Image: Ryan Cullen

JARROD SCOTT has been in the business long enough to move through the lightweight banter of social events with the grace of a shark. A fitting analogy given his passion for diving. And that he’s sharing a Negroni with the Esquire team at the launch of Paspaley’s new men’s line, Diver, down at Sydney’s Walsh Bay under the watchful arch of our Sydney Harbour Bridge. (Yes, there’s a shark charm necklace…)

But when Scott first started attending industry events, he’ll admit he had little idea what he was doing. Ahead of the evening, Esquire sat down with Scott to chat about prepping for these moments, his approach to style and how he locks in. He confesses that now, he loves the theatre of it all. 

“I love heading to events,” he says. “It’s the only time I really dress up. I feel like I transform into a different person when I put on a beautiful look for a special event.”

Image: Ryan Cullen

For the launch of Paspaley’s first official men’s jewellery line, Diver, Scott dressed for the occasion accordingly – a light teal Venroy shirt, ivory pants and Manolo Blahnik woven loafers – and chose two pieces from the new collection to complete it. 

The Diver Signet Ring, crafted in platinum and yellow gold with mother-of-pearl, was the standout. “I rarely wear rings, but I would wear this one every day,” he says. He also opted for the subtlety of the Diver Pearl necklace. Created with ruthenium-plated white gold and set with Australian South Sea baroque and keshi baroque pearls and black spinel stones, it was the perfect retro surf vibe to accompany the sea-foam colour of his shirt. “This was a really special piece that feels very natural and elemental,” he explains.

Both pieces come from a collection that marks something of a departure for Paspaley. Drawing on more than 90 years of pearling heritage along Australia’s remote north-west Kimberley coastline, Diver is the Australian luxury jeweller’s first dedicated men’s line. The visual language is drawn from the functional world of the pearling vessel: anchor chains, knotted ropes, compass bearings and bollards translated into 18-karat gold and platinum. 

Images: Paspaley

That link to the ocean’s explorers could explain why Scott felt so drawn to the collection, a diver himself. Although his underwater treasure is something more edible. Scott dives for scallops, not pearls, though he says he’d take the Paspaley expedition in a heartbeat. “I’ve never been diving for pearls, but I dive for scallops quite a lot. It’s definitely exhausting going up and down time after time.” 

The strangest thing he’s encountered below the surface? A ship from 1860, uncovered after a major storm stripped back decades of sand. One imagines this has recalibrated his sense of the unusual somewhat.

Image: Ryan Cullen

Above water, Scott has had a significant year. He recently re-signed as the face of Allure Homme Sport Superleggera, a significant milestone in his career. And that he’s sharing with two other Australians co-opted by the French Maison. Alongside him, Jacob Elordi has just been announced as the new face of Bleu de Chanel and Margot Robbie is starring in the latest No.5 EDT run. Three Australians, three Chanel fragrances, simultaneously. “To be the face of a Chanel fragrance is an honour,” he says.

From fragrance to flavours – outside of the world of modelling, Scott has also been developing his own line of cocktails. Alongside his growing business interests in the world of cocktails, Goldenbird, a collection of premium premixes that are, as they describe them, “entirely new compositions”. One particular favourite he has developed is a signature recipe called ‘The Way You Look At Me’ with mandarin, elderflower and pepper berry combination that he describes as transporting you back to peeling mandarins at a friend’s pool in summer, has become a regular toast of choice ahead of an evening.

Image: Ryan Cullen

But when he’s not pulling evening attire from the wardrobe, Scott’s style runs to Tom Ford, Australian brands Venroy and Bassike, as well as BOSS and Sandro, with what he describes as “a lot of random workout gear” filling the gaps. The through-line is linen, which he wears year-round. “My wardrobe is mostly filled with linen because I get so hot. Even in winter, I only wear linen day-to-day. I enjoy layering with woollen turtlenecks, long coats and denim jackets for winter.”

But before we wrap up, some practical advice: When is the perfect time to arrive at, and leave, a party according to a professional?  Scott operates on a fairly clear internal clock. Arrive at 8.20 for an 8pm start. Stay for the speeches, work the room, and read when the moment has passed. “Once I’ve said hello to most people and after all the official speeches, I’m usually ready to leave.”

Knowing when it’s time is, arguably, the most underrated social skill there is.

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