Brand Partner Content
The world of fine jewelry is defined, and for the most part owned, by a few key players, with Mouawad being one of the distinct leaders in the exclusive industry. The family operated empire spans five generations, and has continuously created masterful and one-of-a-kind jewelry since its inception in 1890. Today, the flourishing business is run by the three Mouawad brothers, with Pascal Mouawad leveraging his impressive industry connections and celebrity relationships to propel the brand into the future. We caught up with Pascal to get an inside look at the industry and find out what has made the illustrious business thrive year after year.
LA Weekly: What is something most people don’t know or realize about the jewelry industry?
Pascal: I think that a lot of people might not be aware of the importance of vertical integration, which means that every aspect of production takes place in-house. Not all companies have this, meaning elements of their manufacturing are outsourced. At Mouawad, it is essential to our promise of excellence that we are able to control the quality process from beginning to end. Every Mouawad piece is designed and manufactured by us, beginning from the actual sourcing of the gems.
LA Weekly: What other values does Mouawad operate on?
Pascal: As a family business, we have a very strong set of values that have been passed down through generations and are pivotal to our success. Quality, innovation, trust, integrity are among them, as is having the courage to act and put in the hard work to bring a vision to fruition.
LA Weekly: It’s been just over 10 years since you and your brothers took over operations of Mouawad—what key differences have you made in the company, or what impact has the change in leadership had on the brand?
Pascal: Among the key differences is our strategy of moving away from being a multi-brand retailer into a mono-brand one, focusing purely on our own brand of Mouawad, and going back to the essence and roots of Mouawad. Following this came our positioning of ‘crafting the extraordinary,’ which emphasizes our heritage of crafting magnificent jewelry and timepieces, and of catering to our core clientele of ultra-high net worth individuals. To strengthen our position as a monobrand, we completed our vertical integration in 2012, which has been an important milestone for furthering our vision.
LA Weekly: Why do you think fine jewelry has remained a booming business in spite of changing times, recessions, and shifts in trends?
Pascal: From our perspective, our clients are generally ultra-high net worth individuals, whose appetite for fine jewelry is not impacted by trends. Speaking more generally, however, there will always be people getting married and seeking incredible jewelry for their wedding, just as there will always be people looking to invest in extraordinary pieces.
LA Weekly: In your opinion, what is the one piece of jewelry every woman should own?
Pascal: A timeless classic that is versatile in terms of its wearability and precious enough to be passed down from one generation to another: perhaps a diamond ring or pair of diamond earrings.
LA Weekly: What jewelry piece do you consider to be the best investment?
Pascal: The more unique and rare the item, the more likely it is to maintain its value or increase over time. This is why we have always focused on sourcing rare and extraordinary gems.
LA Weekly: What business advice would you give your younger self?
Pascal: To remember that hard work always pays off and that you can achieve anything you set your mind to with the right people by your side.
LA Weekly: Finally, what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
Pascal: I would hope to be remembered for the part I played in perpetuating Mouawad’s success in crafting the extraordinary but also in making the world a better place for others through initiatives like the Mouawad Diamond Impact Fund (MDIF), which seeks to make a positive impact on the world through education and skills development among disadvantaged communities.
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