"Before, the market in China was much more male-focused. Now it's more balanced. The ladies today are very important. They are buying for themselves."
China's luxury market declined slightly for the first time last year due to the economic slowdown, the central government's crackdown on giving and receiving gifts across government institutions and Chinese consumers buying luxury products overseas to save costs.
While the company's latest financial figures weren't public at the time of publishing this report, Bouillonnec admits that it is a tougher time than before.
"Easy money is not there anymore compared to a few years ago in China. But it's also a super interesting moment. You have to fight to meet your customers."
Bouillonnec says Piaget is also trying to attract people to shop at home by improving in-store experiences and ensuring exclusivity for high-end customers.
ADVERTISING3 3 As part of its long-term strategy, the brand will keep a limited number of all-operation boutiques and distributions to ensure its exclusivity, he says.
Piaget was a leading name in the ultrathin movement of the 1950s and 1960s. And now, the brand is capitalizing on the growing market of jewelry. The brand has been promoting the Rose collection for the past three years and is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Possession collection.
"Historically, we are a watch business. Now we want to be stronger on jewelry," he says, adding that although the company entered the jewelry trade late, it is confident about the future.
The brand belongs to the Swiss luxury group Richemont, which also owns Cartier, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels.
In January, Richemont was reported to plan a price rise of 5 to 7 percent in the euro zone to counter a sudden surge in the value of Swiss franc.
Piaget China may see similar price hikes in the future, says Bouillonnec.
