January 14, 2013

Interview The Motorcycle Prince

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The Palace Hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland has always attracted the rich and famous.

Onassis, Niarchos and Latsis the Greek shipping tycoons called it their playground in the 1950s and 1960s. The Swiss billionaire industrialist Bertarelli owns a Chalet in Gstaad (his sister owns the Park Hotel), as does the F1 boss and billionaire Ecclestone (he owns the Olden Hotel and a Chalet). No few than 21 billionaires call Gstaad their home.

But a new generation of wealthy businessmen are now regular visitors to Gstaad and its most famous Hotel, the Palace Hotel. Mr. Giovanni Castiglioni represents this new breed of businessmen. Young (32), very successful and full of energy Mr. Castiglioni is the president and owner of the famous motorcycle brand MV Agusta. For background information: Giovanni’s family had owned Ducati before buying MV Agusta. Mr. Giovanni Castiglioni is also a big car enthusiast (I like this combination very much) and owns several Ferrari’s including an F40 and a black/black 458 Italia. I sat down with Mr. Castiglioni, as always dressed to perfection, to talk about watches.

LME: When did you first start collecting watches?

Castiglioni: I started at a young age. I had a Rolex day date medium size given to me by my uncle for my communion. My second watch was my Rolex GMT Master which I got at sixteen given to me by my father, it was his watch passed on to me.

Did your father influence you in your collection?

Castiglioni: No my father didn’t collect anything (except for women).

Motorbikes and watches they are both mechanical. Do you like watches more from the aesthetics side or also the mechnical movement inside?

Castiglioni: Both, but aesthetics is very important, perhaps the most important part for me- a watch has to look good foremost and secondly comes the mechanical aspect. I like Richard Mille for example because they make small components very well (our main business is small mechanical components, like rivets for Diesel Jeans) so the small components is similar to watches. I like Richard Mille for their focus on small components.

Italy has a strong relation to Rolex. No other country is as passionate about Rolex as Italy. Are you also a Rolex fanatic?

Castiglioni: I also like Rolex very much. I have a few Rolex watches, a daytona, day date two and GMT master yellow, Daytona yellow gold. I just like the way full gold watches look.

Which watch brands to you like most?

Castiglioni: Clearly Audemars Piguet (AP), Offshore. I own three of them. I also like Richard Mille very much.

You have a special relationship with GP (Girard Perregaux). Tell us more about that?

Castiglioni: The owner of GP, Macalluso and my family are great friends. I am now friends with the two sons. I like the brand beacuse they had a strong association with motorsport which I liked (for example Ferrari). GP makes special watches for me and I own a GP world time which is unique in the world, especially made for me.

One of your favorite watches is AP Royal Oak. What do you like about that watch?

Castiglioni: I like AP for one main reason, Royal Oak. This line is an icon, they change it but they never completely change it. It is like MV Agusta- its a constant evolution and not a revolution, it never get old clients offended, but encourages them to buy new models.

Do you own any vintage watches?

Castiglioni: I own my fathers old Rolex GMT, and an old AP, and I also own an old Breitling.

What watches do you plan to buy in the future?

Castiglioni: I want to buy another Richard Mille. The second watch I want to buy is the new Rolex day date two -Rose gold black inside like the one Roger Federer wears.

Now I ask the Giovanni Castiglioni short questions and force him to respond immediately without thinking: