With Coco and Nigel Luk Regional Managing Director, Cartier North Asia

 

One of my favourite interviews during my tenure at Robb Report Hong Kong (which has closed shop due to... too many reasons to list), was with Nigel Luk, the Regional Managing Director, Cartier North Asia. The on-camera chat was informative, to-the-point, and filled with anecdotes that made for good YouTube chat. The off-the-record conversation, when we were shooting B-roll, un-mic'd, was hugely entertaining. My team and I were having a stressful time at work, one of many bad weeks at publishing, and while bemoaning the existential crisis of media, Nigel not only lent us a sympathetic ear, added to the conversation with the spiciest and saltiest of recalls from his rich professional chapters... none of which can be repeated! 

I really hope to have a sit-down chat with him AFTER he leaves office, an uncensored look at Luk. 

Till then... 

Parting shot: High tea with Cartier: Got this pencil sketch on the way out!

John... something artist. Thank you!

The Cartier apartment?

Location for a very important shoot and interview, we walked in through the Cartier store and in the private enclave, were taken up to this lush apartment with the best views of Hong Kong island... 

Fab place - one of those, if you know, you know spots in the city. 

Cartier Reimagines Its Emblematic Santos de Cartier Wristwatch In a Smaller Size

Not just for pilots or fashionistas, the latest accessory, now in a more petite size and available in a dual-tone colourway, is a must-have for the discerning collector.

Originally crafted for the pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont in 1904, the Santos de Cartier timepiece has oft been touted as the first modern wristwatch, breaking away from the pocket-watch tradition that had been the fashionable norm in the previous century. Its distinctive square case and visible screws—once a hidden aspect of horology—have become defining aesthetic elements of the singular design and collection. 

In 2025, Cartier introduces a new iteration of the Santos de Cartier, a smaller model that nonetheless reflects the proportions of the original designs. Measuring 27 mm x 34.5 mm, this latest design is available in both gold and steel, showcasing a blend of materials that enhances its elegance. Cartier maintains the design principles that characterise the larger models (as seen on Tom Cruise or Jake Gyllenhaal)—pure lines, precise shapes, and exquisite details—while contrasting these with the industrial allure of its visible screws.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

The Best of Jewellery: Cartier: Robb Report Hong Kong's Best of the Best 2025

The Best in Jewellery 2025, From Louis Vuitton and Van Cleef & Arpels to Cartier and Wellendorff

In today’s landscape of high jewellery, there’s been a seismic shift in who runs, controls, directs, and designs—and these women know exactly what women want from their jewels.

Women in Charge

In the inaugural issue of Robb Report Hong Kong, as we edited the layouts of the Best in Jewellery pages, an off-the-cuff remark lingered a minute longer than intended: three of the selected jewellery pieces looked alarmingly “the same,” in the form of a sapphire pendant strung with diamonds of excessive size, carat, and breathtaking cost. High jewellery is not one for the faint of wallet. Now, of course, the brands themselves would have lost their hat illuminating on how distinguished and distinct their statement necklaces are, but from a healthy distance, without a gemological microscope, there is a familiarity to accessories from heritage houses.

In 2025, the same cannot be said. Armed with that mental Post-it and perspective, we fanned out to look for variety—the spice of life. It is as if the designer brands saw our yellow canary in the coal mine and delivered. A usual treasure trove of emeralds and diamonds aside, we saw cameos of onyx, amethyst, aquamarine, opal, topaz, and jade make dazzling appearances. Many campaigns were shot not in claustrophobic studios, but out at the beach, in gardens, on mountains, and in deserts, letting buyers know that the pieces are not meant just for annual balls and parties to complement gown and glory, but to be worn often. Jewellery should be part of one’s daily life as each artisan celebrates the wearer as much as the stone.

High jewellery today offers a wider and broader landscape, and there has been a seismic shift in who runs, controls, directs, and designs—these women know exactly what women want. Francesca Amfitheatr of left Tiffany & Co. as Bernard Arnault, in a shuffle of musical chairs, asked her to lead Louis Vuitton’s watches and jewellery division as artistic director. It’s all in-house news, of course, as Arnault acquired the maison where Nathalie Verdeille has done stellar work behind the seams of the silver ribbon that ties all those coveted blue boxes together. Val.rie Messika makes her premiere appearance on the list as her eponymous brand—Messika—celebrates its 20th year. Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of Chopard, has held her position at the top for decades and Lucia Silvestri, creative director of Bulgari, has a firm grasp on where the house’s iconic serpentine strands are heading.

