his year, Glashütte Original is celebrating not only 180 years of uninterrupted history and the opening of its own dial manufactory in Glashütte, but also the completion of a new boutique in the heart of the French capital. True to the motto ‘small but nice’, the new location, designed like a jewellery box full of treasures, invites interested visitors and watch enthusiasts to discover and marvel. With the soft opening of the boutique in August, the prominent Rue du Faubourg Saint- Honoré has gained another attraction, and fans of German engineering art and fine watchmaking will certainly take note of this address.

Paris has always had a special relationship with fine watchmaking – after all, the metropolis on the Seine was one of the early centres of this craft. Having previously had a presence on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the Saxon manufacturer is returning to the famous shopping street in the elegant 8th arrondissement after around 10 years with its latest boutique. Numerous retailers of French and international luxury brands line the long shopping street; with its restored historic façade and harmonious interior design, the new Glashütte Original boutique blends perfectly into the exclusive ambience.

The premises are located right in the historic heart of the French capital – not far from the imposing La Madeleine church and the Elysée Palace – and combine Parisian flair with modern German design. By collaborating with a renowned interior designer for luxury apartments, the brand has succeeded in creating an exclusive yet cosy space despite the small area of only 12 m2, integrating various functional areas such as product display cases, presentation areas, seating and a mini bar. For this reason, the name of this small but exquisite boutique is ‘L’Écrin’ – French for jewellery box.

Like all Glashütte Original boutiques worldwide, the new location in Paris immerses visitors directly into the world of Glashütte watchmaking. Guests are welcomed at the door by a ‘swan-neck’: the design of the door handle is inspired by one of the brand’s trademarks – the swan-neck fine adjustment. Inside the boutique, the values of the German watch manufacturer are immediately visible and tangible: technical perfection, functional design and timeless elegance.

The interior design creates a comfortable and inviting atmosphere through a harmonious composition of materials and colours, including dark moor oak, cool Patagonia granite, taupe-coloured fabric upholstery and accents in eucalyptus and champagne tones. The mechanical heart of a column wheel chronograph from Glashütte Original – the Calibre 37 – is the leitmotif of the fascinating ceiling decoration, while various display cases on the walls showcase the current collection. A ‘cabinet of curiosities’ has been specially developed for the presentation of very special timepieces and limited editions, which showcases each of these models separately. All enquiries are answered by a multilingual team. The latter underwent intensive training at the manufactory in Glashütte in order to provide Parisian customers with expert support and advice. With the new location in Paris, which had its soft opening at the end of August, Glashütte Original now has a total of 18 boutiques worldwide. Other locations include Dresden, Vienna, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul and Tokyo.