Katia Graytok’s journey to being a communications guru is not a particularly well-trodden path. She received a BFA in Textile Design and Color Theory from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, before earning a Fine Art Appraisal Studies certificate from New York University.
On top of these academic achievements, Katia has also won three ASID Design Awards in retail visual merchandising and was the winner of the HGTV Designers Challenge. So how did these roads lead to the world of watch PR?
“I was introduced to the world of watches and jewelry by my partner in life, Thierry Chaunu, who is considered a legend within the world of luxury watches and jewelry,” explains Katia. “Thierry observed the type of services and advice I was providing for luxury home furnishings and art brands and thought I would be a natural in the world of watches.”
Although inspired by her late father’s watch collection, Katia is aware of how important it is to keep her finger on the pulse of the industry every day. “We live in New York City. Each day, I read umpteen blogs and online magazines, attend art, auction and fashion events and keep my eyes and ears focused on who is writing about what, who is wearing who, who are the new stars, the trends I see emerging, always looking out for editorial and event opportunities for the brands I represent,” she says.
When she’s not working tirelessly for her clients, Katia admits that she’s a culture vulture who loves to travel. “When I’m not traveling to France or checking off another country on my bucket list, I reside on the island of Manhattan, so I take advantage of everything the city offers. My passions are anything design or art-related, museums, gallery events, and outsider art,” Katia enthuses.
“I also started cooking again during the pandemic with all the restaurants closed, and my oven had never seen so much action!”
