Independents

Sandgroper
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Thank you Nicolas. Here is my feedback....

Yesteryear, when I was young and still handsome, I used to work for Van Cleef & Arpels at the Rue du Rhone in Geneva.

I remember vividly an elegant and charming lady coming at the shop once every 3 months or so to “faire les vitrines”. All

the windows would be re-decorated with new pieces and a new theme. The windows (vitrines) were not cluttered with jewellery 

and watches but elegantly and tastefully arranged in a kind of minimalist way in order to highlight the beauty, the rarity and 

exclusivity of each piece. We were taught to make sure that each object was absolutely sparkling clean, no fingerprints on the 

gems, everything had to transpire luxury and uniqueness.

Later on, I had my own company, dealing in gems stones, particularly emeralds. The first time I visited a client in New York in 

the mid 80s and went for a stroll, window shopping on 47^th street, I was shocked and astounded to see so many shops all together 

but particularly to see the windows (vitrines). They were filled to the hilt, with fingerprints all over the gems. To me these windows 

looked more like vegetable market displays. I could see merchandise and more merchandise, no luxury, nothing precious, nothing 

special just a big splash of expensive stuff with no value. I realised that culturally I was on another planet.

Haute horlogerie and haute joaillerie are objects of dreams and should be treated as such. The companies producing these are

selling dreams. We, as customers, are buying dreams and a potato is not one of them.

This is my opinion.

Sandgroper, the Wealthy François. 

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