Women have led the charge in changing the industry from within, from ore to orb, and their beautiful accessories are all ethically sourced as we read time and again in announcements from each maison. In 2025, let it be said that with great beauty comes great responsibility

JEWELLERY OF THE YEAR

CARTIER

Nature Sauvage Collection

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Cartier Reveals the Next Chapter of Its Nature Sauvage High-Jewellery Collection

It’s not déjà vu, but a look anew as Cartier brings savage returns.

Cartier’s latest release, the third chapter from the Nature Sauvage collection, draws deeply from the wellspring of nature, intertwining artistry and craftsmanship in a manner that transcends mere adornment. At the heart of the high-jewellery collection lies an exploration of the animal kingdom, where creatures both real and imagined come to life in breathtaking designs as glittering kings of the jungle in perpetual repose.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong 

9 Best Jewellery Pieces, From Cartier and De Beers to Van Cleef & Arpels

Chopard

Is price no object? Put your shades on for this one—the razzle-dazzle is blinding.

For whom the (jingle) bells toll and money no object be, we at Robb Report Hong Kong have several dazzling accessories wrapped in a box… for thee. 

Forgive us—‘tis the season for waxing poetic as designer houses have been sending us a glimmer of what to expect this season all week: a wild array of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and gemstones of note. It came as a trickle and trinket, then a flash flood of candy-coloured stones as all the maisons and went all out for the end-of-year celebrations. A phalanx of rubies and emeralds was almost a predictable colour scheme, and a flush of white diamonds, and a heady mix of the classic and the novel are up for view as well. We parsed through the trough and found these glistening among them. 

Our holiday picks include the usual suspects: Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co, of course, but our Robb Report counterparts stateside also encouraged us to look into Hemmerle and other jewellers who are paving the way with pavé diamonds. 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong

Cartier’s New Tutti Tutti Collection Is a Story of Expression, Innovation, and Elegance

The new launch may have innovative design, structure, and colour scheme, but its approach is classic Cartier.

The latest chapter in the illustrious legacy of Cartier is Tutti Tutti, the latest addition to the Cartier Libre collection, a testament to the maison’s insatiable desire for innovation and artistic expression brought to life through a technicolour smorgasbord of accessories. 

For the connoisseurs, the original Cartier Tutti Frutti high-jewellery collection was a game-changer for the French luxury brand as it captured the zeitgeist upon release back in the early 1920s. It was the Art Deco movement, its fashion and styles, and the mood of the moment captured in exquisite, precious stone as the maison’s high jewellery was dutifully embraced by high society. Lifting a leaf from that historic branch, the new Tutti Tutti collection enhances the narrative. Hot off the Cartier Libre auspices—the watch, jewellery, and accessories section of Cartier—the new pieces take a brazen look at bold fun.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Fit For a Queen: Cartier Showcases 300 Pieces of Jewels and Bejewelled Artefacts at Hong Kong Palace Museum

 

Stunning archival and contemporary pieces from the storied brand are on display—as are images of the women that inspired them.

“It’s not about the jewels”—an odd statement to make considering the labyrinth halls and cavernous rooms of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) are decked to the hilt with over 300 dazzling pieces from the annals and vaults of Cartier’s storied history. Breath-taking jewellery, unique time pieces, often jewel-studded objects, and artifacts are all collected in one place for this event. But all the glittering trinkets are dwarfed by the giant posters of notable women, royals, fashion icons, and women of power and distinction. 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Jewellery for Men: Cartier

Recently, on the red-carpet event for Dune: Part Two, Timothée Chalamet premiered not only his highly anticipated film, but his collaboration with Cartier. Chalamet wore a unique creation crafted exclusively by the maison’s ateliers, with creative input from the Cartier ambassador himself. “Cartier creations have always been my first choice for important moments and getting to collaborate on this project only reinforced that for me,” says the actor. “I think Marie-Laure and I found a way to evoke the desert and harsh beauty of Dune in the Cartier style; a wonderful opposite to the candy-coloured enchantment of our first collaboration together.” (Chalamet is referring to the unique Cartier necklace he worked on with the brand for the Wonka premiere a few months earlier in late 2023.)

