Much of the buzz these days is on wearable technology, including smart watches, fitness trackers, smart rings – you get the picture. While the tech itself is undoubtedly revolutionary and will lead to big changes for society, one thing is likely to stay the same: people’s desire to express themselves through what they choose to wear. Carlye Morgan, the Founder and CEO of Chalonne, agrees. “No matter how advanced we become, people still want to express their personal identity through style, the fashion choices they make, and the brands they buy.” It’s why Chalonne has achieved such success in the past few years, “Our customers want to curate every item they wear as a form of self-expression and that now includes personalizing their Apple Watch with one of our luxury bands.”
Chalonne, as you may have already discovered, is known for its use of solid 14K gold, diamonds, gemstones and unique materials like shearling and pony hair in its designs. “Anyone who loves fashion knows the importance of detail,” Carlye says. “I personally love using my watch band as a pop of color. I feel great knowing that I have so many options to complete an outfit, rather than wearing that black silicone band with everything. And if you can’t find what you are looking for, just reach out and we can help craft a custom piece in whatever size or color you’d like.”
Chalonne is committed to delivering quality. “Our goal is to create the highest quality, luxury Apple Watch bands for women by focusing first on the originality of each design, premium materials and on the skill of our artisans,” Carlye explains. “We want to offer our customers something they can feel confident wearing every day whether they are at work, with family, at a party, or just doing errands.”
The Story of Chalonne
As Apple Watches increased in popularity, Carlye identified a need for high-quality, fashionable watch bands for women. “When I bought my first Apple Watch, I immediately loved the tech and having easy access to apps, however, I disliked the silicone band it came with,” Carlye says. “I did some research and couldn’t find any high-quality Apple Watch bands out there. I didn’t want to sacrifice my personal style to sport the latest tech, and I knew other women must have felt the same way. I had been wanting to start my own business for a while and I had so many design ideas. So I decided to solve the problem myself.”
Chalonne’s goal is to create stylish, luxury watch bands by focusing on original design, the highest quality materials, and artisan craftsmanship. “We want to offer our customers a premium option that can be easily switched out on a daily basis depending on the occasion and your personal style.”
Apple Watch Bands That Are of the Highest Quality
One of the biggest initial challenges was finding the right manufacturer in Europe. Chalonne bands are designed with an uncompromising commitment to quality and luxury, and there are not many manufacturers who can live up to that. After an extensive search, Chalonne found the perfect partner in France with 65 years of expertise and artisanal heritage. “They were incredibly enthusiastic and supportive of the Collection from the start. It was clear they could deliver a superb product which was paramount, but they have also been amazing collaborators, working with me to achieve the quality and aesthetic that Chalonne requires.”
Carlye explains that Chalonne’s collection of luxurious Apple Watch bands offers an elegant way to express individuality and style every day. “One thing that makes us unique is the attention we give to the creation process,” she says. “All our bands are designed in Bel-Air, California, and meticulously crafted by artisans in France.” Once a design is ready, a dedicated team of skilled artisans gets to work, handcrafting each band. “That is my favorite part of the process, watching my designs become a reality and also knowing the attention to detail and care goes into creating every band.”
Carlye states that it was important to ensure the jewelry would withstand daily use. “No matter how beautiful a watch band may be, it needs to be functional, so we did extensive research to develop a technology to lock the jewels inside the lining of the band, which ensures stability while maintaining suppleness and comfort.” Chalonne designs are made with the finest materials possible, including responsibly sourced diamonds, solid 14K gold, and leather rich in European detailing.
Leopard print on pony hair goatskin with red keepers
Chalonne’s Founder and CEO, Carlye Morgan
Carlye is a passionate world traveler and has traveled abroad in Europe, including in France and Italy. After studying art history at the University of Pennsylvania, she spent a semester abroad in Rome to study Renaissance and Baroque art. She says that her passion for travel and art has inspired her designs.
“Each design is a metaphor of my personal experiences through travel.” she says. Evoking pristine beaches, the scent of dried grass, Venetian architecture or the relentless desert sun, all of Chalonne’s designs are imbued with a sense of time and place. “Specific moments in my travels, throughout my life, have such a visceral quality to them that my designs simply become an expression of those experiences.”
Culture of Empowering Women
While Carlye is focused on making Chalonne a powerhouse in the industry, she is equally determined to use the company to empower other women. “Having worked in the corporate world for many years, I spent a lot of time thinking about Chalonne’s culture and I decided to make female empowerment an integral part of Chalonne’s DNA. My ideal is for Chalonne to help empower women and support them in ways that truly make a difference in their lives. From personal experiences, I knew that I wanted to start with breast cancer research.”
In 2022, it’s estimated that 287,850 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. In American women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths. “At Chalonne, we are committed to giving back to breast cancer research in the hopes of finding a cure for this awful disease that touches so many lives.” Chalonne donates 4% of all retail sales on Chalonne.com to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, all year long.
As 2022 unfolds, Carlye remains committed to Chalonne, its customers, and to women. “I’m proud to say that Chalonne is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of women. It’s everything I dreamed it would become, and I owe that success to my incredible staff, talented artisans, dedicated partners and of course, our fabulous customers.”
Premium black patent leather with a stamped grid pattern
About Chalonne:
Welcome to the new luxury. Chalonne luxury Apple Watch® bands are hand-crafted in France with the finest leathers, gemstones, 14k solid gold and sublime craftsmanship. At the heart of the brand’s commitment to giving back. For every band sold, Chalonne donates 4% of the purchase price to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Chalonne luxury Apple Watch bands are compatible with all series 1-7 and sizes 38mm – 41mm and 42mm – 45mm. For more information or to enjoy a Chalonne band visit https://chalonne.com or follow the brand socially via @chalonne.la.
About Carlye Morgan:
CEO and designer Carlye Morgan founded Chalonne in her mission to evoke artistic expression in a technological market. Her wanderlust has allowed for visionary inspiration while studying abroad in Rome, as well as her years of experience drawing and painting. Each band is a metaphor of her personal experiences through travel. All of her designs are imbued with a sense of time and place, starting with the locale of inspiration, to the design in Los Angeles, to the artisan craftsmanship in France.
