Hermès celebrated the reopening of its refurbished and expanded boutique in Geneva on Thursday 5 November. The brand, which has had a presence in Calvin’s city since 1947, has significantly enhanced the showcase of its sixteen craft specialities across five floors, gaining 70 per cent more retail space. Axel Dumas, Managing Director of Hermès, and Pierre-Alexis Dumas, chief creative officer – both representatives of the sixth generation of owners – were in attendance.

As a global gold hub, Switzerland handles more than half of international gold production and enforces some of the most stringent standards for refining, traceability, and the control of precious metals. As part of a series of exclusive articles on gold, Luxury Tribune offers, in this first part, an in-depth look at this unique system that makes the Swiss hallmark a true passport to international markets.

It is a first since 2017: L’Oréal has dethroned LVMH on the stock market. Behind this fragile symbol — a gap of less than 1% — lies a deeper shift. Investors are now favoring the resilience of beauty over the glamour of pure luxury, long considered untouchable.

For a long time, Rolex has cultivated discretion around its industrial sites, which very few have been able to enter, as well as its Training Center (CFR) in Geneva. Yet, on August 28th, on the occasion of celebrating its graduating apprentices, the brand opened the doors of its skill center to a select few journalists, including Luxury Tribune.

China’s gold jewellery market stands at about $112 billion. In a market this big, where consumers are already well stocked, what will trigger the next phase of growth? Jewellers in China are betting on innovative manufacturing technologies.

Delving into the complex challenges surrounding gold is no easy task. It requires following, as far as possible, the entire value chain. After examining Switzerland’s system for quality and origin control, and the expertise of one of the world’s leading refiners, Swiss company Argor-Heraeus, Luxury Tribune continues its investigation on the ground. This is a crucial step in comparing the mechanisms in place in Switzerland with the realities of gold extraction.

China’s private wealth is changing hands and character at the same time. The founders who built it are aging into succession, while a new generation is building fortunes through consumer brands. Luxury will have to negotiate with both.

With Duolab, Swiss businesswoman Anna Bory is championing a new generation of skincare, based on the freshness of active ingredients, personalization, and technology capable of overcoming certain long-standing formulation challenges.

Now often compared to Dubai, Marrakech aims to establish itself as one of the world’s leading luxury destinations. With the 2030 World Cup approaching, Franck Sibille, general manager of the Park Hyatt Marrakech, analyzes this transformation and the challenges it poses for Morocco’s hospitality industry.

At 41, Stan Wawrinka is preparing to bid farewell to tennis with “One Last Backhand” on December 19 in Geneva. This sporting and charitable event also highlights a new reality: for champions, stepping off the stage has now become a business—an “economy of farewells”—that opens the first act of a second career in the business world. Luxury Tribune met with Stan Wawrinka at his partner Nespresso’s booth during the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Switzerland is home to some of the world’s largest gold refineries, thanks to its strategic industrial and technical expertise. In this second instalment of our series on gold, Luxury Tribune takes us behind the scenes at Argor-Heraeus in Mendrisio, at the heart of an industry where refining expertise, metal traceability, the securing of more responsible supply chains and geopolitical issues are closely intertwined.

With the Maybach Ocean Club, Mercedes-Benz is expanding its world of luxury beyond the automotive world. This 155-meter yacht, conceived as a floating private club, combines condominium ownership, high-end hospitality, and community. This lifestyle strategy also extends to luxury residences and Mercedes-Benz Places Binghatti City in Dubai.

Matthieu Humair lifts the veil on the show’s costs. In an exclusive interview, he debunks the notion that the event is an expensive affair reserved for major brands and asserts that for less than 40,000 francs, a small brand can exhibit in Geneva and gain access to the heart of the global watchmaking ecosystem.

Newly appointed President of the Altagamma Foundation, Giovanna Vitelli is determined to strengthen the economic and cultural influence of Italy’s high-end industries. At a time when the global luxury market is entering a phase of normalization, she is placing craftsmanship, heritage, and talent transmission at the heart of her strategy, while championing the creation of an Altagamma Biennale. The initiative aims to unite the leading names of Made in Italy under a shared platform celebrating excellence.

Affected by the turbulence facing the Volkswagen Group and confronted with a challenging market, Porsche is adjusting its strategy and embarking on a slimming-down program.