It is a big weekend for Northern Ireland with The Open taking place at Portrush on the north coast, and Rolex is on site to provide a warm welcome to visitors as the tournament’s official timekeeper.
Sixty miles South in Belfast, golf and watch lovers can now shop for Rolex timepieces in the first monobrand store on the whole island of Ireland.
Lunns opened the Rolex store this month in Queen’s Arcade, where it also has a monobrand boutique for TAG Heuer.
The new store represents a major investment by Lunn’s, who last year completed work on a Rolex accredited workshop.
In addition to creating four new jobs the opening of the Rolex store is part of a wider £2.5m project by Lunn’s to restore Queen’s Arcade, Belfast’s last remaining Victorian shopping arcade.
The 70 square metre store which fronts onto Donegall Place, was designed to an exacting specification by the Rolex Design Team in Geneva. It features marble flooring, striated limestone walls, walnut wood panelling and bespoke Rolex furniture.
The opening of the new store was planned to coincide with The 148th Open Championship being held this week at Royal Portrush. Rolex is Patron and Official Timekeeper to The Open.
Peter Lunn, chairman of Lunn’s Jewellers, said: “We are delighted to partner with Rolex and open a spectacular store in Belfast city centre. To launch the store in the week that Northern Ireland hosts The Open after a very long absence makes it even more special. We’ve been privileged to have a small insight into all that is happening around Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland has a very exciting week ahead. We are thrilled that this new store offers clients the opportunity to view the Rolex range in the very best environment that is on a standard with the world’s leading shopping destinations. This store, combined with the investment in our Rolex Guaranteed Workshop last year, means that Lunn’s offers an exceptional Rolex client experience.”
Richard de Leyser, managing director, Rolex UK, added: “I’m delighted that Lunn’s continues to invest in our partnership. The new contemporary space complements the historic architecture of Queen’s Arcade and provides a fitting home for Rolex. It also provides a new and engaging customer experience, which perfectly position Lunn’s to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing retail environment. We are proud to partner with Lunn’s which will further enhance the unrivalled service to our customers in Northern Ireland.”
