is helming a brand that is responsible for creating some of the best high jewellery pieces in the industry.

The timing for the brand too has been felicitous, as the entire world were about to revel in the Olympic fanfare and Chaumet, as the official purveyor of all the Olympic medals, was front and centre at every medal presentation ceremony. Leung was even chosen to be one of the Olympic torchbearers, yet another historic moment to celebrate. Here, he opens the door for BAZAAR to take a peek at the stunning high jewellery pieces up close and to talk about his vision for Chaumet.

What does being the first Asian head of a luxury brand under LVMH mean to you and how does this influence the brand?