For Dune: Part Two, the latest accessory features more than 900 coloured stones; each hue inhabits one side of the modular, diamond-studded necklace, so you can roll the accessory in any way, shape, or form for a diverse combination of colours and stones. Even the spiked texture is deliberate and different from the usual box of treasures Cartier releases, and the expertise it takes to create such a seamless cord of jewels is truly incredible.

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong. 

Cartier Unveils Its Latest Grain de Café Collection, Inspired By the Humble Coffee Bean

The essentials of gold, diamonds, coffee, and Cartier are reunited for a revived jewellery collection, with a nod to 1950s glitz and glamour.

Cartier’s latest Grain de Café collection, fronted by the ambassador of the brand—young actress Elle Fanning—was inspired by the humble coffee bean. Fanning is not only the face of the collection this year; she also wore signature pieces to the 2023 Met Gala in May. 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Originally published JUNE 6, 2023

Eternal Elegance: What’s Behind the Cartier Tank Watch Iconography

 

The powerful, the famous, and the stylish have worn the Cartier Tank for over a century. Here’s why.

 

It’s hard to pinpoint when exactly we noticed the Cartier Tank in the public consciousness. Its striking simplicity doesn’t scream for attention, and yet, there it is, on Princess Diana’s wrist. The Crown has revived her image on social media platforms across the board and you can find the iconic Roman numerals standing out on a square-cut wristwatch, beaming below her reluctant smile. It’s the only accessory repeated often by fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis; her Cartier Tank is unmissable in vintage black and white photographs. Clark Gable himself had such a unique one—the numerals on his dial were Arabic, not Roman. 

If Gable’s watch ever makes it to an auction house, the estimate figure will most likely reach in the tens of millions. After all, as we go to publish, at Christie’s, there’s a rare and unusual 18-carat-gold asymmetrical Cartier wristwatch with the “Crash” deploying clasp that experts predict will go for HK$1.6 million. Only 400 of them exist in the world. 

Read the entire feature here at Robb Report Hong Kong.

Yen Kuok re-launches Guiltless

With the re-launch of Guiltless, Yen Kuok is luring shoppers into loving pre-loved luxury.
By P. RAMARKRISHNAN


Entering the Guiltless “closet”, even the savviest fashionista is left a little short of breath. With row upon row of open cupboards filled to the brim with designer ensembles and accessories, this finely curated cosmos of couture and collectables houses every imaginable label, emblem and signature design.

Read the entire feature here at PrestigeOnline.


PHOTOGRAPHY UNTIL CHAN
STYLING SHEENA KHEMANEY
MAKE-UP KAREN YIU
HAIR SEIFERT CHEUNG
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANTS ABI HO AND STEPHEN CHENG

Cartier

At the launch of Cartier's latest collection, Paris Nouvelle Vague, got the usual swag, press releases, info, images and the like.

Chuffed at the personalised sketch an amazing artist from Hong Kong (signed "John" no surname...) did for all the guests.

Sitting next to Virginie Martignac (newbie to HK, Marketing & Communication Director for the brand), our table had the most fun at Pierre, at the ol' Mandarin Oriental hotel. 

Bags behind the baubles: Marcello de Cartier: Interview with Marlin Yuson, Creative Director for Cartier leather goods

Marcello de Cartier is a roomy accessory from a brand that's quietly into leather, writes P.Ramakrishnan.

Later this month, the glittering baubles and watches that line cases in Cartier's boutiques will be competing for the spotlight with Marcello de Cartier bags.

Marlin Yuson, creative director for Cartier leather goods, admits jewellery and watches are always going to be the main event. 'The bags are the supporting cast but an important character,' says the designer, who has worked with Ferragamo, Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, and spends her time between Florence and Paris.

