The great luxury reset: how to beat the chaos with Professor Stéphane Girod

The great luxury reset: how to beat the chaos with Professor Stéphane Girod

In this episode of The Luxury Society Podcast, Robin Swithinbank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinswithinbank/] and David Sadigh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davisadigh/], Founder and CEO of DLG, are joined by Professor Stéphane Girod [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prof-st%C3%A9phane-j-g-girod-9b960639/], Professor of Strategy at IMD Lausanne and Leader of IMD’s Luxury 2050 Initiative, to examine what the great luxury reset actually demands of the industry's leaders. The engine of growth that powered luxury for three decades, built on globalisation, unjustified price hikes and an emotional playbook, is sputtering. Girod argues the industry faces a structural shift rather than a cyclical correction, shaped by geopolitical fragmentation, the rise of Chinese brands and badly eroded consumer trust. The conversation moves from macro forces to granular strategy: what agility genuinely means for a heritage brand, why functional value is making a comeback, and how AI is beginning to reshape both the customer experience and back-office decision-making in luxury. Tune in for: * Why the 30-year luxury growth model is structurally broken and what that means for conglomerates accustomed to double-digit returns * How brands can rebuild perceived value without retreating to volume or cutting prices * What the luxury industry's digital talent drain reveals about a deeper organisational problem Brought to you by DLG [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/], in partnership with The 1916 Company. The 1916 Company is reshaping the world of collectible watches and fine jewelry, uniting a global community through trusted expertise, editorial excellence, and client-first experiences. With more than 20 boutiques and Collector’s Lounges worldwide, the company bridges new and pre-owned markets across collectible watches, fine jewelry, and designer handbags – supported by dedicated advisors, expert watchmakers, and seasoned journalists. As majority investor in independent manufacture De Bethune, The 1916 Company holds a singular position at the intersection of retail, editorial, and community. www.the1916company.com [http://www.the1916company.com/] Produced by Juliet Fallowfield, Fallow, Field & Mason [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/] 2026  [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/]

Shooting for the Moon: Davide Cerrato on rebooting Bremont

In this episode of The Luxury Society Podcast, Robin Swithinbank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinswithinbank/] and David Sadigh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davisadigh/], Founder and CEO of DLG, are joined by Davide Cerrato [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davide-cerrato-a9b6a31/], CEO of Bremont Watch Company, to examine one of the most scrutinised brand turnarounds in contemporary watchmaking. Three years in, Cerrato reflects on the decisions that defined his tenure: cutting the collection from 200 references to fewer than 100, overhauling the brand identity, scrapping a long-anticipated in-house movement and navigating a fierce backlash from loyalists. He also reveals the story behind Bremont's most ambitious project yet, sending a watch to the surface of the moon as part of Astro Lab's Gryphon Mission, and explains why consistently over-delivering on value at every price point remains his most non-negotiable commitment. Tune in for: * How Bremont cut complexity, rebuilt confidence and is recording growth in one of watchmaking's most difficult markets * Why the $2,500 to $4,000 price segment is as strategically important today as it was when Cerrato launched Tudor's Black Bay * What the moon mission reveals about Bremont's ambition and the next chapter of its story Brought to you by DLG [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/], in partnership with The 1916 Company. The 1916 Company is reshaping the world of collectible watches and fine jewelry, uniting a global community through trusted expertise, editorial excellence, and client-first experiences. With more than 20 boutiques and Collector’s Lounges worldwide, the company bridges new and pre-owned markets across collectible watches, fine jewelry, and designer handbags – supported by dedicated advisors, expert watchmakers, and seasoned journalists. As majority investor in independent manufacture De Bethune, The 1916 Company holds a singular position at the intersection of retail, editorial, and community. www.the1916company.com [http://www.the1916company.com/] Produced by Juliet Fallowfield, Fallow, Field & Mason [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/] 2026  [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/]

The pleasure of excellence: Parmigiani’s Guido Terreni on private luxury

In this episode of The Luxury Society Podcast, Robin Swithinbank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinswithinbank/] is joined by Guido Terreni [https://www.linkedin.com/in/guidoterreni/], Chief Executive of Parmigiani Fleurier, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it means to lead one of watchmaking's most singular houses. Drawing on 21 years at Bulgari, where he oversaw the creation of the Serpenti and the record-breaking Octo Finissimo, Terreni reflects on the relaunch of Parmigiani through the critically acclaimed Tonda PF collection, the brand's philosophy of private luxury and the courage required to defend a creative vision when you are the only person in the room who believes in it. The pair also explore AI's limited role in luxury creativity, Gen Z's growing appetite for mechanical watchmaking and why, in a world saturated with noise, a brand's clearest competitive advantage may be knowing exactly who it is not for. Tune in for: * Why private luxury is not a trend but a permanent set of values, and how Parmigiani built its entire identity around them * The distribution decision that cut two-thirds of its retail network and what it unlocked commercially * How Gen Z is quietly reshaping the luxury watch collector base, and what that means for brands chasing longevity over hype Brought to you by DLG [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/], in partnership with The 1916 Company. The 1916 Company is reshaping the world of collectible watches and fine jewelry, uniting a global community through trusted expertise, editorial excellence, and client-first experiences. With more than 20 boutiques and Collector’s Lounges worldwide, the company bridges new and pre-owned markets across collectible watches, fine jewelry, and designer handbags – supported by dedicated advisors, expert watchmakers, and seasoned journalists. As majority investor in independent manufacture De Bethune, The 1916 Company holds a singular position at the intersection of retail, editorial, and community. www.the1916company.com [http://www.the1916company.com/] Produced by Juliet Fallowfield, Fallow, Field & Mason [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/] 2026  [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/]

BONUS episode: Robin, David & Dominic talk AI & ‘FOBO’, the Fear of Becoming Obsolete

In this bonus episode of The Luxury Society Podcast, Robin Swithinbank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinswithinbank/] and David Sadigh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davisadigh/], Founder and CEO of DLG are joined by Dominic Baldwin-Weir, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicweir/] Strategy Director at DLG, to examine artificial intelligence and its growing impact on the luxury industry. From AI-powered leadership “agents” analysing grey markets, pricing and search data to the broader cultural resistance within luxury, the conversation moves beyond hype to address what AI really means for competitiveness, craftsmanship and white-collar work. The trio debate inevitability, the fear of becoming obsolete, and whether AI will ultimately augment decision-making or fundamentally reshape organisational structures. Tune in for: * How AI is being used to enhance strategic decision-making in luxury * Why culture, not technology, is the real barrier to adoption * The risk of widening gaps between data-led brands and slower competitors Brought to you by Digital Luxury Group [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/].  Produced by Juliet Fallowfield 2026 https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/ [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/]

Risky business: Max Büsser of MB&F on how pride comes before it all

In this episode of The Luxury Society Podcast, hosts Robin Swithinbank [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinswithinbank/] and David Sadigh [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davisadigh/] speak with Max Büsser, Founder and Creative Director of MB&F, about creative risk, independence and long-term brand building. Büsser reflects on leaving Harry Winston to launch MB&F without a safety net, why his gut feeling guides his decisions more than profit and how independent creators have reshaped modern watchmaking. He also discusses the unexpected rise of MAD Editions as a direct-to-consumer success and why selling a minority stake to Chanel was about succession, not exit. Tune in for: * Why taking risks defines true independence * How to protect creative culture as you grow * Lessons from MAD Editions and community-led demand * Why mechanical watchmaking blends engineering, beauty and humanity Brought to you by Digital Luxury Group [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/]. Produced by Juliet Fallowfield 2026 https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/ [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/]