Disciplined Swiss-watching making doesn't usually go hand in hand with whimsical, feminine fashion design. That's what makes the new collaboration between watchmaker heritage watch and jewelry brand Charriol and fashion designer Cynthia Rowley such a fun concept.
The pair have debuted the 36mm Swiss-made Surf Navigator watch—a limited-edition timepiece that nod to the two brand leaders, Coralie Charriol, Charriol's CEO and creative director, and iconic fashion designer Cynthia Rowley, whose personal passion for surfing is baked in to her swimwear collection, Surf + Swim.
The two CEOs met last summer when Charriol celebrated its 40th anniversary in East Hampton. "I realized how much we have in common," Charriol told Gem + Jewel following an event in East Hampton that celebrated the collab. "When I saw her board and wetsuit collections and realized she was an avid surfer like I was, I immediately approached her to use a few of her prints on the dial of my Surf Navigator watch. It's not so common to find women designers as into surfing as we are, so the collaboration felt natural, and it seemed like a good moment to commit to an organization giving back to ocean conservation efforts." (Ten percent of sales from the watch are donated to SeaLegacy, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the ocean.)
From left: Cristina Cuomo, Cynthia Rowley, Naomi Watts, and Coralie Charriol at the dinner at N'Amo in East Hampton
Charriol X Cynthia Rowley Surf Navigation watch
Rowley said, "The Charriol Surf Navigation watch is the perfect culmination of our brand ethos: pretty-meets-sporty and fashion-meets-function. It's been a dream to collaborate with Coralie on such a luxury heritage product."
The duo hosted a proper Montauk al fresco dinner at N'Amo, a new seaside Italian seafood spot in the marina, to celebrate the unique pairing. With trendy DJ and influencer Pamela Tick providing the soundtrack as guests—including Naomi Watts, Cristina Cuomo and her daughter Bella Cuomo, Dylan Lauren, professional surfer Tripoli Patterson, former editors Kate Betts and Amanda Ross, and CFDA's Marc Karimzadeh and husband Whitney Robinson (who closed down the event with Rowley)—enjoyed fresh seafood and a raw bar. As a special treat, aspiring singer-songwriter Bella Cuomo entertained guests with three songs, two original numbers, and a rendition of Amy Winehouse's "Valerie."
"By the water in Montauk, with the sun setting and a mix of fun professional and semi-professional surfers—as well as friends of both brands—it was the perfect way to bring together people who we knew would love the collection," said Charriol.
