Oscar®-winning actress and global charity ambassador of Swiss watchmaker Frederique Constant, Gwyneth Paltrow talks about time, watches, charity, and a lot more in this interview.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Describe your first watch, who bought it, where you wore it and any memories you have of it?
Gwyneth Paltrow: My first watch was a Swatch watch. It was the 80s and they were a massive trend. I was given a blue Swatch by my parents for Christmas in 1984 and I was so thrilled! I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever owned.
How does “time” affect your life? For what activity can you always spare 10 minutes and for what activity do you never seem to have the time?
Gwyneth Paltrow: Like almost everyone I know in the world today, there never seems to be enough time to achieve all that we are meant to achieve on any given day. Time with my children provides the very best ROI for everyone involved, so I make sure to keep the same routine every week day so I never miss my time with them. I never seem to have a spare 10 minutes these days, but I meditate when I can.
Does a watch define your outfit? Red carpet Look, Casual Look?
Gwyneth Paltrow: To me a watch is a good anchor. I always feel grounded when I have a watch on. Its very presence reminds you that time is ticking away and we should always be doing what we are doing to the best of our ability.
Frederique Constant’s motto is « Live your passion ». Do you adopt this slogan also in your life? Or what is yours?
Gwyneth Paltrow: I am an absolute believer in living one’s passion. I feel incredibly fortunate that my work has always stemmed out of passion and continues to do so.
Which Frederique Constant watch is your favourite one?
Gwyneth Paltrow: Difficult to answer, because I like a lot! But my favourites are the Manufacture Slimline Moonphase for Ladies and the new Delight Automatic models.
Delight Automatic by Frederique Constant
Your involvement with Frederique Constant is driven by your passion for charity. What is your first memory of being involved with a charity and did it set the tone for your adult life?
Gwyneth Paltrow: I grew up very involved in my community efforts to feed people with very little resources. I both prepared and served food both in California and NYC in soup kitchens. My mother always instilled in me a sense of responsibility to the society at large, and having the experience of working closely with populations who were struggling definitely engaged my empathy, my anger at the systemic problems, and my passion to be involved.
What causes are you most passionate about? Do you feel that there are any that are often overlooked and in greater need of public attention?
Gwyneth Paltrow: I can become very passionate about every single cause on the planet, GMO labelling, clean water, global warming, starvation; I could go on and on. I feel that education is power and that so many of our issues will be addressed if we have an education system in place that bolsters critical thought and passion in our next generations.
Today we see shoppers being more conscious of the goods they are buying – where they came from and what the sales revenue ultimately benefits. When a shopper buys a Frederique Constant women’s timepiece, a donation is made to significant women’s/children’s charities. How do you see this trend of “shopping to give back” evolving?
Gwyneth Paltrow: I believe that we are becoming more and more conscious as people and as consumers we want value besides the physical thing we are buying. What is the story behind it? How am I relating to it? What does it mean to me? I always say that people want a context around product. The more they feel the story, the more the product has an emotional component.
One of the best things about a fine timepiece is that it lasts in value – not only monetarily but also in sentimentality as an heirloom that is passed down through generations. What heirlooms were passed down to you, and what do you hope to pass down to your kids?
Gwyneth Paltrow: My father’s wedding ring is my most precious heirloom. I will never take it off.
You are a globally recognized lifestyle expert. How do fine timepieces fit as a quintessential lifestyle must-have?
Gwyneth Paltrow: The reason I was so drawn to work with Frederique Constant not only because they are a family owned company making beautiful and reliable watches at a surprising price points, but that there is a deep sense of giving back.
What aspect of the watch world do you find most interesting and what are you most looking forward in terms of your work with Frederique Constant?
Gwyneth Paltrow: I am hoping I will be able to go to Geneva to have a look inside the Frederique Constant watch factory! I have always wanted to see a watch maker at work.