When it comes to buying a special piece of jewellery or an investment watch, the experience of going to a boutique and deciding on the perfect purchase is undeniably important. Happily, there are some exciting new stores in the capital to discover this season. From Vashi’s interactive new Covent Garden flagship to Goossens’ first London outpost in the Burlington Arcade and Watches of Switzerland’s super salon, these are the new jewellery boutiques and watch showroom openings to visit across the city.
& Watch Showrooms
Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade just got a whole lot chicer thanks to new arrival, Goossens. Founded in the 1950s by designer Robert Goossens, the heritage French couture jewellery house was famed for making jewellery and decorative objects for iconic designers, including Yves Saint Laurent, Cristóbal Balenciaga, and Coco Chanel, with whom Goossens had a particularly long standing collaborative relationship.Â
Now, the brand is led by Goossens’ son and is under the Chanel umbrella, and the opening of the brand’s first London flagship marks a major milestone for the house. Inside, you’ll find Goossens’ hand-hammered jewellery – tactile pieces that combine metal with precious stones – and decorative interiors pieces. Highlights include the ethereal, nature-inspired Talisman collection and the ultra contemporary boucle bracelets, which feature the Maison’s distinctive clasp.
3 Burlington Gardens, Mayfair, W1S 3EP
goossens-paris.com
Watches of Switzerland makes a welcome return to its City roots with a new opening in Broadgate, just around the corner from Ludgate Hill, where the company first began trading in 1924. With a dedicated Rolex showroom overlooking bustling Broadgate Circle, the elegant glass-fronted store also houses an OMEGA boutique alongside eight luxury partners: Audemars Piguet, Tudor, Cartier, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Hublot and Breitling.Â
The expansive showroom boasts a curated selection of timepieces across two floors. For a truly bespoke experience, book in for their ‘By Personal Appointment’ service in their stylish private lounge, where one of their knowledgeable horology experts will make sure you walk away with the perfect purchase.Â
100 Liverpool Street, Broadgate, EC2M 2AU
watches-of-switzerland.co.uk
Transparency and a return to artistic roots are at the core of the new Vashi London flagship in Covent Garden, the bespoke fine jeweller’s seventh bricks and mortar store in the capital. The extensive space has been designed in partnership with New York-based creative studio Mythology, and replicates an artist’s studio, inviting visitors to feel a part of the jewellery making process. Every corner of the jewellery boutique showcases different stages of the Vashi process, so that visitors can see the craftsmanship behind every step.Â
Ethically made, deeply personal jewellery has always been at the core of Vashi, and the new flagship reflects that interest in personalisation. Customers can choose every part of a customised piece, from an entirely bespoke design or personalising something from Vashi’s ready-to-wear collections with real-time laser engraving that you can watch being done. For those who are planning a wedding, the store’s 3D machine can scan an engagement ring so that a wedding band can be made that matches perfectly.
90 Long Acre, Covent Garden, WC2E 8HD
vashi.com
