[Interview] Bvlgari Group CEO Jean-Christophe Babin

Bvlgari released the Octo Roma Carillon Tourbillon this year. Now that they have achieved their goal of focusing on musical instruments, what are Bvlgari's goals? We conducted an online interview with Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of the group.

Bvlgari's timeless perspective looks to the future of complicated watches

Jean-Christophe Babin
CEO of the Bvlgari Group. Born in France in 1959. After earning an MBA from business school, he worked for a consulting firm before being appointed CEO of TAG Heuer. He has grown the company with his outstanding skills. He assumed his current position in 2013. By improving the quality of the exterior and movement and consistently sending out a clear message, he has attracted great attention to Bvlgari as a watchmaker and elevated its status. The success of the Octo, which positioned a thin watch as a "complex watch," is a symbol of this. He is currently also focused on social contribution.

"Bvlgari is a Roman high jeweller and holds a special place in the watch industry. We combine the Italian tradition of art and jewellery beauty with the exceptional Swiss watchmaking skills that allow us to create grand complications such as tourbillons and carillons, as well as jewellery watches and ladies' watches."

　However, this does not mean that there will be no impact from COVID-19, which has shaken the world throughout 2020.

"However, Bvlgari has changed as a socially responsible company, and there have been some changes in watchmaking as well. In 2020, we brought forward some projects. For example, we launched Bvlgari Aluminium in 20, which was originally scheduled to start in 2022. As a result, we recorded strong sales during last year's Christmas shopping season, especially in Japan."

　The flexible response proved to be a success. We also asked about their response to complicated watches.

"We announced our policy of focusing on repeaters several years ago. We had decided to move away from the classical design of our Grand Complications, as many complicated watches fell into the category of classical design. In order to give our complicated watches a modern, 'design that lives in the present,' we used the Octo Roma case as the platform for all our complicated watches, because the Octo Roma is very modern and very original. In addition, we wanted to express in a timeless way that Grand Complications are masterpieces born from the accumulation of outstanding technical skills and experience handed down over centuries. The Carillon, which we launched this year, was also born from the fusion of long-standing Swiss tradition and modern micromechanics technology."

"Timeless" is one of Bulgari's most important core philosophies.

"At the same time, I believe that the future success of Grand Complications will depend on the fact that they are not just for traditional watch collectors, but also for those who live in modern high-rise apartment buildings, appreciate modern art, and drive luxury sports cars. These people are completely different from their fathers' generation."

　Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Bulgari is already looking firmly to the future of complicated watches.