Latest news with #CarteBlanche
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
High gold prices ‘a nightmare': French luxury jeweller Boucheron's CEO
[SINGAPORE] The European Union and the United States may have averted a trade war when they made a tariff deal this week, but manufacturing costs remain a nightmare for French luxury jeweller, Boucheron. This is because gold prices have been rising steadily – up almost 40 per cent year on year and close to 70 per cent from five years ago. Yet, the maison has only raised prices by 3 per cent annually, just like it did before gold prices started spiking, says its chief executive officer, Helene Poulit-Duquesne. 'We do not pass on to clients the rise in cost of production, which I believe is a good way of treating them,' says Poulit-Duquesnet over a teleconference call from France in early July. Speaking to The Business Times in conjunction with the launch of Boucheron's latest high jewellery collection, she added candidly, 'It's (also) a nightmare for us because we have to cut our margins'. A piece from Boucheron's latest Carte Blanche high jewellery collection. PHOTO: BOUCHERON Despite that, the Kering-owned brand, which does not disclose sales figures, must be doing extremely well, as Poulit-Duquesne is 'very happy' with its performance. Boucheron's business has been growing strongly everywhere apart from Europe, where things have been 'difficult'. Since she took the helm after leaving Cartier as its director for international client and business development a decade ago, the avid horse rider has done much to raise the brand's profile and expand its business. Boucheron has more than doubled the boutique count from about 40 to some 95 stores around the world, with 17 in China and three in America – all opened within the last six years. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up More men are also wearing jewellery today – a trend Poulit-Duquesne says started in Asia – and something she'd been fighting for, for years. 'We were really the first, five years ago, to put high jewellery on men and at that time, all the journalists were super surprised. But it was not for the purpose of creating collections for men but because we thought our jewellery is above gender. Then two years later, all the competition decided to put high jewellery on men.' High jewellery continues to be 'super resilient' in the face of a gloomy economic environment as its buyers consider items in the category to be an investment. The segment's boom led Poulit-Duquesne to expand capacity by acquiring a high jewellery workshop with about 60 artisans in late 2023. This takes care of its ability to produce jewellery for the top-end of the market for the next 10 years. For Boucheron, high jewellery refers to pieces priced above 250,000 euros (S$371,553), fine jewellery to those priced between 50,000 and 250,000 euros and jewellery for those below 50,000 euros – which makes up over 80 per cent of its turnover. The maison launches two high jewellery collections every year – Histoire de Style in January, where creative director Claire Choisne casts a fresh eye on archival designs, and Carte Blanche in July, where she has total creative freedom. Impermanence, like previous Carte Blanche high jewellery collections, uses unusual and avant-garde materials. PHOTO: BOUCHERON Its latest Carte Blanche collection, Impermanence, was inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi and the art of ikebana. The very innovative, 28-piece collection is designed around six delicate botanical compositions. Like previous collections, they are crafted from unusual and avant-garde materials such as borosilicate glass, ceramic, rock crystal and Vantablack coating – said to be the darkest material on earth. But is it justifiable for Boucheron to charge top-end prices for non-precious materials? 'At Boucheron, we have a precise answer to that,' says Poulit-Duquesne. 'We question what is precious, because what gives value to the piece is not only the precious materials we're using, but the emotion that the product gives to our clients. This allows Claire to use pretty much every material in the world and the reason why she's so innovative.' She says the maison sees its products as works of art – which some of its clients are collecting. 'Of course, we use diamonds and precious metals, but it's just like when you buy a painting, you don't think about the price of the materials used. What you buy are the aesthetics, the poetry, the emotion.'
