It's a house that would do Liberace proud. Nestling in the shadow of the Burj Al Arab, the 1,300sq-metre mansion has floors robed with white fox, mink and chinchilla rugs and rooms filled with diamond encrusted motorcycles, cars, furniture and lamps.
The house showcases the work of designer Cyril Mothe. The 40-year-old Frenchman has now set up base in Dubai, from where he can comfortably cater to his clientele.
"Dubai's energy is amazing, It's a place where all things are possible," says Mothe, whose first passion remains jewellery design.
"When you can design something small and do it really well, it's easy to move on to the bigger things. In jewellery design, you have to pay great attention to details," he says.
"I can design in any style: sometimes I am very minimal, sometimes very Oriental, sometimes inspired by nature. I don't have a particular style, perhaps my style is best described as the inspiration of the moment," says the man, described as the jewellery rock star.
Growing up in Paris, the son of academically-orientated parents, Mothe graduated in international relations and then went into the world of finance.
He specialised in the trade of precious metals and became fascinated by their exceptional showcase, Place Vendôme, the Parisan square dominated by the world's top luxury jewellers.
Turning point
For 10 years, Mothe learned and worked under a Bordeaux jeweller. In 2002, he launched his haute joaillerie brand Sicelo, and set up shop on the Rue de la Paix, in Paris, working with one of Place Vendôme's most exclusive workshops.
His turning point came when a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family took a fancy to one of Mothe's creations crafted in black and white diamonds.
The shaikh placed several orders and invited Mothe to be part of his entourage, customising and designing bespoke creations. For the next two years, Mothe travelled around the Middle East.
Thanks to the shaikh's patronage, he became the first jeweller to decorate the interior of a car with black diamonds. "For the super rich, having just a luxury car is not enough. They get bored by it. They want special touches that make it a bespoke design," Mothe offers by way of explanation.
Mothe's own car also sports a diamond-studded interior and is valued at 900,000 euros.
Novelty
The search for novelty also inspired Mothe to make shishas encrusted with diamonds, and another shisha covered with amethysts for the same client. His most valuable creation has been a 1,000-carat necklace created for a Saudi princess.
"My next big dream is to design a boat. I have done the interiors for some boats, but now I would actually love to build one," he says. "When I was 25, I designed a boat for myself, a 30metre yacht, and I loved the experience of working in a boatyard. Another dream is to design the interiors of a jet. We already have a proposal which we are considering."
Right now on his drawing board are the designs for a diamond studded Maybach. But he is most emotional about his jewellery design.
"The feather necklace which I have designed I consider one of my masterpieces - it has gold, black and white diamonds, platinum and feathers; it is amazing. Another one of my necklaces is inspired by the black panther. Its head is crafted so that it seems like it is biting the wearer's neck, and the claws seem to have left scratch marks."
From jewellery design, Mothe has branched off into couture, furniture and events production; being involved in all aspects of the design, from concept to execution.
"As a designer, I believe my strongest quality is the empathy I share with my clients. I am available to them at all hours throughout day and night. In client meetings, I sketch my ideas as they talk.
Gouache artwork is completed within a mere 48 hours, and the ultimate creations are delivered within two- and-half months." Mothe is assisted by his brother, Jérôme, who is his "brain", his "shadow", his "rock".
His jewellery is produced at the workshop at Place Vendôme, the couture collections are a collaborative effort with top names on Rue Du Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Avenue Montaigne - Paris' most fashionable shopping streets.
Businesswise, Mothe says his challenge is not winning more clients, but managing production for the existing stable. It's not difficult to see why, since one of his jewellery sets can involve the labour of 60 craftsmen. "Sometimes it's difficult to source the rarer stones, like pink diamonds," he says.
Favourite pursuits
One of jewellery designer Cyril Mothe's favourite pursuits is spending time with his seven children who will shortly be joining him in Dubai (he has been married three times but is currently single)
Playing polo is another of his passions, and he is in the process of designing sporting uniforms for his team, which will bear a logo in diamonds.
"I am making a polo line of jewellery which ranges from very simple to extremely elaborate. We will shortly organise polo tournaments featuring some of the world's best polo players. I am also working on ways to enhance the spectacle of a polo match. We are working on animation concepts, broadcasting on giant screens. Classic polo players will not understand what I am doing, but they have got to trust me. I want to help this sport, because it provides me with so much enjoyment."
Astounding luxury
Cyril Mothe's mansion is the epitome of ultra-modern architecture, design and opulence.
To mark the launch of his new brand, Cyril Mothe Paris, Mothe hosted an event in his newly-opened mansion, with all of his stunning works on display for guests to feast their eyes on.
The highlight of the night was a fashion show. Among Mothe's varied masterpieces was the world's most expensive table, transparent with mirrors and encrusted with diamonds.
Chesterfield sofas are studded with diamonds and stealing the show was an Aston Martin DB9 Volante, customised by Mothe with a bamboo interior studded with 8,474 diamonds.
