Podcast du Luxe par Lou Dana

🎬 In this episode, now out in English, I'm joined by Julien Tornare, CEO of Hublot, the Swiss watchmaking House known for turning disruption into an art form.
Julien's path here wasn't obvious: a competitive water skier from Geneva, he started in sales at Raymond Weil before spending 17 years at Vacheron Constantin, running Europe, the US, and eventually all of Asia from Hong Kong. He went on to revive Zenith as CEO, and now leads Hublot, a House barely 45 years old that built a global following without a single century of heritage to lean on.
🔥 A candid conversation on what it takes to build a cult brand by refusing to play by the old rules of luxury.
What you'll discover in this episode:
⚙️ A House built on audacity, not heritage: how Hublot, founded by Carlo Crocco in 1980, became the first to fuse gold and rubber, and turned that boldness into its entire identity.
🏆 Disruptive marketing, real watchmaking: behind the sports partnerships (Djokovic, Bolt, Mbappé) sits genuine in-house engineering, with movements like the Unico built entirely in Switzerland.
🤝 The Hublotistas: how Hublot turns clients into a community through experiences designed to build real, lasting relationships.
🏭 A new Manufacture in Nyon: a glimpse behind the scenes of what's coming next for the House.
▶️ Listen to the full episode in English, out today on all platforms.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss what's next, and follow me on Instagram & LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/loudana
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See you soon,
Lou

🎬 In this episode — now out in English — I'm joined by Jean-Baptiste Sassine, CEO of Messika, the French jewelry Maison founded alongside Valérie Messika.Jean-Baptiste's story is rooted in family expertise: his connection to André Messika, one of France's most respected diamond dealers, laid the foundation for what would become one of the most disruptive names in contemporary jewelry. From "3 or 4 people around a small table" in André Messika's office to a House now present in over 65 countries, he built Messika through disciplined, organic growth — without ever raising major outside funding. In this conversation, he looks back on the creation of the Move, originally called "La Cage," which grew into a signature sometimes more recognizable than the Messika name itself, and on what it takes to keep a legacy house feeling disruptive decades in.🔥 A candid, wide-ranging conversation that I hope teaches you as much as it taught me.What you'll discover in this episode:💎 André Messika's legacy: the story of one of France's leading diamond dealers, and the family expertise Messika was built on🔗 The birth of the Move: how "La Cage" became one of jewelry's most iconic signatures worldwide🌍 Global expansion without external funding: growing to 65+ countries through disciplined, organic growth⚡ Staying "Disruptive Diamond": the mindset behind Messika's constant reinvention▶️ Listen to the full episode in English, out today on all platforms.🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss what's next, and follow me on Instagram & LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/loudana⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? Rate Podcast du Luxe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and share your thoughts!See you soon,Lou

🎬 In this episode, now out in English, I'm joined by Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari for over a decade and now head of LVMH's Watches division, overseeing Houses like TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith alongside Bvlgari.
Jean-Christophe's path into luxury is anything but conventional: from HEC Paris and the French Navy, to Procter & Gamble and The Boston Consulting Group, before landing at TAG Heuer and later Bvlgari. In this conversation, he opens up about rebuilding brands from the ground up, the discipline behind reviving heritage without falling into nostalgia, and what it really takes to lead an entire watchmaking division for one of the world's largest luxury groups.
🔥 A candid, wide-ranging conversation that I hope teaches you as much as it taught me.
What you'll discover in this episode:
🏭 The history of the Manufacture de Neuchâtel: once famous for its railway clocks, now the beating heart of Bvlgari's watchmaking, and a place where his own family's history quietly echoes.
🏛️ Roman architecture and watch design: how the lines and volumes of ancient Rome shape every new Bvlgari timepiece, including the record-breaking Octo Finissimo.
👑 Women and the evolving luxury market: how the rise of women in professional roles has reshaped luxury spending, and why that shift has been a growth engine for Bvlgari.
⚙️ Heritage meets innovation: how a century-old house stays alive through cutting-edge technology and constant creative reinvention.
▶️ Listen to the full episode in English, out today on all platforms.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss what's next, and follow me on Instagram & LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/loudana
⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? Rate Podcast du Luxe ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and share your thoughts!
See you soon,
Lou

