Foversta provides an in-depth report on the inauguration of the new Rabat boutique in Barcelona, highlighting its significance as a major luxury watch destination. His detailed account and accompanying photographs offer readers a virtual tour of this impressive multi-brand space, emphasizing its architectural beauty and comprehensive offerings beyond just retail.
One week ago, I was invited to attend the inauguration cocktail party of the new Rabat boutique in Barcelona. Rabat is one of the main Spanish dealers with boutiques in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. Actually, the new store located at the 94 Passeig de Gracia is much more than a new point of sale. It is the proof of ambition of development of the Rabat family thanks to these 2.500 m2 dedicated to the watchmaking world. It is also another example after Bucherer in Paris or Watches of Switzerland in London of the watches distribution recent trend: the emergence of large stores which gather the different brands corners which respect their own images and atmospheres.
Even if you are not interested in watches (well, if you read these lines, I suppose you are but it could be a reason to give to your spouse a reason to convince her to accompany you), I recommend the visit of the store when you are in Barcelona. Because it uses the 6 floors of the Casa Codina, a superb modernist building built in 1898 and whose architect is Antoni Rovira i Rabassa. If you visit the famous Pedrera, you will not miss the Rabat building since it is located on its left. Fortunately, the set up of the boutique inside the Casa Codina was done with a high respect of all the modernist details especially the painted ceilings in some rooms.
The 2.500 m2 are not fully dedicated to the sales. They are mainly concentrated on the first two floors while on the upper floors can be found the after-sale service, the watchmaking and jewelry workshops without forgetting the Rabat administrative department. When I visited it, I had the feeling to visit much more than a pure boutique. It is for me more a living area around the "watchmaking" theme like the presence of a restaurant-bar on the terrace of the first floor underlines it.
Brands like Lange, Vacheron, JLC, Piaget, Chopard, Audemars Piguet, IWC, F.P.Journe, Tudor, Longines and many more are available at the boutique. The opening of the 94 Passeig de Gracia obviously led to the closing of the former boutique located on the other side of the street. But the other boutique, at the #59, remains open.
With this boutique, the Rabat family has now the means to succeed in its ambition of growth. Thanks to the presence of other pretigious dealers like Suarez or Union Suiza and of course of some flagship stores like Cartier, Barcelona is becoming now a key city in the watches distribution in Europe. Actually, its touristic potential explains this development and it is the reason why brands support this type of project.
I would like to share with you the pictures I took during the party.
Champagne ready to be served!
With the Urwerk UR-210S on the wrist:
I kept some of these for the "After"!
The guests are coming:
The back of the main floor dedicated to high-end brands:
These young ladies animated the party:
View of the 1st floor Terrace from the second floor:
It was very crowded and I felt much better when I was on the second floor!
The impressive dancers of the party! They offered to the guests a true show!
At least, some watchmakers can find a new position in catering!
The brands available at the boutique:
The party was really hot and I enjoyed it a lot!
With the Lange One Timezone on the wrist:
A very special watches seller was walking around the guests to make some indecent proposals!
She tried to steal my watch!
But there was a very happy ending! I love my new Spanish friends!
The show was available even from the street! The Passeig de Gracias was never so sensual!
The Casa Codina on the left and of course, the famous Pedrera on the right. You can see the perfect strategic location of the boutique:
I came back the day after to take some pictures in a quieter atmosphere.
The terrace which will host the restaurant-bar:
The back of the Pedrera on the left:
The impressive Chopard corner, maybe my fav one of the boutique:
The F.P.Journe espace. Being an espace, black label watches are also available:
The front windows with a view on Passeig de Gracia:
The watchmakers at work, working on the clients' watches:
The polishing room:
The Jewelry workshop:
A spectacular view on the Passeig de Gracia from the 5th floor:
Back to the main floor which gathers some of the most prestigious brands corners:
In the middle of the floor, the bar features a light shaft and even the Pedrera is visible!
It was time for me to leave the boutique and to enjoy the other pleasures of the City. I visited the works when I came to Barcelona in May. I have to confess that the outcome is beyond my expectation. And even if you don't have time to visit it, please enjoy the beautiful façade which is typical of the modernist style of Barcelona. The combo with the Pedrera is really gorgeous. Do you see how the straight lines of the Casa Codina combine with the Pedrera curves? I like to compare these two artistic approaches.
I would like to thank a lot the Rabat family for the warm welcome.
Fx
This message has been edited by foversta on 2015-11-01 12:07:57 
