Swisswatches is launching its first ‘Boutique Travel Guide’ for its watch community. In this section, we want to showcase the many watch boutiques that are worth visiting, but also immerse ourselves in their vibrant neighbourhoods. What does the city have to offer? Where can you find the best drinks, a particularly good restaurant, or perhaps an insider tip? A travel guide for watch lovers who want to know what else they can experience in the city around their boutique visit.
Paneristi, lovers of Italian style and sophisticated watch technology of Swiss origin, have a new favourite destination in Stuttgart – thanks to the opening of the Panerai boutique in the capital of Baden-Württemberg. What’s more, the second Panerai boutique in Germany enjoys a prime location: right in the heart of Stuttgart’s city centre between the Old Palace, the Market Hall, and Breuninger in the Dorotheen Quartier, a district that was newly developed a few years ago.
The boutique invites you to browse at your leisure in an elegant atmosphere. Covering 49 square metres, the modern interior creates the perfect setting for the watch brand, which was founded in Florence in 1860. Clean architectural lines, soaring ceilings, and a generous glass façade convey a sense of lightness and Dolce Vita.
You can enjoy this spirit of life in a relaxed atmosphere at the watch bar or while inspecting Panerai’s new products and classics. The boutique’s interior design harmoniously reflects the brand’s blend of functional technology, premium materials, and Italian design.
The Panerai boutique invites visitors to linger in its effortlessly chic atmosphere. Grey stone characterises the sales area, while dark marble accentuates the bar area. Natural wood adds structure, warmth and a connection to the architectural surroundings.
Visitors can look forward to a highly immersive brand experience that conveys aspects of Italian design, Swiss watchmaking expertise and the connection between tradition and modernity. This expertise is reflected in the Submersible, Luminor, Luminor Due and Radiomir collections.
Marvin Klaedtke, Managing Director of the Panerai boutique, and his team provide expert guidance. As employees of renowned jeweller Wempe, they bring a wealth of watchmaking knowledge, deep expertise, and an enduring enthusiasm for Panerai. The partnership between Wempe and the watch brand has been going strong since 1998.
Of course, it is not only the new boutique’s ambience that conveys Italian elegance. With their distinctive design, the timepieces embody a sense of grandeur and reflect the rich, storied heritage of Panerai.
‘The opening of our new boutique in Stuttgart in cooperation with our long-standing partner Wempe is a real milestone for Panerai,’ said Emmanuel Perrin, CEO of Panerai, at the opening:
‘We are very proud to inaugurate this new space, which is entirely dedicated to a unique and inspiring customer experience, to showcase the history of our Maison alongside our technical innovations, and to combine Italian design with the performance of Panerai’s professional watches.’
Kim-Eva Wempe, owner and managing partner of Wempe, added: ‘With the opening in the heart of the Dorotheenquartier, we are offering discerning customers the perfect stage for Italian design, maritime tradition and Swiss watchmaking. Together with Panerai, we have created a place where time can be experienced.’
What sounds contradictory at first glance becomes clear when you consider that Panerai only entered the civilian watch market in 1993. However, it all began back in 1860, when watchmaker Giovanni Panerai opened his ‘Officine Panerai’ on the Ponte alle Grazie in Florence. It served as a sales outlet and workshop and is considered the city’s first watchmaking school.
Among the most significant milestones in the company’s history are the Radiomir from 1916 and the Luminor from 1949. Both models continue to shape the perception of the special luminosity of Panerai watches to this day. In the new boutique, an oversized replica of a dial with bright green indices and hands pays tribute to this heritage.
Another unmistakable element of the brand’s DNA is its iconic crown guard, patented in 1956, along with the legendary robustness of its timepieces – a legacy rooted in Panerai’s former role as an exclusive supplier to the Italian Navy. It wasn’t until 1993 that civilian watch enthusiasts were able to experience the brand on their own wrists. Today, Panerai’s distinctive design codes live on, reimagined with innovative materials and cutting-edge technology at its own manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Stuttgart – Dorotheen Quartier | Panerai Boutique
Address:
Sporerstraße 16, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Nestled in the centre of Stuttgart and just a stone’s throw from the town hall, the family-run Emilu Hotel prides itself on its distinctive design. It is distinguished by its unique interiors and furnishings, which emphasise meticulous details and the use of premium materials. The rooms are both cosy and stylishly appointed, creating a welcoming and elegant atmosphere. Guests can enjoy culinary delights at the ‘FRITZ’, which serves breakfast with homemade and regional products. The hotel also features a hammam-style sauna and a fitness room, both exclusively reserved for guests. At the Emilu Hotel, great care is taken to create an atmosphere that truly makes visitors feel at home.
The Waldhotel Stuttgart, a 4-star superior private hotel, presents itself as a symbiosis of natural relaxation and urban connectivity. Idyllically set within expansive parkland on the edge of the forest, the hotel nonetheless provides convenient connections to Stuttgart city centre, the airport, and the exhibition centre. The hotel, with its 96 rooms and suites and six conference rooms, attaches great importance to stylish design and attentive service. A particular highlight is the hotel’s own renowned gourmet restaurant ‘Finch’ which offers high-quality international and regional specialities following the philosophy of ‘cuisine with heart and passion’. The hotel also features a wellness area with sauna and fitness facilities, as well as a summer terrace.
Nestled in the heart of Stuttgart’s Bohnenviertel district, specifically on Brennerstraße, a venue has emerged that captivates the senses in an extraordinary way: the High Fidelity Bar. Far beyond an ordinary bar, it seamlessly blends the worlds of wine, music, and cuisine to deliver a truly unique experience. Bernd Kreis, known to many from the Kreis wine shop, is the driving force behind the bar, and his signature style is reflected in the hand-picked wine selection – from accessible everyday favorites to genuine rarities. What truly sets the High Fidelity Bar apart is its meticulous attention to sound: jazz tunes spun from vinyl on a high-quality tube system create an almost reverent ‘listening zone’ for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike. To delight the palate, guests can enjoy Peruvian sánguches, sandwiches that transform every visit into a small culinary journey of discovery. In short, the High Fidelity Bar is a chic meeting place for anyone who wants to treat their ears and taste buds to something special.
The Weissenhof Museum in Stuttgart, located in one of Le Corbusier’s original buildings, serves as a key centre for exploring and presenting the history of the Weissenhof Estate. It is one of the most important examples of modern architecture of the 20th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum allows visitors to experience the buildings constructed in 1927 and to engage with the visionary concepts that once shaped the future of living. The museum’s offerings are complemented by guided tours, special exhibitions and regular events that present the Weissenhof Estate as a living monument and a source of inspiration for architectural discourse.
The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart is one of the city’s outstanding attractions. It showcases the more than 130-year history of the automobile – from its origins with Carl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler in 1886 to the present day. Covering an area of 16,500 square metres, the museum’s permanent exhibition features over 160 vehicles, including the oldest automobiles, legendary racing cars, and pioneering research vehicles. Visitors can explore the collection on two tours that follow the narrative threads of ‘Myth’ and ‘Collection’. In addition to the impressive permanent exhibition, the Mercedes-Benz Museum regularly hosts special exhibitions, such as presentations of youngtimers or works of art from the Mercedes-Benz Art Collection.