The South African
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The South African
Carte Blanche: Mkhwanazi's mission- WATCH
The 27 July episode of Carte Blanche investigates a major shake-up within the South African Police Service (SAPS), focusing on KwaZulu-Natal's provincial police commissioner, whose bold leadership style is making waves. As South Africa battles rising crime, many are asking if this hard-hitting commander could be the game-changer the country needs. With his unorthodox methods and firm stance on law enforcement, the show explores whether this leadership shift will bring lasting change or simply add to the ongoing turbulence within SAPS. Carte Blanche is a South African investigative journalism television series that airs on M-Net every Sunday at 19:00. Its first episode aired on 21 August 1988 and over the last 34-plus years has earned credibility among South African viewers for its investigation into corruption, consumer issues, and current events. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Carte Blanche: Buried lies
Sunday, 20 July's episode of Carte Blanche investigates shocking cases of mismanaged burials, where grieving families were either given a box of mysterious ashes or discovered that their loved ones had been buried in paupers' graves without their knowledge or consent. The exposé, titled A Pauper's Grave: Unmarked and Temporary , highlights disturbing instances involving fraudulent documents, botched cremations, and funeral homes that failed to uphold the dignity that should accompany death. The report raises serious concerns about accountability in the funeral industry and the emotional toll on families left to mourn under a cloud of confusion and betrayal. Carte Blanche is a South African investigative journalism television series that airs on M-Net every Sunday at 19:00. Its first episode aired on 21 August 1988 and over the last 34-plus years has earned credibility among South African viewers for its investigation into corruption, consumer issues, and current events. Follow The South African website on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Get everything you need to know on the go at your convenience! Stay in touch by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by sending and email to info@ or a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
The South African
12-07-2025
- The South African
Carte Blanche: SANDF murder case
Sunday, 13 July's episode of Carte Blanche investigates a chilling case involving South Africa's elite special forces, now facing serious criminal allegations in court. The charges include illegal surveillance, torture, and even murder, raising urgent questions about whether a rogue faction within the South African National Defence Force is operating beyond the reach of the law. As the court proceedings unfold, the country watches closely to see if long-hidden truths will finally come to light and whether those implicated in these alleged abuses of power will face accountability. Carte Blanche is a South African investigative journalism television series that airs on M-Net every Sunday at 19:00. Its first episode aired on 21 August 1988 and over the last 34-plus years has earned credibility among South African viewers for its investigation into corruption, consumer issues, and current events. Follow The South African website on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Get everything you need to know on the go at your convenience! Stay in touch by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by sending and email to info@ or a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
ITV News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
What's on the menu at the state banquet?
French chef Raymond Blanc has collaborated with the Royal Household to help create Tuesday's State Banquet menu. Blanc, who was recently made an Ambassador for the King's Foundation, is cooking the first course and dessert in a partnership described by Buckingham Palace as being 'in the spirit of the Entente Cordiale'. Around 160 guests are attending the glittering banquet in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, which has not hosted a State Visit since 2014 when Irish President Michael D Higgins travelled to the UK. The menu, which is written in French as is the custom for State Banquets, includes: Selection of Pre-Dinner Canapes A Selection of Tender Summer Vegetables from the Gardens of Le Manoir with Sage, Raw Tomato and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing Supreme of Rhug Estate Chicken with Norfolk Asparagus and Tarragon Cream Le Cassis Iced Blackcurrant Parfait on a Blackcurrant-soaked Sponge with Elderflower Jelly Guests each have five glasses, and the wine list includes Domaine Evremond, Classic Cuvee, Edition I, NV; Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Etienne Sauzet, 2022; Chateau Haut-Brion; 1er Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan, 1996; Louis Roederer, Carte Blanche, NV. The English sparkling wine will be used for the toast. Following dinner, guests will be served Taylor's 1977 Vintage Port and a 1948 Grande Champagne Cognac by Frapin & Co. The drinks were selected to reflect the years in which President Macron and the King were born. A special cocktail has also been created for the occasion. The 'L'entente' combines British gin with lemon curd and French pastis. It is also garnished with dried French cornflowers and English roses. It has taken almost a week to construct and lay the 50-metre table for Tuesday's banquet, which will be lit by candlelight once the evening light fades. It is adorned with hand-picked and seasonal flowers from the gardens at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, along with flowers and lavender from The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park, which have been arranged in silver-gilt centrepieces taken from the Grand Service. Guests will move to the Music Room for a performance by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales following the banquet. Of the artists performing, flautist, Matthew Featherstone, is a British-French national and cellist, Raphael Lang, is British-American but was born and raised in Paris.
