Very few commercial operations have enjoyed this kind of growth. Arije straddled the new millennium, becoming one of Europe’s biggest independent watch and jewellery retailers of the last 40 years. After opening their first shop in the early 80s, Arije’s founding family very quickly started building an empire. They have just opened their 11th store, in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in the historic centre of Paris.
One of Europe’s biggest independent retailers
Paris remains Arije’s core location, and its spiritual home. Lovers of fine jewellery and watches will still remember the upheaval caused by the refurbishment and reopening of the company’s original address in Rue Pierre-Charron: the building was renovated from top to bottom, and a colossal space of 1600 square metres was created. This is probably the biggest 100% independent family-run space devoted to watches and jewellery in the whole of France, possibly even in Europe. This light-filled, airy location exudes an ambiance of refined luxury, with an accent on noble materials and designer furnishings. It’s a flagship store for a company that, as well as owning its own shops, also operates retail outlets for watch manufactures including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Hublot and Roger Dubuis, under partnerships established decades ago.
New ambitions in Paris
Today, a few months after the opening of the new Arije-operated Audemars Piguet boutique in London, the company is moving into a new address in Place du Québec, in Paris’s 6th arrondissement. The new address in the French capital’s historic heart caters mainly to a local clientele, with a highly specialised selection of watches and jewellery. Its 100 square metre area – a vast footprint for this district, which dates back to the 6th century – showcases around 15 brands, including Rolex, which has its own corner.
Make yourself at home
Once again, in this new location, Arije hasn’t skimped on any architectural or decorative detail. The space aims to reflect the literary and artistic vibe of the district, through the use of three dominant colours: brown, white and black. As in the Rue Pierre-Charron flagship store, the materials used are natural and sophisticated, as in the coal-black Tunisian satin marble, the central bar with its gold onyx and leather, the central table topped with a slab of Patagonia quartzite, or the 1951 Capitol chairs by Pierre Jeanneret. Creators including Audemars Piguet, Cartier and Messika are exhibited in an atmosphere that aims to reproduce the cosy, artistic and literary interiors of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The new Place du Québec shop is staffed by experienced Arije staff, along with a watchmaker dedicated to the Rolex service.
