The House of Cartier yesterday inaugurated its second branch at the Villaggio Mall with plans of opening another branch in the Middle East this month. Cartier also showcased its historical pieces at an exclusive jewellery show and dinner at the Four Seasons after the inauguration. “Our Cartier store at the Royal Plaza is doing very well that we decided to put up another branch here in Villaggio and we are opening another branch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this month,” said Nabeel Ali Bin Ali of the Ali Bin Ali Establishment. “So, our partnership with Cartier is not only here in Doha, it’s expanding as well,” said Ali Bin Ali. The 300-sq metre Cartier boutique at the Villaggio bears the signature of Bruno Moinard, the architect-designer responsible for all Cartier boutiques around the world. “Our branch at the Royal Plaza, which has proven to be a big success here in Doha, is a more intimate boutique, but here in Villaggio, we think this is great because it can accommodate more customers,” said Patrick Normand, Cartier’s managing director. Normand, who emphasised that all the pieces in their Cartier stores worldwide are from Europe, said the top-selling items in Cartier stores are the jewellery. “Our jewellery collection has been seducing our clients and has captured our customers’ interest, our watches follow a close second and then other luxury accessories,” he said. Normand said the jewellery show featured items worn by Cartier’s important customers. “Each historical piece has a story to tell. These pieces were worn by our significant customers in the past or are still being worn by some and we have borrowed them to be featured here in Doha,” he said. Some of the pieces at the jewellery show were worn by Princess Grace of Monaco and the Duchess of York, among others, said Carla Touma Abboud, Cartier Doha’s director of public relations. The Cartier stores not only sell jewellery, timepieces and luxury accessories, it also sells love charity bracelets where part of the proceeds go to charity. “In some other Cartier stores, only at least 10 or 15 percent of the proceeds of the love charity bracelets go to charity, but the Cartier stores here in the Middle East give everything – a hundred percent,” said Abboud. Abboud said the love bracelets, which have new designs every year, are becoming famous in Doha. “It is getting famous that people are actually waiting what we’re making next. You’ll probably hear about the next one in June next year,” she said. Normand said Cartier is always careful with the quality of its brand. “We are a luxury house so we are always careful with the quality of our brand, creation and the savoir faire of our pieces,” he said. Normand said with Cartier’s success in Doha, it won’t be a surprise if the company opens another branch in the city. The Pen

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