There are heirs apparent. Then there are Amanda and Alexandre Mille. The eldest and third of Richard Mille's children, respectively, the siblings have lived a life far from the world of luxury. They never saw the powerhouse their father built as a place where they would someday belong. "We grew up very separate from this side of our father's world. In fact, I was oblivious to the significance of the brand before I started working in the company," recalls Alexandre, who wore G-Shocks and Flik Flak watches in his youth. The watchmaking company was simply Dad's "secret garden", in Amanda's words. "He never spoke about it while we were spending time together."
"We were lucky," says Amanda. She has seen how the burden of legacy weighs on others. "The brand was never waiting for us, and we weren't waiting for the brand. Our involvement just happened naturally." In the first instance, Amanda was carving out her own career in various areas of the hospitality trade by the time her father founded the company in 2001. Despite being the eldest, joining - let alone leading the company never crossed her mind. Alexandre, who holds a degree in law and political science, went to film school, inspired by the films of Stanley Kubrick to specialise in directing.
Their separate journeys leading towards the management of their father's eponymous company - with Amanda as the brand and partnerships director, and Alexandre as the brand director - are not directed by a lust for power or wealth. "We were encouraged to live our own lives, discover more about ourselves, and find out what we want in life - what makes us happy," shares Alexandre. And it is precisely this pursuit of happiness that brought them, albeit in a roundabout way, to their father's company.
COME AS YOU ARE
Esta historia es de la edición January 2024 de Prestige Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 2024 de Prestige Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
GLAMOUR AND BEYOND
PRESTIGE'S BEYOND THE HORIZON BALL PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
RACING BULL
Lamborghini's breakthrough plug-in hybrid, the Revuelto, might be the supercar it needs to pull ahead in the electrification space race.
SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES
Prestige sits down with world-class pianist and Rolex Testimonee HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD as she shares her journey through sound and silence.
Tapestry of the Heart
Jaipur Rugs, which recently launched in Singapore, is one of India's largest manufacturers of hand-knotted rugs. Its secret commitment to a social mission of equality and empathy.
FJORDS, FREEDOM AND FINE FOOD
Oceania Cruises' Riviera will make its debut voyage to Alaska in 2025, bringing guests deep into the wilderness of America's northernmost state while delivering The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
LESSONS FROM THE LONG ROAD
An extended cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo proves that to go further and deeper, you sometimes have to slow down.
Checks and Balance
Louis Vuitton's latest fine jewellery range, Le Damier de Louis Vuitton, is inspired by the house's Damier check. Artistic director for watches and jewellery FRANCESCA AMFITHEATROF takes us through the process.
IN DAZZLING FORM
Powered by a new movement, the Asia Pacific exclusive editions of the Round Skeleton Baguette 31 editions by Franck Muller sparkle with baguette-cut diamonds or coloured precious gemstones.
A TIME FOR SQUARE
In October, Patek Philippe unveiled its first wholly new collection of timepieces in 25 years. Prestige Singapore was among the first in the world to see the Cubitus trio of timepieces and find out how they were created.
STILL THE ONE
With a distinctive design including an off-centre dial, outsize date and an asymmetrical layout, the Lange 1 stood out from the horological pack when it was launched in 1994. It continues to do so even today, three decades on.