BRANDS LIKE ROUAGE LONDON KNOW THAT FOR MILLENNIALS, LUXURY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRICE

ROUAGE LONDON

FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION, LUXURY IS NOT DEFINED BY HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT, BUT RATHER HOW PRICELESS THE EXPERIENCE IS.

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When it comes to luxury goods, the same psychology and value system has been in play for centuries and remains the key driver of high-end (old) luxury brands. We all know the storyline, it begins with a "high-quality" piece of merchandise, adorn it with an extravagant price tag and even more pricey "aspirational" marketing ambassador like Kate Moss or Cristiano Ronaldo. All to seduce wealthy consumers and gain astronomical margins. Whether financially comfortable or not, the allure to purchase luxury items can be driven by numerous factors -- perhaps to show off or to gain prestige and acceptance from desired peers, perhaps to self-reward for an accomplishment, or simply because there is a burning desire to possess something truly exquisite. But now -- with the Millennial consumer rising more and more in power -- the values and psychology behind the definition of luxury are heavily changing.

THE NEW DEFINITION OF LUXURY

For the millennial generation, luxury is not defined by how much money is spent, but rather how priceless the experience is. Their new status symbols are moments and emotions you share, not cars and bling you own. That´s why you will see very few young adults plunk down thousands of dollars for a Rolex or Gucci bandanas. Instead, they will spend that amount on a one-of-a-kind vacation to Bali and yes, you better believe they will document the entire trip on Instagram.

So it's no surprise when Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of luxury watchmaker Tagheuer said in an interview for CNBC : "Every generation brings its own trend, its own taste, its own way of living. The younger generation is more disruptive." However, while the definition of luxury is certainly changing, there is still some validity to the fact that nice things make a person feel more confident.

SO HOW CAN BRANDS CONNECT WITH THE MODERN CONSUMER?

Probably some of the most typical luxury accessories are watches. A young company, Rouage London (rouagelondon.com @RouageLondon) is a shining example for re-defining these categories with focus on the Millennial customer.

With their slogan, "Exceptional timepieces for an exceptional cause" Rouage London combines iconic designs, affordability and a priceless customer experience. Each $95 watch directly supports a micro-entrepreneur in the developing world with an interest free loan of up to $40 through their charity partner zidisha.org . Customers have the option to choose an entrepreneur to support and track the impact of the loans as they are used and repaid to then be given to support more entrepreneurs - a truly priceless experience catered to the millennial consumer.

Rouage London's first collection is the Sirocco Blanc, inspired by the famous white apartments of Paris where modern minimalism meets traditional Style and 'less is more' as Coco Chanel famously said.

This Milanese mesh metal series comes in Gold, Rose Gold and Silver and combines the strength and durability of metal with a polished finish, completed with a London engineered face.

The strikingly stunning gold version from the series takes on a more regal and classic look that blends with any fashion sense.

The Sirocco Silver is the more futuristic of the collection and is invisibly brilliant in its clean look.

An elegant marriage of the two, the Rose Gold is the more subtle of the collection

At the moment they have a special discount available "Sirocco10" for 10% off any purchase and free gift wrapping available at rouagelondon.com

SO WHAT´S THE CONCLUSION?

For the younger consumer, luxury is a state of mind, not as much a price point or a brand logo. The definition of luxury is undoubtedly changing a bit and evolving beyond stated status, privilege, and exclusivity to something more authentic, personalized and adventurous. According to the CEO of Chrome extension Advata, "The brands that are succeeding are understanding that this new definition of luxury is affordable, inclusive, and ultimately more human. Intended to deliver unique and meaningful experiences, intended to be consumed both in person and online, and most importantly - shared."

As much as the word "Millennials" became stigmatized with the idea of spoiled and entitled kids, they have established a new set of humble and like able luxury values - which brands will follow.