NEWS FROM THE BOUTIQUES
ROLEX COMES TO ONE HYDE PARK
It’s got a slew of the most expensive properties ever sold in world, and now One Hyde Park, the Candy & Candy development in Knightsbridge where one flat is said to have gone for £136m, has also recently the home of Rolex’s biggest London showroom.
Owned and managed by Time2 (the company which manages watch sales in the Selfriges Wonder Room), it covers 3,000 square feet of retail space, including a couple of dedicated private suites behind sliding walls for VIP clients. There’s also an expert Rolex watchmaker onsite who can advise on all the technical aspects as well as doing services and repairs in a purpose-built workshop.
Key brand: Rolex, obviously
Rolex by Time2, One Hyde Park, 100 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LJ. 020 7292 0345
www.rolex.com; www.time2.co.uk
MARCUS LAUNCHES ALMAR
Bond Street’s legendary emporium of ultra high-end timepieces, Marcus, is the kind of place you head if you’re prepared to spend six figures on your next item of wristwear. However, it’s now opened a second premises in the Burlington Arcade, named Almar [pictured right], where its offering models that no longer form a part of Marcus’s current collection at a minimum discount of 30 per cent. In some cases the saving will be up to 70 per cent, an incredible bargain for groundbreaking brands such as Audemars Piguet, Franck Muller, Hublot, Piaget and de Grisogono. A great chance to pick up a watch you always wished you were able to buy when it was first launched.
Key brands: Audemars Piguet, Franck Muller,
Almar, 22 Burlington Arcade, W1J 0PR 020 7493 1409 www.almarwatches.co.uk
WILLIAM & SON
Another Mayfair favourite, Mount Street’s William & Son, crossed the line from seller to manufacturer last year, one a strictly one-off basis, creating an ultra-limited line of beautiful, deco-infused watches to celebrate the shop’s 10th anniversary. I’m told there are still a couple or so available – worth getting one’s hands on. William & Son has also brought in watch-mad racing driver Mark Blundell as its ambassador. The William & Son logo will be on Blundell’s car when he races with his team, United Autosports. And staying with the motoring theme, William & Son will be exhibiting at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time.
Key brands: Jaeger-LeCoultre, H Moser & Cie
10 Mount Street, W1K 2TY. 020 7493 8385
www.williamandson.com
DAVID M SIMON
Canary Wharf’s home of horology, which has the largest Patek Philippe corner in the UK, has introduced Hublot to its brand portfolio, and is expanding its range of Vertu luxury phones which it sells alongside watches. In June it’ll be hosting a pop up showroom to launch IWC’s snazzy new Portofino models.
Key brands: Patek Philippe, Cartier
45 Bank Street, E14 5NY, 020 7538 2332. www.davidmrobinson.co.uk
JURA WATCHES
The Mayfair shop, which is pioneering online sales of watches, is launching an iPhone virtual watch app in July. It’s just taken on great-value brand Nomos too..
Key brands: Bremont, U-Boat, Bell & Ross
3 Burlington Gardens, W1S 3EP, 0800 01102704
www.jurawatches.co.uk