The fact that the brand is not known for its leather goods has long represented a challenge for Yuson. 'In a way we are battling a common perception of the brand. Most people don't realise that Cartier does leather bags,' she says. 'If you weren't part of a generation that knew that Cartier did leather products, then the Marcello bags would come as a surprise. I still get that, even after 10 years with the brand. There's no bag campaign and there won't be. The leather goods are part of the family, but they'll never be independent products.'

Yuson says Cartier bags were considered 'it' bags in the '70s and '80s, modelled by celebrities such as Tina Turner. 'Then it stopped. Cartier did other dressy bags but very, very classic bags. And then the whole handbag accessories craze took over.'

When designing the Marcello, Yuson knew what a contemporary bag should - or rather, shouldn't - be. 'I really don't see it as an 'it' bag, not something as ephemeral as what's in trend,' she says. 'I didn't want it to be too old-fashioned and seem like a relic, either. I didn't want to stick a panther or leopard on it; that would be too easy. I haven't put in animal prints, either, yet. And it's really not for 'ladies who lunch'.'

Yuson decided to maintain the hard corner of Cartier's earlier bags. 'I wanted to keep that iconic bookend sort of arch. The bags needed volume and pockets to be practical for the woman on the go.'

Yuson says that she doesn't have a particular muse but she'd love to see Alexa Chung or IMF chief Christine Lagarde carrying her bags. 'Strong, confident, influential women who didn't sacrifice their femininity in their business,' she says. 'Women on the move, who have children, or are working ... they're the ones I hope will embrace the bag, for its practical purposes.'

The Marcello is a large bag with the interlocking Cs logo that will be joined in stores with a series of evening clutches in September.

Cartier's first evening bag came out in 1906. 'Initially, the evening bags were very much about jewellery,' says Yuson. 'The finishings on the bags were precious, and the bags themselves were one-off pieces for royalty and unique order customers.'

She says that when she was creating the designs, she carried the bags around during her travels to observe their functionality.

'Translating the Cartier bag to the present and keeping that identity - that luxury feel to it - is hard, especially where there are so many fashion brands around,' she says. 'I stuck to a family of colours to keep it coherent: red and black, tobacco or cognac.'

The primary inspiration for the bags came from the materials, she says.

'Looking at the quality, texture and colours, concepts come to mind,' says Yuson. 'Even something as trifling as a buckle becomes a starting point. Texture is really important. We don't have too many prints, so the material has to resonate.'

P. Ramakrishnan
Jul 06, 2012

P. RAMAKRISHNAN

Published: 12:00am, 6 Jul, 2012

Credit Control

Hong Kong's fashion fetish is obvious; we're definitely a designer-dud-dreaming, couture-clad mad generation (or wish to be). The laws imposed by the government should be damned, people will stand in over-crowded trains, and shove and jostle across a ridiculously packed border crossing to Shenzhen to get their hands on something that looks like it has been plucked straight off the pages of a magazine.

But there is a better way to satisfy the designer craving.

With Christmas soon upon us, there are some of the most coveted labels in town and there are things out there that are very affordable.

For the budget - and brand-conscious - shopper, there is a cornucopia of a recognisable knick-knacks to impress fussy loved ones.


Loco for Coco

Mabel Yeung, from Chanel, assures label-cravers there are trinkets in their five Hong Kong outlets that need not stretch one's credit card to snapping point. Accessories such as braclets, lockets, wrist and/or headbands or a toweling sports kit (all with the emblematic interlocking Cs) fall under $1,000.

For those who can stretch to a bit more, the square, ode-to-70s shades ($1,500) or the Coco-cool leather belt ($1,600) could put that extra twinkle in someone's eye this festive season.



Blanc & write

Inspired by the glow of animal eyes, Montblanc's jewelled pen - set in platinum, white gold and silver - gives the writing hand a look worthy of a Pulitzer, even if the written words fall short.

Here is an instrument that wants you to divorce the keyboard and find a thick sheet of creamy paper, immediately. True, it is a bit heavy on the wrist and on the wallet, but the gem of a pen is yours for $8,500 (the smaller version with gold Palmeira Citrine draws a fine line at $6,800). But rest assured that it is a gift that can last a lifetime, not just the current season.

