Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Janek Deleskiewicz on Andy Warhol, eating at beach restaurants in Bali and playing his Selmer saxophone

My personal style signifier is my Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 watch with an old red dial. It has a special story: I was wearing it when I met the young bassist Marcus Miller, who said he would like to wear the same watch, also with a red dial. In my spare time I am a saxophonist in a jazz band and knowing that Miller, whose playing I love, wears the same watch makes me proud. jaeger-lecoultre.com

The last things I bought and loved were two original production drawings of Bugs Bunny, made for the cinema in the 1940s, at auction while I was on a Caribbean cruise. I love cartoons; for me Bugs Bunny symbolised the US war effort – he fiercely defended his territory and always seemed to win. Similar at animationconnection.com

And the thing I’m eyeing next is a house I am building near the Vallée de la Marne, in Paris. The site was not easy to find; it’s in the city but also in the country. I’ll have a view over the entire valley, and the house, which is being designed by Kayvan Gerami of Meolia, will be a mix of my architectural tastes – contemporary Thai with European, London and New York elements. meolia.fr

The last item of clothing I added to my wardrobe was a lightweight black wool suit from The Kooples. This particular design has a jacket with three skull-shaped buttons: a central one and two on the sleeve. thekooples.com

An unforgettable place I’ve travelled to in the past year is Búzios in Brazil, where I stayed at Vila da Santa Hotel Boutique & Spa. We took a boat trip, past wild beaches surrounded by caves – it was like something from Pirates of the Caribbean. Brigitte Bardot was in Búzios around 50 years ago and there’s a statue of her in the village. Praça Eugênio Honold, Praia dos Ossos (+5522-2623 5770; viladasanta.com)

And the best souvenir I’ve brought home is the many memories in my head. You can find everything, everywhere now, but the best is what you store in your mind. 

An object I would never part with is my sketchbook, so I can draw my inspirations immediately, wherever I am. I pick up moleskin ones at L’Arbre à Lettres in Paris. From £8; 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris (+331-5333 8323; arbrealettres.com)

The last meal that truly impressed me was the turbot at Pierre Gagnaire, at Paris’s Hôtel Balzac. It came with a delicious mousseron mushroom bouillon, olive and tomatillo purée and Comté cheese – plus the company I was in made the moment special. 6 Rue Balzac, 75008 Paris (+331-5836 1250; pierre-gagnaire.com)

If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose London’s Savile Row. I enjoy discovering the different shops and talking to the tailors, like Maurice Sedwell, whose “English” cut I admire. I like The Square restaurant for its French cuisine and the contemporary exhibitions at the Halcyon Gallery. Halcyon Gallery, 144-146 New Bond Street (020-7100 7144; halcyongallery.com). Maurice Sedwell, 19 Savile Row (020‑7734 0824; savilerowtailor.com). The Square, 6-10 Bruton Street (020-7495 7100; squarerestaurant.com)

The last music I downloaded was the fusion jazz piece Liberty City, by Jaco Pastorius, who was probably one of the last geniuses in music. I recently learnt the song with my band: it’s truly modern and well-written. jacopastorius.com.

The person I rely on for personal grooming is my barber, Steve Tilliet, who is a special guy and has an old-school-style shop. 24 Avenue de Paris, 94300 Vincennes (+331-4328 9113)

An indulgence I would never forgo is smoking a cigar – a Cohiba or a Dominican Davidoff – previously soaked in a glass of Cognac, preferably from one of the small farms near where I grew up.

My style icon is my father, who fought during the second world war and lived in Edinburgh, Manchester and London between 1939 and 1947. He always wore a three-piece suit from Savile Row and black officer Derby shoes. He also wore English – not Swiss – watches; they were small and understated, without gold or special calibres. One or two still work today. 

The best gift I’ve given recently was a pair of ballet slippers for my 13-year-old daughter from Flashdance, a dance store in Paris. My daughter goes through ballet shoes so quickly, and last June I bought a pair that by September she had outgrown. She was scared I’d be unable to return them, but the woman in the shop gave me a new pair free of charge – the best kind of service. 17 Rue de la Pépinière, 75008 Paris (+339-7035 9521; flashdanceparis.com)

And the best one I’ve received was my daughter’s smile when she came home with her new ballet slippers.

The one artist whose work I would collect if I could is Andy Warhol. He was a visionary who could depict American icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, but at the same time people like Mao Zedong or Mick Jagger. What was important was what they represented. I don’t necessarily like the songs of The Rolling Stones but love what they symbolised: youth, hope and giving power to the next generation. 

In my fridge you’ll always find Pamplie butter and goat’s cheese, both of which I buy from the weekend market by my house. I was born in the Charente-Maritime region, near La Rochelle, and I love having good, luxury butter. laiteriedepamplie.com

A recent “find” is the fisherman’s village of Jimbaran in Bali. There are restaurants all along the beach where they sell fish by the kilo and cook it for you immediately. We dined at Ganesha Café by the sea and stayed from sunset till the middle of the night, under the stars. Jalan Pantai Kedonganan, Kedonganan, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung (+62361-703 532)

The best book I’ve read in the past year is Body and Soul by Frank Conroy. I found it really personal; it’s about a child prodigy whose musical genius pulled him out of squalor. £12; penguinrandomhouse.com

My favourite room in my house is my bedroom, on the top floor, with a big window that overlooks our terrace and the rooftops of Paris. I like waking up and seeing the sky.

The grooming staple I’m never without is face cream, which I usually pick up at duty-free in airports. The one I like a lot and have been using for years is L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Daily Moisturiser. £10.59 for 50ml; boots.com

My favourite website is YouTube, to listen to jazz tunes I want to play with my band – such as, most recently, The Way You Look Tonight by Jerome Kern. 

If I didn’t live in Paris, the city I would live in is New York. I’ve been influenced by so many movies made in New York, where they filmed on the street. I love sitting in Central Park eating a fresh salad with sliced beef fillet from Dean & DeLuca. But the area I’d really love to live in for a few days is Broadway, where I recently discovered the W New York – Times Square hotel, near 50th Street. I find it fascinating how the Broadway actors can dance, sing and play simultaneously. Dean & DeLuca, 1150 Madison Avenue, 10028 (+1212-717 0800; deandeluca.com). W New York – Times Square, 1567 Broadway, 10036 (+1212-930 7400; wnewyorktimessquare.com)

If I weren’t doing what I do, I’d be a professional jazz musician, playing the saxophone. The one I have is a Selmer tenor, which I bought at Henri Selmer in Paris around 35 years ago. I think it’s far better to play an instrument than sing – it’s a kind of protection between yourself and the public. Janek’s band plays at Un Million de Musiques. Henri Selmer, 18 Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011 Paris (+331-4923 8740; selmer.fr). Un Million de Musiques, 7 Rue de Montreuil, 94300 Vincennes (+331-4328 6320)