Today we talk with Steve Jacquin, who is the EMEA Sr. Area Manager of the Spanish jewelry House - Carrera y Carrera, which is recognized as one of the 30 most prestigious jewelry firms in the world.

Mr. Jacquin, thank you for your time for our interview. Could you please tell us how long have you been working for Carrera y Carrera? What brought you there?

Good morning Aleksandra. I have been working with Carrera y Carrera for two years now. I was really interested in joining the leading Spanish Jewelry brand with such an extraordinary goldsmith heritage and one of the few brands that still produces pieces 100% manually.

How can you describe the jewelry of Carrera y Carrera?

Carrera y Carrera always looks for perfection. The intricate jewelry that we make are some of the most beautiful pieces that you can find on the market. The finish of the pieces is extraordinary: not only the part of the jewelry that you can see but also the hidden side of it where you can discover some unique details. 

Could you say some facts about the history of the brand?

The brand is 132 years old and today Manuel Carrera represents the 4th Generation of Carrera. His great-great grandfather opened a small gold workshop in Madrid in 1885 and the brand soon became the national reference. Later in 1970 Manuel Carrera started the internationalization of the brand with the opening of branches in the USA, Russia and Japan.

Why do you work with the jewelry?

Luxury is a fascinating world! This is the perfect balance of creativity, authenticity and exclusivity. Within that industry I believe the jewels are definitely the most beautiful pieces of art. By using the best materials such as gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies or sapphires you create unique pieces that talk directly to the heart of our customers. There is that instant “Love at First Sight” effect!

Mr. Jacquin, could you tell us with which countries are you mostly working with?

Today Carrera y Carrera is present in 45 countries. Europe, Russia and the Middle East are our strongest regions with a solid base of loyal customers. All through the years our customers have become real collectors of Carrera y Carrera and are eager to discover our novelties.

Who is Carrera y Carrera client and where is your main target?

Our target is a woman between the age of 20 and 60, independent and confident, interested in fashion but creating her own look. She is very demanding, she loves art and always look for perfection.

Could you name the several competitors of Carrera y Carrera?

I am often asked about our competitors and I must say that since we are a niche brand we do not have many competitors on our segment. For Carrera y Carrera the gold is the protagonist with its very unique mat-shiny effect. And we adorn the gold with precious stones. Most competitors are using the gold as a base but give main focus to the precious stones. For this reason when you see a Carrera y Carrera piece of jewelry you instantly recognize it.

Are there any special requirements for the luxury jewels?

Our own luxury codes are: to use the best materials that can be found, to provide the best quality to our customers and the best service such as “customization” of our pieces.

How often does Carrera y Carrera launch the new collections?

We launch 2 collections per year: our Spring Collection that is launched at the International Baselworld Fair in March and our Christmas Collection.

What is new for 2017?

This year we are revisiting some of our most iconic collections giving them a more contemporary touch. We are also expanding our white gold collections targeting mainly our European customers looking for a more subtle look. I invite you to Baselworld in 2 weeks to review the complete collection. :)  

Mr. Jacquin, can you give some tips for the customers of BREGNER Luxury & Lifestyle how to choose «the right» jewelry?

The power of the jewelry is the instant “Fall in Love” effect! For a woman buying a piece of jewelry is a complete emotional experience. I would suggest the women to follow their instinct when looking at a piece and do not hesitate to treat themselves! It is always recommended to buy 2 complementary pieces so the effect is even more spectacular: for example the necklace with its matching earrings or the ring with its matching bracelet.
For a man looking for the perfect gift I would recommend him to observe carefully the jewelry style of the lady he will buy the jewelry for: Does she wear discreet jewelry or on the contrary powerful pieces? He should then try to complete the sets that she already wears

Mr. Jacquin, thank you for your participation in our interview and for the great cooperation with BREGNER Luxury & Lifestyle. We wish you and your colleagues a lot of success!

Thank you so much Aleksandra, always a pleasure!