Any place with the word “Château” in it sounds fancy to me, and although I had not yet been to Château d’Ivoire, when I arrived at the newly-transformed, high-end jewellery store in the heart of downtown Montreal, I instantly knew that I was at a very prestigious place. I found myself there, on a Monday evening, after regular store hours, because I had been invited to an intimate unveiling of the recently completed re-build of this successful jewellery and watch business, which was founded in 1978 by Lebanese brothers; Suhail and Mounzer Kaidbey.

Greeted by Sarah Kaidbey, Château d’Ivoire’s Marketing Director, I was graciously invited to explore the three floors of the luxury jewellery boutique. I was impressed by the “Simplement Oui” collection which is the perfect introduction to the craftsmanship of the boutique’s in-house designers. She explained how the engagement ring molds are made in wax with a 3D printer and how the ethically-sourced diamonds are cut and secured into the rings by skilled professionals in their workshop, which we visited later, on the third floor. The most extraordinary element of the “Simplement Oui” collection is that each engagement ring carries a price tag that does not exceed $6000, making the collection attractive for most future brides (and affordable for most future spouses).

Along with the engagement collection, I discovered the in-house brand, RANA KB, created by Rana Kaidbey, the company’s design director. I had the pleasure of meeting Rana and I marvelled at her very modern collection of delicate, geometric shapes in yellow and white gold, often adorned with tiny diamonds. The collection has a very Art Deco vibe, that is relevant to today’s jewellery trends and is apparently quite a success.

The three-story building also features many major luxury jewellery and watch brands such as: Cartier, Chopard, Chanel, Omega, Gucci, Dior, Breitling, Bulgari, Tag Heuer and they are well-known as expert Rolex retailers. What sets Château d’Ivoire apart from other jewellery retailers, is their attention to detail. Once I visited the workshop on the third floor, (which any client can do, thanks to the open-concept design), I was shown how the molds are made, how the rings are polished, how the gems are cut and set and finally, how the watchmaker repairs and adjusts the watches. Their expert jewellery maker was on hand to personalize a pendant that the owners had Rana design for the media attending that evening. I had mine engraved with a “C” on the back of the horseshoe/logo design.

The boutique is punctuated with a stunning central staircase connecting the three floors, as well as a sleek bar and lounge where staff can invite their clientele to relax with a refreshment. It seems like a very modern concept for a family-run business, but it is certainly a compliment to the foresight of its owners. I had the honour of meeting both brothers, but I chatted mostly with Suhail, who shared the story of how he and his brother had actually intended to move to Toronto when they arrived in Canada in the 70s. Thankfully, friends of theirs convinced them to stay in Montreal, and it was in 1978 when they launched Château d’Ivoire. Suhail claims that their success comes not from what brands they carry, but in the way they treat their clients. I felt quite at ease in Suhail’s company and found him very passionate about his family (many of whom are now working with them), their jewellery, even the city. He then showed me his pièce de resistance: a dazzling diamond necklace that was designed by one of the Château d’Ivoire’s designers from a stunning parcel of yellow diamonds that Suhail had procured. By his request, the necklace design was inspired by the daffodil, one of the first flowers to emerge after winter. Symbolizing renewal, hope and elegance, the necklace was truly breathtaking and unique, just like the Château d’Ivoire.

CHÂTEAU D’IVOIRE
2020 rue de la Montagne
Montréal, QC
H3G 1Z7

Web : chateaudivoire.com

Architectural Design: archi.ca

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