The Watches Of Switzerland Group has cut the ribbon on four showrooms simultaneously at the newly opened shopping centre inside the iconic decommissioned Battersea Power Station on the banks of the River Thames in London.
A Watches of Switzerland showroom anchored by Rolex along with Omega, Breitling and TAG Heuer boutiques welcomed their first shoppers during a festival-like event at Battersea this weekend.
A Tudor monobrand will open on October 28.
Following decades of failed redevelopment projects, Battersea Power Station and the surrounding area have been bought back to life as a mixed retail, residential, entertainment and leisure zone on the south bank of the Thames.
The former turbine halls of the 1930s power station have been transformed into a spectacular Art Deco-styled shopping destination, with Watches of Switzerland on the ground floor and an 82 square metre Rolex shop in shop as its major draw.
The showroom also has branded spaces dedicated to Cartier, Hublot, Longines and Grand Seiko plus an area featuring Zenith, Bulgari, Chanel and Bremont.
For the launch, clients will have the opportunity to see and purchase the Watches of Switzerland Group exclusives with the recent launch of the Zenith Chronomaster and the Longines HydroConquest, along with a unique Bremont Ronnie Wood Tick Up timepiece featuring a hand painted dial.
For a limited period, the new showroom will have a selection exclusive Serpenti pieces from Bulgari which are only available in the UK.
“We are delighted to be opening multiple showrooms within the iconic former Battersea Power Station. The Grade II* listed building has undertaken extensive renovations to become a leading retail destination and to be a part of the journey from the very beginning is such a privilege. As a Group, we strive to be the best retailer in the markets we serve, and this historic London landmark enables the expertise of our teams to deliver the finest timepieces in a location we believe will create memories to last a lifetime,” says Craig Bolton, president of the Watches of Switzerland Group UK & Europe.
Very nice….. But does the Rolex store actually have any stock to sell? If not, it’s no different to their other outlets and a waste of space.