Chopard

First of all, I would like to thank Chopard Japan President Mr. Thomas Dobeli, and Chopard UK Managing Director Mr. Antonius Kerssenbrock for making this "Chopard Boutique Crawl" possible.

As of now, Chopard Boutique on Bond Street is under construction (to be re-opened around this fall) and the Boutique is operating at nearby Clifford Street.

Looks like a big flagship one.  Can't wait to return this fall!

So, I turned the corner right and then you see the signage "Chopard" on the right, no more than 2 minutes walk.



The "Clifford Street" (temporary location) Chopart Boutique.  The doorman is guarding.

Let's step inside:

The gentleman working on the table is Mr. Kerssenbrock.  A bit narrow, but just for another few to several months.  Mr. Kerssenbrock is a German, born in London, grew up for more than several years in Japan - unique background.  So he is no stranger to the global clientele who visit here.

Ah, the photos on the wall.  Consistent throughout the boutiques around the world, I guess.  Very nice.

Nice gents' L.U.Cs in the display box.

Calling for someone "Purist" here 

Shall we check the watches in its vault?

Urushi, of course!  I am glad to hear that Urushi is very popular here, too.

And of course, L.U.C XPS Poinçon de Genève

Ah, dream team of Caliber 96...

Butterflies are made of MOP...

Very Japanese.....  Wish I would get one someday!

L.U.C XP Stainless Steel.  Nice blue hands...

And cashmere strap.... very comfortable.

This one is L.U.C XPS 35mm.  Clearly intended for ladies, but the inside is packed with yet another variation of caliber 96.  It must be a truly a connoisseur lady to find the appealing point of this model.  With MOP dial, this is a "wow" watch for your significant others!  I really wish my significant other, if I had one, would wear this one (caveat - she must pay from her credit card ).

What a beautiful dial....

39.5mm dial.  What can you say to the "just" size?

L.U.C Time Traveler One

After lunch, Mr. Kerssenbrock took me to Selfridge, a department store on Oxford Street.  About 15 minutes walk from the Clifford Street Boutique.  

On the day like this, despite the fact it was Friday afternoon, the street was packed, the sun was shining mercilessly with humidity, the result was sweaty, sweaty KIH hahaha.  But it is true that walking is the most reliable method - time wise.







Here, in the department stores, you find watch boutiques on the ground floor.  Many, many boutiques in one place and very convenient for someone who are looking for his/her next one.

Here it is!  Found it!

A little bit different appearance, of course to show inside from the outside strollers.

Lots of important pieces are displayed outside the Boutique.

Clever way to utilize the space as much as possible to attract attention.

Entering the Boutique, on the right is men's L.U.C/ Mille MIglia corner with the table where customers can take a good look at them.  Notice the photos - consistent with other Boutiques.

Look on the left, there are more display boxes and on the far end, right hand side is another display table for the clients to take a good look at the watches/ jewelries.

As with the Bond Street Boutique, a good mix of gents' and ladies'.

But I noticed that there are slightly more lady's watches on the display boxes like this.

This is an exquisite piece displayed outside....

The luxury room - on the right is the higher-end lady's watches with high jewelry.

This is one of the higher-end lady's watch displayed in the display box - the one on the bottom left on the photo above..

Going back to the outside display - high jewelry watches....

These are with a touch of Rose Gold....

Certainly, a wonderful boutique as well - may fit to its own potential clientele.  Impressive.

At last but not the least, I went to Harrods Boutique the following day (without Mr. Kerssenbrock chaperoning ) 

As you may know, Harrods is enormous.  I got lost for 20 minutes inside!  Asked one gentleman at some brand boutique and got one kind help, but took me to somewhere else.  Asked another lady in another boutique and got another answer.  I repeated that 3 to 4 times, and finally arrived.  

I should have gone straight a bit longer after I entered the entrance closest to the Green Park I came walking (a bit better weather on Saturday).

So, here is the entrance of the Harrods Boutique.

As you can see, with red color on the wall, this makes very different atmosphere.  Welcoming but a more higher-end feeling.

Outside, high jewelry and lady's watches, including L.U.Cs.

With more space, different photos are on the wall closer to the entrance for lady's section.

The red velvet walls, it certainly feels luxurious, right?

But this counter is mainly for men's watches.

Utilizing the space allocated, very efficient positioning of each section and display boxes.

On the left side of the far side of this photo is the desk where you can check out watches without other people seeing you.  Very good.

... and there, very friendly people there kindly showed me lots of wonderful pieces.  The traffic and the sales seems to be picking up last few weeks.  Very good!

Ah, the pocket watch L.U.C.....

I really, really got interested in this.  They sold this last week but got another one.  Beautiful...

Basil took out the WG chain for me, 

With chain attached, I am so tempted to carry this around.....  So, so nice.

... and of course, the new L.U.C XPS!

Again, so tempting....

This was on the wrist of Basil (who took care of me when I visited) - nice Qualite Fleurier....

This is London, why not L.U.C GMT One 

Ah, even the latest Super Fast!  

So light....

Rare bird here.  Size is clearly for gents.  MOP dial, baguette bezel.  Must be for black-tie event or high society party...  Nice...

This is some of the all star of the day.

Thanks again all the Boutique staff including but not limited to Antonello, Paul, Basil, Rita...... but especially Mr. Kerssenbrock, Managing Director of Chopard UK.

And thanks again, Mr. Thomas Dobeli for arranging this visit for me.

So, did you see the clear difference among those three boutiques, yet consistent philosophy flowing underneath?  Wonderful experience.  Very, very nice.  I would love to come back to those boutiques next time I am back here.

Oh, needless to say, I got lost again to get out of Harrods on my way out....

Thank you!

Best,

Ken

minor edits

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