🎬 In this episode — now out in English — I'm joined by Pauline Laigneau, founder of Gemmyo, the acclaimed luxury jewelry house that redefined the industry with the concept of "smart luxury."
Gemmyo is a rare diamond. The first jewelry house to launch entirely online, built on one clear promise: personalization. Pauline walks us through the fascinating story of a house that broke the codes of luxury and redefined an entire industry. How do you manufacture in France while keeping exceptional quality at a more accessible price? Could the answer lie in digital?
Pauline also embodies the French entrepreneurial spirit through her own podcast, which brings together a community of over 400,000 business and luxury enthusiasts, a genuine source of inspiration for entrepreneurs and industry lovers alike. Together, we explore the bold concept of "smart luxury" and redefine what luxury really means at Gemmyo.
🔥 A rich, funny, and inspiring conversation that I hope teaches you as much as it taught me.
What you'll discover in this episode:
🚀 The rise of digital in jewelry: Pauline shares her vision of "smart luxury," built on pragmatism, customer experience, and personalization. For her, the essence of luxury lies in quality and authenticity, not status.
💎 The importance of local, artisanal manufacturing: unlike many accessible luxury brands that outsource production, Gemmyo chose to keep manufacturing in France.
🛠️ Innovation as a driver of differentiation: at Gemmyo, innovation goes beyond design, into digitized workshops and tech-driven production.
📈 A hybrid, resilient business model: a strong online presence combined with a network of physical boutiques.
🔍 Understanding new consumer expectations: Pauline explains how Gemmyo meets today's demand for personalization and flawless service. Smart?
▶️ Listen to the full episode in English, out today on all platforms.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss what's next, and follow me on Instagram & LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/loudana
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See you soon,Lou

🎬 We're bringing this episode back — now dubbed in English! I had the pleasure of sitting down with Bénédicte Épinay, ex-CEO of Comité Colbert and one of the most influential voices in luxury media. Before joining the legendary Comité, Bénédicte co-founded the renowned Les Echos Série Limitée, then Les Echos Week-End — now owned by Bernard Arnault (2007) and later LVMH (2015). We look back on the incredible career of a sharp, driven woman devoted to championing craftsmanship, and how media shapes the luxury industry.
🔥 A rich, inspiring conversation that I hope will teach you as much as it taught me. What you'll discover in this episode 👇:
🎓 A formative upbringing: . Bénédicte shares how her parents' love of beauty shaped her eye for aesthetics — even without ties to luxury brands.
📚 A spark for writing: A French teacher awakened her love of presentations, naturally steering her toward journalism.
📰 Starting out in journalism: Her early days at France Soir, covering tough stories, built the confidence and persistence this demanding field requires.
🌍 Luxury goes global: Bénédicte witnessed France's great houses evolve from artisanal workshops into global luxury giants.
👜 Meeting Bernard Arnault: A Hermès bag broke the ice at their first meeting — revealing an unexpectedly passionate side of the businessman.
📈 Launching Série Limitée and Les Echos Week-End: She successfully launched both, tapping into the rise of luxury and lifestyle content.
🌐 Modernizing Comité Colbert: Under her leadership, the association modernized, promoting French luxury abroad through cultural diplomacy.
🌱 A commitment to sustainability: Bénédicte champions environmental responsibility as the key to tomorrow's luxury — rooted in craftsmanship and sustainability.
📣 Subscribe to Podcast du Luxe, 📲 share the episode with your circle, and follow me on Instagram & LinkedIn so you never miss an episode 🫶 here:https://linktr.ee/loudana
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See you next week,
Lou