Highlights
Bucherer opens the world's largest watch and jewelry store in Paris
On April 15, 2013, Europe's leading watch and jewelry specialist opened a store in the city that is the capital of luxury, at 12, Boulevard des Capucines. On over 2000 square meters of floor space, lovers of fine watchmaking, choice diamonds and gemstones will find a wealth of selected watch brands and exclusive jewelry created by a Swiss company with a long and hallowed tradition.
A milestone in the jubilee year
Bucherer was founded in 1888 and celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2013. Europe's largest watch and jewelry specialist has 15 stores in Switzerland, eight in Germany and one in Austria, all in prime locations. Looking back on its long tradition, Bucherer today offers an international clientele exquisite jewelry creations crafted in its own workshops, together with what is probably the largest choice of Rolex watches available anywhere and a wide choice of luxury watches from well-known brands.
The opening of the world's largest watch and jewelry store in Paris, the metropolis of luxury, is an important milestone in the House's history. Guido Zumbühl, CEO of Bucherer AG, on the opening of the new store: “Paris is the home of luxury and elegance. Opening a store here is something very special for us. We are particularly pleased that our new store gives us the opportunity to enchant Parisians and international lovers of watchmaking and diamond jewelry with our exclusive choice of products and top-flight service, all in such elegant surroundings.”
Views of Bucherer Paris
The elegant building on the corner of Boulevard des Capucines is classified as a monument historique and is one of the landmarks of the Opéra district. In close cooperation with the Service Territorial de l’Architecture and the Patrimoine de Paris as well as highly specialized craftsmen, the historic wooden façade was restored by hand in a long and complex process that has preserved the unmistakable building’s heritage. The interior features top-quality materials, all superbly finished. Floors and walls made of pale botticino marble strike up a dialog with elements made of bronze-plated brass. In Bucherer’s jewelry corners, customers are received in a salon-like environment. Textile-lined walls, beautifully fashioned displays and veneered furniture designed especially for Bucherer set off the superb diamond creations to their best advantage. Thanks to its business connections, some of which have existed and been cultivated for many years, the House of Bucherer has been able to work with selected watch and jewelry brands to develop an unusual shop-in-shop concept. On three floors at Bucherer Paris, customers will find a unique selection of well-known brands from the worlds of watches and jewelry as well as fabulous diamond pieces from the House of Bucherer.
The lighting installation created by artist Valeria Nascimento rounds off the interior design concept. Delicate petals, handmade from naturally coloured ceramic, generate a fascinating interplay with the many tiny lighting elements. The cloud of blossoms thus created radiates a warm light and underscores the store’s elegant ambience.
Bucherer Jewelers: The Munich flagship store is now open
On April 23, 2013, the doors opened to the largest watch and jewelry store in the state capital of Bavaria. In the totally refurbished «Palais an der Oper,» the tradition-steeped Swiss company presents a selection of exclusive watch brands and elegant jewelry on two spacious floors measuring over 500 square metres.
Founded in 1888, the family-owned company has maintained two stores in Munich since 2002 and also has its German headquarters there. The opening of the new flagship store at Residenzstrasse 2 significantly raises its profile and underscores the importance of the Bavarian metropolis for Bucherer. Guido Zumbühl, CEO Bucherer, had this to say about the Group’s new presence: «For us, Munich is a key location in Germany. It means that in future we’ll be able to offer our local clientele a fantastic selection of top-quality products and first-class service, all at one of the city’s most exclusive locations. At our new flagship store, customers can plunge into the fascinating worlds of the watchmaker’s craft and the art of jewelry making.»
Bucherer «Palais an der Oper»
Europe’s largest watch and jewelry retailer has secured a prime location for its new store. The “Palais an der Oper” building lies at the heart of the city, between the Bavarian State Opera and Marienplatz, in the immediate vicinity of Maximilianstrasse, and directly adjacent to the largest German store of the luxury Louis Vuitton label. On two spacious floors, customers will find watches by well-known luxury brands and a choice selection of jewelry from the House of Bucherer. The building’s interior consists of superbly finished top-quality materials. Floors and walls of pale botticino marble are combined with bronze-plated brass and leather elements. Bronze-plated brass is also the central element of the staircase. Shaped ornamentally, it gives the elegantly curving stairway its unique character. The structure’s basic element is the figure 8: a reference to 1888, the year of the Swiss company’s foundation.
On the second floor, wall-mounted elements of fine-quality pleated silk create a more intimate atmosphere and act as an elegant backdrop that sets off the jewelry on display to best advantage. Pale leather and dark oak furniture, specially designed and produced for Bucherer, is combined with soft silk carpets and creates a lounge-like atmosphere. The store’s interior is perfectly rounded off with a lighting installation designed by artist Valeria Nascimento. Delicate, handmade ceramic petals were arranged to create a cloud of blossoms and playfully reflect incident light.
Rêve de France
To mark the opening of the new Paris store, the House of Bucherer’s workshops have created an unusual tricolor ring in honor of France: Rêve de France.
The centerpiece of the creation is one of the world's rarest and most beautiful sapphires, and was found in a mine in Burma. Its extraordinary size of 18.88 ct references the foundation of the House of Bucherer in Lucerne 125 years ago.
The platinum ring is set with the sapphire weighing 18.88 ct, Siamese navette-cut rubies (0.52 ct), navette-cut diamonds (0.412 ct) and a wonderful pavé comprising 456 diamonds (2.11 ct).
Winner flies high
For Marco Musio, taking part in a competition co-organized by Bucherer and IWC Schaffhausen has paid off: he is now the proud owner of an IWC Spitfire Chronograph.
In October 2012, Bucherer Switzerland and world-renowned watch manufacturing company IWC Schaffhausen jointly published a special supplement in two of the country’s best-known Sunday newspapers, the NZZ am Sonntag and Le Matin Dimanche. The supplement presented the current range of Pilot’s Watches and featured a competition. The names of readers who answered all the questions correctly went into a lucky draw for an IWC Spitfire Chronograph. From the over 800 entries submitted, Bucherer was able to pick one lucky winner. We congratulate Marco Musio on his Pilot’s Watch, which was presented to him on February 6, 2013, at the Lugano store.
Caption
Franz Reichholf (Bucherer AG, Lugano), Marco Musio (winner) and Christian Bülte (IWC, Schaffhausen)
