WORLDTEMPUS - 24 April 2010
Elizabeth Doerr
On a sunny day in Paris, Ralph Lauren inaugurated his first space dedicated entirely to watches in France. It is located within Ralph Lauren's largest boutique to date, coming in at nearly 23,000 square feet (2,150 square meters). It is situated in a historical building from the mid-1600s, many areas of which are protected as a national monument. The interior has been restored in the French rococo style, and historical advisers were consulted throughout the store's design and reconstruction process to ensure the building's architecture remained loyal to the original.
“I wanted to create a unique environment that captures the glamour, culture, and the artistic spirit of the Paris that I have fallen in love with;” said Ralph Lauren, Chairman and CEO of Polo Ralph Lauren. “Now, with this store opening in the most romantic part of the city, I finally feel I have been able to tell my whole story in Paris.”
The 20-square-meter watch boutique occupies what could well be considered the space's premiere location. Upon entering, the chic space manned by one of three full-time watch experts is located immediately to the right. The space right across houses the accessories boutique, while Ralph's—a restaurant featuring beef from Lauren's own ranch—occupies the rest of the ground floor area. The upper four floors are taken up with fashion.
The dedicated watch section is stocked with variations of Ralph Lauren's three existing model lines: the Ralph Lauren Stirrup, the Slim Classique, and the Sporting. This includes the new products exhibited at January's S.I.H.H. This watch salon will also exclusively offer a special edition Stirrup strap available in denim-blue alligator skin.
This new boutique located on Boulevard Saint Germain joins two previous Paris locations: Place de la Madeleine (menswear and womenswear), which opened in 1986, and Avenue Montaigne (womenswear and watches), which opened last year.
