Château d’Ivoire, this large luxury jewelry and watch boutique located on Rue de la Montagne since 1978, has just completed renovations. It is the story of a family business founded by two brothers, Suhail and Mounzer Kaidbey, who arrived from Lebanon in the 1970s to settle in Montreal and who together launched Château d’Ivoire, where their children now also work.
“We always loved jewelry. We worked at the duty-free store in Beirut, selling watches, so we decided to start a business in Montreal. We created this store that, at first, sold jewelry from all over the world,” explains Mounzer Kaidbey, co-founder of Château d’Ivoire.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
The luxury jewelry store Château d’Ivoire has been located at 2020, rue de la Montagne in Montreal since 1978.
The boutique carries major luxury jewelry and watch brands such as Cartier, Omega, Rolex, Breitling, Chopard, Tag Heuer, Hublot, Chanel and Bulgari, as well as the house brands Château d’Ivoire and Rana. “What sets us apart is that we create jewelry here in our workshop from A to Z, from design to manufacturing and even repair. Among our greatest successes are the engagement rings from the Simplement oui collection, made here by our artisans,” says Sarah Kaidbey, marketing director of Château d’Ivoire. When visiting the workshops, you notice that the work is very meticulous. “There is the design of the ring, then we do a 3D print with a wax model, and we make the ring with ethical diamonds, of which we know the provenance,” she says.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHÂTEAU D’IVOIRE
Solitaire from the Château d’Ivoire collection
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PHOTO YI WENG, PROVIDED BY CHÂTEAU D’IVOIRE
Pessoa pendant in yellow gold from the Rana collection
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PHOTO YI WENG, PROVIDED BY CHÂTEAU D’IVOIRE
Golden Arrow Ring from the Rana Collection
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHÂTEAU D’IVOIRE
Mini DolceVita watch, by Longines
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“Buying an engagement ring is a very emotional moment in a couple’s life,” explains Sarah Kaidbey. “New spaces have been fitted out. Major renovations have transformed the boutique, which is very large and bright, because we want to focus on the customer experience.” The jewelry and watchmaking workshops have also just been completely renovated, she emphasizes.
Among the best-selling items are also jewels from the Rana collection, created by Rana Kaidbey, design director of Château d’Ivoire. It is a collection with a very modern style, with geometric shapes, which includes rings, pendants, bracelets in yellow and white gold with small diamonds.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, THE PRESS
In the workshops of Château d’Ivoire, jewelry is made and repaired.
“I am pleased to see that all the children are taking over, they all work together and get along well!” says Mounzer Kaidbey. “I am 76 years old, I am not yet retired, but I like to see that the family business is being passed down from one generation to the next.”
Visit the Château d’Ivoire website