Cartier in Dubai Reviews
The quality of a product clearly has an influence on its launch platform. When that product involves Cartier's latest jewellery collection then exclusivity permeates everything from the launch venue to the guest list as Sat Bal found. (29 Mar '08)
Cartier's events were staged on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 March in Dubai amid the year's most prestigious desert polo tournament at the newly opened Desert Palm hotel. On Thursday Dubai's über-luxurious Burj Al Arab hotel (pictured above) hosted Cartier's jewellery launch dinner attracting an audience to match.
The
jeweller is accustomed to the challenges of organising global polo
tournaments in searing heat and icy cold. Its three glamorous fixtures
are the traditional, royal Cartier International Windsor Polo Cup (click here), the starker Saint-Moritz Snow Polo event and this year's Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge
The
latter took place under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al
Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE Ruler of Dubai. "Cartier is renowned to be the jeweller of kings and polo is the sport of kings," says Patrick Normand, MD of Cartier Middle East & South Asia. "It is very natural that the jeweller of kings be associated with this
prestigious sport, so that's how the Cartier International Polo Cup all started. The event reflects the elegance of the sport and the game builds a strong relationship between its patrons, royalties, celebrities and VIPs."
A successful event requires a strong association between the client's brand values, its guests' expectations and the event activity and format. Cartier achieved this seamless synergy with its blend of brand,
guests and a sport that resonates with its audience. Central to this was the launch Cartier's latest jewellery collection, dedicated to modern India and exhibited in the ornately decorated Cartier Villa at the Desert Palm Hotel.
"Our elegant and sophisticated guests very much look forward to the annual
Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge and appreciate the jewellery
exhibition at the Cartier Villa where Cartier brings together some very
unique pieces," explains Patrick Normand "and this year launched the new jewellery collection, Inde Mysterieuse, inspired by the enchantment of India and its mysteries.
"The guest list included royalty and celebrities from Hollywood actress Charlotte Rampling and designer Christian Louboutin to Bollywood actor Salman Khan. It was a fabulous blend of guests and an exciting time that I look forward to repeating again next year."
Cartier teamed up once more with Guards Polo Club and the Cartier Challenge included two teams. The Qatar Airways team included leading players such as HRH Prince Rashid Bin Hassan of Jordan, Gabriel Inglesias, Martin Valent and Tariq Albawardy while team EmiratesNBD included Prince Rahim Kemaluddin of Brunei, Top Rakriasksorn, Nico Petracci and Stanislav Ramos.
HRH presented the winning Qatar Airways team with the Cartier Trophy, aided by Bernard Fornas, President of Cartier International and Patrick Normand. Following the prize ceremony in Princess Haya's presence, Cartier presented a cheque of 570,000 AED for the United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR) – the proceeds of the LOVE Charity Initiative Campaign.
The VIP dinner at the Burj Al Arab brought Cartier's creations to the scrutiny of its global guests. The majestic venue saw theming emerge from the “inspirations of India” with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds cut and engraved in Jaipur style, bringing the mystery of India to a most responsive Dubai.
Click image for picture gallery ;
