Neighbourhood watch: The 1916 Company CEO John Shmerler on Luxury Retail 3.0

Neighbourhood watch: The 1916 Company CEO John Shmerler on Luxury Retail 3.0

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 John Shmerler [https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-shmerler-41148219/], Chief Executive of The 1916 Company, to examine how the primary and secondary watch markets are converging and what it really takes to build a luxury retail business for the long term. From the story behind bringing four separate businesses, Govberg, Radcliffe, Hyde Park and WatchBox, under a single name, to the decision to retire the WatchBox brand entirely, Shmerler reflects on three years of integration and the principles that have guided it. The conversation moves into the Rolex CPO programme and its transformation of the pre-owned market, a robust clarification that De Bethune was never for sale, the industry's long-running service problem and why, in the US at least, the mood among watch buyers right now is nothing short of euphoric. Tune in for: * Why Rolex CPO has fundamentally changed the pre-owned conversation and what that means for authorised retailers * The real story behind the De Bethune sale rumours, and what The 1916 Company has planned for the brand * Why John believes the Apple Watch has been an accelerant for the high-end market, and why AI is already changing how collectors discover watches Brought to you by DLG [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/], in partnership with The 1916 Company [http://www.the1916company.com].  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.  [https://www.the1916company.com/] www.the1916company.com [https://www.the1916company.com/]  Produced by Juliet Fallowfield, Fallow, Field & Mason [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/] 2026 Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460539/fan_mail/new]

Success is not final: former Cartier CEO Cyrille Vigneron on how to stay ahead in luxury

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/], are joined by Cyrille Vigneron [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyrille-vigneron-b21b1512/], Chairman of Culture and Philanthropy at Cartier and the maison's former President and CEO, to examine what the current upheaval in luxury really demands of its leaders. Drawing on nearly three decades across Richemont and LVMH, Vigneron reflects on the decisions that defined his tenure at Cartier, including the reversal of a failed masculine watchmaking strategy and the return to the brand's roots in style and elegance. He argues that what luxury is facing now is not a cyclical correction but a cultural shift, one that rewards brands anchored in durability and identity over those that chased volume and consumerism.  Tune in for: * Why Cyrille believes AI will widen the gap between brands using it well and those that don't, rather than destroy jobs across the sector * How Cartier rebuilt its relevance with younger audiences without making anything young * What the shift from buying things to doing things means for luxury brands that sell physical products Brought to you by DLG [https://digitalluxurygroup.com/], in partnership with The 1916 Company. The 1916 Company [http://www.the1916company.com] 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 [https://www.the1916company.com/] Produced by Juliet Fallowfield, Fallow, Field & Mason [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com] 2026  [https://www.fallowfieldmason.com/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460539/fan_mail/new]

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 [http://www.the1916company.com/]. 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/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460539/fan_mail/new]

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 [http://www.the1916company.com/]. 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/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460539/fan_mail/new]

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 [http://www.the1916company.com/]. 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. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2460539/fan_mail/new]