By Adam Keith, Associate Timepiece Editor for ViaLuxe-
Luxury brand Montblanc has concluded the celebratory inaugural events for a grand new flagship boutique on Rue de la Paix, in the heart of Paris's opulent shopping district. Standing two storeys and covering some 500-square meters of space, the store is among the largest of its kind in the world, and effectively conveys the prestige of Montblanc as a renowned house of exceptional writing instruments, fine timepieces, and high jewelry. It is the fourth of Montblanc's exclusive stores in Paris, and represents a new crown jewel in the brand's constellation of European boutiques.
Located at 7 Rue de la Paix, Montblanc's newest flagship joins fourteen other exclusive "4810" Montblanc boutiques around the world, including venues in Geneva, Beverly Hills, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Singapore. These stores are the most opulent and comprehensive of the brand's showcases, housing a number of extraordinary pieces to include limited editions, piece unique creations, and exclusive works of high luxury such as the exceptional hand-crafted timepieces of Montblanc's atelier Institut Minerva de Recherche en Haute Horlogerie.
The interior is as magnificent in decorative embellishments as it is spacious. Marking the entranceway and its grand parlor is a towering chandelier comprising 630,000 Swarovski crystals. From there, the boutique opens outward into various sections devoted to specific Montblanc products and collections, including the brand's famous writing instruments, leather goods, and its jewelry and watch families. Unique creations and boutique exclusives are contained in a specially designed section which is intended to evoke the elegant environs of a Parisian apartment. Moving upstairs reveals a private salon area where VIP clients can experience Montblanc's most exclusive creations at their leisure.
However, Montblanc's Paris Boutique will be about more than just fine luxury goods and superb watches and jewelry. It is also a platform for Montblanc to host the arts. In addition to the rotational presentation of Montblanc's Cutting Edge Art Collection, which showcases original works, the brand intends to reach out to promising artists, and offer them the boutique space as a means to present their work. The top prize winner at the Prix Montblanc Docks Art Fair in Lyons will be the first to experience this privilege. (Click here to read about the Docks Art Fair)
Prominent figures from the social and entertainment world were in attendance at the inaugural, giving this grand occasion for the house of Montblanc a strong dose of glamour. In addition to Montblanc's actress ambassador Eva Green, other notables taking part in the ribbon cutting and festivities included Juliette Binoche, Virginie Ledoyen, Thierry Lhermitte, Alice Taglioni, Lily Cole, Enrique Murciano, Clotilde Coureau, Xavier Deluc, and Jacqueline Bisset.
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