For artists and architects, Montblanc's stocky Leonardo sketch pen ($1,500) will be handy tool. With a soft, 5.5mm thick lead that comes with a sharpened integrated head (there by keeping the tip perennially sharp), it carries the white star and gold-ringed signature look, and comes in an elegant leather pouch.

Be wise and organise

Running late yet again? Missed the flight? The deadline? The date? Do yourself or a friend a favour and get an organiser. If a digital, battery-operated gadget simply does not do it for you, perhaps you should check out Cartier's organiser collection.

These soft leather books are clad with precious metals, and there are over dozen styles available. The gilt-edged small pocket organiser ($1,250) of burgundy calfskin could easily substitute for a wallet - there is enough room for paperwork and pouches for credit-cards. The larger Pasha line ($1,250), black leather with a logo in 18-caret white gold, are for busier bees.

Black, white and red all over

Even if Madonna swears by rhinestone-studded belts with the large bull-and-horn centre clasps that are every bit as subtle as she is, rest assured it is just an evanescent trend being belted out by the effervescent diva. Nothing beats the old black classic, especially when it is by Armani. The slick strips of premium leather, with silver clasps, range from $890-$1,490.


Emporio Armani's Fall/Winter collection is a return to simple sophistication without a sparkle or vulgar colour in sight. For the ladies, a range of efficient, unassuming black purses is up for grabs at any of the four outlets in Hong Kong. Prices begin at $2,500 and end in five figure numerals. Thin is in (was it ever out?) when it comes to straps on sandals, bags or even watches. The winter look is all black and white--with flashes of red in belts, shoes (including men's) and purses. Even the jewellery collection is predominantly black. Earrings, simple string necklaces and other accessories range from $690-$1,400. Soft leather or suede gloves come in neoclassic shades of brown, black or white at $800-$900.



Cuddling up to the leather boys

The unmistakable look of Salvatore Ferragamo in shoes, bags, wallets and belts, made of premium leather, has stood the test of time and trend. However, for the impending season, new arrivals in their shops have a softer, cuter and cuddlier look. What can you get for the young or young-at-heart designer slave? The Ferragamo teddy bear, of course. Made of genuine silk, (in fact, they are made from signature scarves from this Florentine fashion house) teddy bears of both sexes (the gentleman bears sport bow-ties, while the lady bears wear bonnets) are already on display in Times Square, and soon every Ferragamo outlet will carry these distinctive designer bears.

They are not fuzzy and cartoonish creatures but brightly coloured, soft-touch accessories more suitable for decoration than being chewed and dribbled on by infants. While the multi-coloured scarves are perennially available (around $1,500 each) the bears are a seasonal specialty ($2,000). Accessories such as silver scarf rings ($700) and colour coordinated hair bands ($400) are also in the offing.

An oval idea

Legend has it that King Edward VII provided the phrase that helped launch an advertising campaign that money cannot buy: "Cartier, jeweller of Kings and King of jewellers." Stamped with their definite look, the company has maintained an unblemished standard since the mid-19th century. One of their most recognisable products in their signature lighter collection (originally introduced in 1968) and just in time for Christmas, a sparkling new selection has been released to style-seekers.


The oval shaped, invisibly-hinged lighters come in black with gold or platinum finish, as well as the standard monochromatic gold or platinum. Prices range from $1,950 to $2,400. They can be engraved upon request.

A crystal ball

As you watch Satine, the "Sparkling Diamond" in Moulin Rouge, trapeze down to the stage crooning "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" in one of cinema's glitziest entries, take note that she was in fact glittering in Swarovski crystals. Ditto Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina Fair and Grace Kelly in High Society.

With outlets scattered around town, Swarovski has already placed their Christmas collection on sale. The winter specials, such as the crystal Christmas tree, capped with a gold-plated star ($850), the reindeer ($1,275), angel ($1,460) or the little Santa ($1,960) are decorative pieces for the collectors. Their faux-diamond jewellery collection ranges from $450-$1,500. An earring and pendant set can easily fallunder $1,000, and the snowflake brooch, this season's main attractionss, is just $700.