Precious Time

In the world of fashion,Calvin Klein has established itself through its elegant yet understated designs. This ethos of the brand as a fashion entity translates into its watch and jewellery collections as well. As a joint venture between the American fashion house and Swiss luxury watchmaker Swatch Group, Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry roll out over 200 models for men and women every year in about 80 countries. Laura Burdese, president, Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry, tells us about the whole process of conceptualising a timepiece. “We start working on our collections about two years in advance,” reveals Burdese. “We have trend analysts all over the world who keep us updated on what’s hot at the moment and also, what can be a huge trend in the coming seasons.” So how does the brand combine its fashion aesthetics with watchmaking? “The creative directions come from New York and we then start working on the mood boards,” says Burdese. “We work on several designs for timepieces that would go well with our collections worldwide.” We wonder if it is a tedious process. “There is obviously a lot of back and forth between the design teams and when we finally zero in on the theme, we start testing different materials and creating the timepieces.” When asked about how she would define CK watches, Burdese says, “I feel extremely proud to say that we are a Swiss-made designer fashion brand of timepieces with quality and power.” Talking about what sets CK apart from other watchmakers, she remarks, “I think we are the only luxury brand offering the kind of quality at the price points that we do—that gives us an edge.’’ The highlights of the new watch line include the iconic Calvin Klein Bold watch, which has been redesigned accentuating its contemporary style and is now available in both women and gents chronograph styles. Another key timepiece, the sophisticated Calvin Klein Body for women, features fluid and pure lines for a watch that is both agile and graceful. Calvin Klein colour introduces bright hues to the line, making it the perfect accent for a casual chic weekend look. This unique timepiece is offered with an aluminium case and features a youthful and minimal design suitable for both men and women. With a career spanning 20 years, Burdese has been with CK since 2001. She tells us that India is set to be among the brand’s top 10 markets in the next two years. Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry also launched their jewellery line in the country this year. “Earlier, we were skeptical about launching jewellery here as India is a market for precious jewellery,” she reveals. “But with the fast-growing working population, this is the right time to launch our jewellery, positioned as fashion costume jewellery.” One of the key jewellery sets for the season, Calvin Klein Joyous, includes two pendant necklaces, a bracelet and a pair of delicate earrings that feature a timeless heart shape. Rounding off the season’s jewellery offering is Calvin Klein Sumptuous with four striking circular jewellery pieces, including a pendant necklace, bracelet, ring and earring set that each mirror the same multi-layer band construction. bejewelled “Perfume is the most intense form of memory.”

—Jean Paul Guerlain COCOONED! A TIME FOR TLC page 98