Polo Ralph Lauren and the Richemont group have recently formed The Polo Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewellery Company, S.A.R.L., which will design and create luxury watches and fine jewellery. This is the first venture for the Richemont group who own Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Jaeger LeCoultre among other brands and Polo Ralph Lauren will handle the design. The first collection will be launched in the fall of 2008 and will be available in Ralph Lauren stores as well as through select jewelry and luxury watch retailers worldwide.
Full press release below.
Two leading players in the global luxury business announced today the formation of The Polo Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewellery Company, S.A.R.L., whose purpose will be to design and create luxury watches and fine jewellery.
In this unique partnership, Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) and Richemont (SWX: ‘CFR’) will form a joint venture to design, develop, manufacture and distribute the products through Ralph Lauren boutiques as well as through the finest independent jewellery and luxury watch retailers in the world. The partners will each own 50 percent of the new entity and are committed to this joint venture on a long-term basis. This is Richemont’s first such joint venture with a luxury fashion designer and it is Polo Ralph Lauren’s first foray into the precious jewellery and luxury watch businesses. It is expected that the products will be launched in the fall of 2008.
Ralph Lauren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation said, “This business is an important part of our global luxury accessories strategy. I am confident that our unique design sensibility and luxury brand building skills, combined with Richemont’s unique experience on a global basis, creates an opportune way for this partnership to succeed. I believe strongly in this partnership.â€
Johann Rupert, Executive Chairman of Richemont, said, “I have long admired Ralph Lauren. His impeccable taste, style and attention to detail are unique. These factors, combined with Richemont’s expertise in jewellery and watches will lead to a fascinating business venture. Jointly, we aim to create a new luxury business, which I am confident will develop into a world leader. This is an exciting partnership and I very much look forward to working with Ralph.â€
ABOUT POLO RALPH LAUREN
Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For more than 40 years, Polo’s reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company’s brand names, which include Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren, RRL, RLX, Rugby, Blue Label, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, RL Childrenswear, Chaps and Club Monaco, constitute one of the world’s most widely recognized families of consumer brands.
For more information, go to investor.polo.com
ABOUT RICHEMONT
Richemont owns a portfolio of leading international brands or ‘Maisons’, which are managed independently of one another, recognising their individuality and uniqueness. The businesses operate in five areas: Jewellery Maisons, being Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels; Specialist Watchmakers, which comprises Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Vacheron Constantin, Officine Panerai and A. Lange & Söhne; Writing Instrument Maisons- Montblanc and Montegrappa; Leather and AccessoriesMaisons, being Alfred Dunhill and Lancel; and Other Businesses, which includes, specifically, Chloé. In addition to its luxury goods business, Richemont holds an 18.9 per cent interest in British American Tobacco, one of the world’s leading tobacco groups.