In the Heart of Munich: Germany’s First Zenith Boutique
Zenith fans can now admire the timepieces of the traditional Swiss manufacture at the brand’s first German boutique in Munich. Only a stone’s throw away from the Bavarian State Opera, the Zenith boutique opened its doors in the heart of the Bavarian capital on Theatinerstrasse 7 on October 5th.
Zenith operates the boutique in cooperation with Juwelier Rüschenbeck, one of Europe’s leading jewellers, who already manages mono-brand boutiques for Oris, Patek Philippe, and Tudor. Therefore, not only Zenith CEO Julien Tornare and Brand Director Marc-Hendrik Moers attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but also the jeweller’s Managing Director Wilhelm Rüschenbeck. Furthermore, the launch of a new Chronomaster Sport edition offered yet another reason to celebrate.
Small yet exquisite: the boutique
When strolling through Theatinerstrasse, the boutique invites visitors to enter with thanks to its purist and modern-looking exterior. The large black Zenith logo, with its distinctive star, is backed by a light grey stone façade. Together with the boutique’s window and its silvery frame, this subtle yet contemporary design creates a harmonious appearance.
In keeping with the brand’s motto, ‘Time to reach your star’, visitors step onto a blue carpet with the ‘sky’ appearing above them – albeit via an innovative screen on the ceiling – upon entering the boutique. Both the showroom and salesroom are located at the front of the premises. White walls and light wooden flooring, through which the blue carpet creates a path, draws Zenith fans’ attention to the essentials: the watches.
On the left side of the room, the watches are presented on dark wooden sales counters made of dark wood, while a screen in a dark wooden niche displays detailed imagery. On the right side of the entrance, four variously coloured wall installations with pictures and additional display cases are placed alongside the wall. In this room, visitors can explore and test out the entire watch collection as well as limited special editions at close quarters. For example, it is possible to take a closer a look at the new Chronomaster Sport in blue (11,300 euros), which Zenith launched at the same time as the boutique’s official opening.
Blue Chronomaster Sport
The new Chronomaster Sport distinguishes itself through its shiny blue dial with a blue, grey, and silver El Primero counter. In addition, this sporty model is equipped with a new stainless-steel bezel that bears an engraved 1/10-second scale. A stainless-steel bracelet and case with an open caseback complete the watch. The case houses the high-frequency automatic movement El Primero 3600 with an increased power reserve of 60 hours. If you want to order a model or inspect one before its arrival, you can book appointments via the boutique’s website in advance.
The Story Bar
However, the shop on Theatinerstrasse is not only a point of sale, but also embodies the brand’s history as the only representative Zenith boutique in Germany. Guests interested in the brand’s development and its horological icons can learn more about it at the ‘Story Bar’. Four special objects represent a part of Zenith’s history at the ‘Story Bar’, – and when guests interact with them, videos come to life, showing inspiring stories about Zenith’s past and contemporary milestones.
The Lounge
For a moment of tranquility, visitors to the boutique can head to the back of the boutique, where a lounge is located. The dark wood-panelled walls in this space are bathed in warm light, and create a cosy atmosphere along with the blue carpet. The bar and leather armchairs likewise invite guests to relax in style.
The boutique’s refined combination of natural and contemporary materials offers a small but exquisite exploratory oasis for Zenith customers, while inspiring those who those who want to become one.
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