Summer 2024

It’s an unfortunate and outdated fact that many luxury industries tend to favour a man at the top – and while much commentary of late focuses on the merry-go-round of creative directors at the head of fashion houses, the watch and jewellery world is no exception to this. When men stay in their prime positions for years, the industry remembers them as a success story; female creatives, meanwhile, are often seen as overstaying their welcome, or, if they leave earlier, as having been not cut out for the job. Thankfully, there are more women in top management than before – just look at Ilaria Resta, CEO of Audemars Piguet, whose new Royal Oak Mini is the focus of our action-filled cover story. Could the overdue gender parity in the watch industry be getting closer? And if so, are we ready to change?

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For this issue of Q-P, just in time for the summer, we wanted to explore a thread of powerful women – and, ultimately, shine a light on all the leaders and brands that are adapting for a better future. As well as our cover story, we have an exclusive interview with Hajime Sorayama, who epitomises an approach to the erotic in which women are in charge (and happen to be made of metal). Also switching things up in our stylish shoots, we spotlight the real culture of wearing watches and jewellery side-by-side: because it’s not just about what brands you wear, but how you wear them in everyday life. Spotlighting attitude, beauty and power in luxury today, a quote from Ivan Goncharov’s Oblomov chimes in my ears: ‘Don’t be upset about telling the truth… we won’t go back to the way it was.’ — Mujdé Metin, Creative director

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Masthead

Editorial director, Publisher BERAN TOKSOZ / Creative director, Partner MUJDÉ METIN / Editor-at-Large SIMON DE BURTON / Copy editor CLAIRE MARIE HEALY / Contributing editors ALEX DOAK, LAURA MCCREDDIEDOAK, CHRIS HALL, MILENA LAZAZZERA, KIM PARKER, HARRIET QUICK / Contributors FIRAT ARSLAN, ALBERTE BATEMAN, LAUREN BOS, CONOR CLINCH, LIZ DAXAUER, YUMI NAKADA DINGLE, COURTNEY ENGLISH, KRISTIN FINDIKOGLU, GRACE FINGER, CANDELA GONZALEZ, ALYN GRIFFITHS, CHARLOTTE HADDEN, LISA JAHOVIC, GWEN JONCOUR, JOE MONK, KIRSTIN PIGGOTT, SAM RANGER, CLARA RÉTIF, LUCY ROONEY, MÉLISSA ROUILLÉ, PHOEBE SHAKESPEARE, JOSH STOVELL, ROBIN SWITHINBANK, OLIVIA TEODORANI, RAY TETAUIRA, THÉO TISSERANDET, DANIEL WILSON, BEGUM YETIS, DEE ZERNELIS