Most known for his eponymous luxury label, Philippe Charriol touched many lives in the world of design and culture. Here in the Philippines (a country he frequented a lot), his close friends mourn his abrupt passing.

Recently, the 77-year old entrepreneur was driving at the Le Castellet track when the wheel of the car in front of him burst. To avoid debris or shrapnel, Charriol swerved, abruptly hitting a wall. Circuit Director Stephane Clair shared that although he initially survived the crash, Charriol succumbed to his injuries shortly after in a hospital in Marseille, France.

 

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Above Photo from charriol.com | An exclusive launching event in the village of Megève – summer residence of Philippe Charriol,

Philippe Chariol was a truly remarkable man. The Marseille native always had a passion for fast cars and had long frequented major race circuits. This passion is reflected in several of his most iconic watch pieces. The Alexandre was inspired by the 1950s and the sleek lines of the famous corvettes. The collection named after Philippe’s son Alexandre Charriol, presents elegant and slim models dedicated to Asian wrist customers. 

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Above Photo from charriol.com | ST-TROPEZ

The Supersports Chrono, an automatic Chronograph, reflects the spirit of the mechanical world that links car engineering technology and automatic watch mechanisms. The Diablo Automatic chronograph is an aggressive black PVD version of the SuperSportS Chronograph. Based on Lamborghini Diablo SVR racing car – the car that Philippe Charriol drives on European racing tracks, the timepiece is a limited edition of 100 units which is a sought-after collector item today.

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Above Photo from charriol.com | DIABLO Automatic chronograph
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Above Photo from charriol.com | SUPERSPORTS Chrono

After a long career in luxury Philippe Charriol decided to create his namesake line in 1983. Inspired by Celtic torcs, his Celtic timepiece became a signature style and aesthetic for the brand. This was followed by several other iconic pieces like the Alexandre, Christopher Columbus, St. Tropez, and the Yucatán. These designs translated into jewellery, accessories, bags, and luxury pens — further cementing Charriol’s name in the world of design and luxury. 

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Charriol also frequented the Philippines across his lifetime, leaving behind many friends who were looking forward to his next visit. Nedy R. Tantoco, Chair and CEO of the Rustan Group of Companies, has this to share with Philippine Tatler:

Philippe was coming to Manila on March 8… we were planning his trip and I was in communication with him through his executive assistant the day this happened. So he was thinking of the Philippines that day.

We were looking forward to taking him for a break to the beach to relax. Philippe was a very dear friend to our family and an esteemed business partner.

We will miss him tremendously.

He had a close relationship with the Tantoco family, the Rustan Group, and Store Specialists, Inc., who have distributed his brand in the Philippines since the 1980s. We most recently had the pleasure of Philippe Charriol’s company during the 2017 Philippine Tatler Ball where he donned an exquisite white suit as he danced the night away with dear friends. It is no doubt that his legacy will live on for generations to come. 

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Above At Dina and Paolo Tantoco's Wedding | Nedy Tantoco, Philippe Charriol, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Anton Huang, Evelyn Forbes
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Above Alexandre Charriol, Philippe Charriol, Coralie Charriol, and Anton Huang
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Above Nedy Tantoco, Philippe Charriol, DJ Lopez, and Peter Jentes
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Above Mark Bumgarner, Peter Jentes, Heart Evangelista, Philippe Charriol, Nina and Anton Huang at the 2017 Philippine Tatler Ball

The main source of the Charriol Brand inspiration is the cable, which endures as a symbol of strength and courage and remains a testament of everlasting empowerment admired by many the world over — a perfect reflection of the man himself and the inspiration he leaves behind for the rest of us. He will be sorely missed.

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Cover photo from @charriolofficial Instragram

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