The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[Keith T]

Pre C19, the Cartier, Hermes, VCA boutiques in Houston would always be empty or have just a handful of customers. The shopping center where they're all located (including John Lobb) is normally always empty except for people watching movies at the iPic theater or dining at the restaurants in that area. Even now, it's the same. Empty stores except the restaurants.

Can confirm.

 

[Keith T]

BTW. Did they close the Chopard boutique?

 

[Neville Southall]

BTW. Did they close the Chopard boutique?

Chopard has boutiques? LOL.

 

[Keith T]

LOL burn.

Ya know, I saw one of those friggin' Alpine Eagles in the window and it looked pretty, pretty good

Dial was amazing. Not even joking.

 

[Texasmade]

BTW. Did they close the Chopard boutique?

Yep, it's closed for good. Idk why Chopard would even open a boutique. They just don't get enough turnover to justify having a boutique in Houston.

 

[usctrojans31]

In NYC, most luxury stores right now are appointment only. Hell, Apple in Chelsea is appointment only.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Apple is making major $$$ right now. Every time I pass an Apple store there's a line outside, and the two times I've been inside the store getting help every associate was busy. A few months ago the stores were taking walk-ins, but if you didn't have an appointment you could be waiting for awhile.

 

[Mghart]

In NYC, most luxury stores right now are appointment only. Hell, Apple in Chelsea is appointment only.

This is happening with most of the shops on Madison ave I believe as well from what I’ve heard from friends. Personally, I think it’s a better model as shops don’t feel as clustered (esp. tourists) and it’s probably better for the employees/staff to control the foot traffic.

 

[Kaplan]

Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels are also making people do this.

I walked into the Cartier shop in Copenhagen a couple of days ago, not even considering that this was a thing, and the first thing the doorman asks me is if I have an appointment. Answering 'no' he continues to ask if he should find someone to help me (so I guess just browsing would have been an option too), after which he magically conjured someone from the back room. Granted, there was only one pair being serviced in the shop at the time.

 

[9thsymph]

Going to Patek/Rolex Boutique today...hoping I see at least a few new models in the "flesh"...

 

[patrick_b]

this is like buying your heroin from a guy in the alley instead of Lance

I always go with the Choco from the Harz mountains of Germany.

 

[pmeis]

I find it hard to believe that Hermes, Cartier, and Van Cleef are just jam packed with appointments all weekend. Especially now since it's been a year since initial lockdowns.

When I picked up my watch two Mondays ago, my appointment was right as the boutique opened. I was there with 6 other people who also had 11am appointments. As we were waiting to be let in, no less than 10 other groups/people approached the door. The doorman said they were booked up for the day, but that they were taking names/numbers down in case there were no shows or quick appointment opening some space. This was a Monday morning!

The Cartier boutique at the same mall was booked up according to their online appointment scheduler for three weeks when I looked into it a couple weeks ago.

This was at Short Hills Mall in NJ.

 

[Texasmade]

When I picked up my watch two Mondays ago, my appointment was right as the boutique opened. I was there with 6 other people who also had 11am appointments. As we were waiting to be let in, no less than 10 other groups/people approached the door. The doorman said they were booked up for the day, but that they were taking names/numbers down in case there were no shows or quick appointment opening some space. This was a Monday morning!

The Cartier boutique at the same mall was booked up according to their online appointment scheduler for three weeks when I looked into it a couple weeks ago.

Where is this at? I guess the Houston boutiques are much slower.

 

[Darkside]

When I picked up my watch two Mondays ago, my appointment was right as the boutique opened. I was there with 6 other people who also had 11am appointments. As we were waiting to be let in, no less than 10 other groups/people approached the door. The doorman said they were booked up for the day, but that they were taking names/numbers down in case there were no shows or quick appointment opening some space. This was a Monday morning!

The Cartier boutique at the same mall was booked up according to their online appointment scheduler for three weeks when I looked into it a couple weeks ago.

This was at Short Hills Mall in NJ.

This is the boutique where we bought my wife’s bracelet.

Though foot traffic is probably decreased in the appointment-only model, I’m sure in some way SAs prefer it since they only devote time to serious customers.

 

[Dino944]

Where is this at? I guess the Houston boutiques are much slower.

Maybe east coast is a stronger market for Cartier than Houston. Seems Boston and Short Hill's, NJ are far busier!