Boutique Adventures
I recently returned from a work trip to Atlanta, GA. I had heard that the Lennox Mall had quite the selection and I had a blast visiting. So here's the low down:
Breitling Boutique: I had a great visit there, and was able to check out some of the new pieces, talk watches and wonders and the sales rep was eager to sell me a piece. Once I said, "I mean I could buy it online from Breitling", she was pretty sad. But in general the conversation was good, and I will say, there were some pieces that made me say...
Tudor Boutique: This was by far my favorite stop. The rep was quite knowledgeable and she corrected my minor misspoken words around Rolex owning Tudor. The Rolex trusts owns Tudor (And yes I knew that). She said it's something they get trained on and are supposed to tell clients, and its in their manuals. Sounded to me like Tudor is a bit sensitive around being the little brother of Rolex haha!
We did discuss all things watches, and overall I had a great experience there.
Mayors/Rolex: This was a quick stop as I wanted to try on the Sea Dweller Deep Sea and wanted to also compare it to the Sea Dweller. After trying on the Deep Sea, it was decided that the Sea Dweller will be just fine for me haha. That thing was HUGE on my wrist!
Audemars Piguet: This was the most exciting of all, but then it was a let down. The closest boutique to me is about 5ish hours away, so I had always wanted to step inside of one and hopefully try on an AP, but alas, they had no watches displayed or available for try on. The folks there looked bored, but they were kind. The boutique was exquisite, save for the empty display cases. The rep told us they may only get 100 pieces a year, and that was a big maybe. All in all a good visit and interesting. If I ever buy one, I'll go grey, as I can't wait for them to call me when they feel like it. I'm a little too impatient for that.
Thanks for reading and let me know about your boutique/AD visits. Any good ones I should check out?
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Wow, AP boutique, and they have no watches to try on.... at all! That is insane.
Funny how the grey market has every piece available for trying on.
I have the same expereince with Boutiques in Las Vegas. Tudor is knowledgeable, Brietling sounds like new sales reps and AP is an empty store with nothing to try on. I now primarily go with the Grey market so i can try on things.
Next time you're there check out Mont Blanc. Also Macy's has a good mid-level selection. But you may have that locally.
Wow, AP boutique, and they have no watches to try on.... at all! That is insane.
I have been to that boutique, they offered to sell me cufflinks. That's all.
I live in Atlanta and I’m at those boutiques all the time. The Tudor boutique is my second home. Also across the street at Phipps they have the omega boutique
It really is the Hans Wildorf Foundation that owns both Rolex and Tudor. They are owned by the same entity and are sister companies. 😉
Phipps Plaza (mall) across Peachtree from Lenox has Cartier and Omega ADs
Ah, Buckhead. That mall is money, money, money. Yes. I was amazed when I walked in the doors of the Lenox Mall.
I have been to that boutique, they offered to sell me cufflinks. That's all.
Can you actually make a living selling cufflinks?
My city! Very good "watch city". Several other stores not far from Lenox. Great watch groups here also. Glad you enjoyed.
When you went to Tudor, did you speak with sales rep Meighan? Very nice young lady. She just called me yesterday. I meant to call her and see what good news she has. 😱I want a BlackBay 58.. may be next honestly
Wow, AP boutique, and they have no watches to try on.... at all! That is insane.
I was shocked! There were no watches, and what's even crazier, is that the boutique staff didn't even have one on their wrist. The boutique rep was like, "would you like to sit down and discuss a piece?". I was like....
I mean I didn't say it that way though hahaha!
Funny how the grey market has every piece available for trying on.
I have the same expereince with Boutiques in Las Vegas. Tudor is knowledgeable, Brietling sounds like new sales reps and AP is an empty store with nothing to try on. I now primarily go with the Grey market so i can try on things.
I'm going that same way. I did the whole "boutique/AD" thing with Rolex. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough for me to want to do it again. I'm going grey from now on, and I'm ok paying a little bit more to not have to wait years.
Next time you're there check out Mont Blanc. Also Macy's has a good mid-level selection. But you may have that locally.
Thanks for the tip! I missed Mont Blanc, and will DEFINITELY do that next time I'm down there. I'm usually down that way once or twice a year.
I live in Atlanta and I’m at those boutiques all the time. The Tudor boutique is my second home. Also across the street at Phipps they have the omega boutique
Oh man! I didn't know about Phipps! I needed to go to Omega for a new strap, plus I LOVE their boutiques. I had one near me here in my home state but they closed it.
It really is the Hans Wildorf Foundation that owns both Rolex and Tudor. They are owned by the same entity and are sister companies. 😉
Yeah I knew that, I simply misspoke and she was all over me about it. I was like...
My dad was cracking up about how she had no chill about it.
Phipps Plaza (mall) across Peachtree from Lenox has Cartier and Omega ADs
Cartier too!? Oh man I missed out! I'm going to both next time for sure!
Ah, Buckhead. That mall is money, money, money. Yes. I was amazed when I walked in the doors of the Lenox Mall.
I have been to that boutique, they offered to sell me cufflinks. That's all.
Wait whaaaatttt?!? I'd be insulted.
My city! Very good "watch city". Several other stores not far from Lenox. Great watch groups here also. Glad you enjoyed.
Had a great time!
Wait whaaaatttt?!? I'd be insulted.
Yep. I was a bit shocked. Walked right out.
When you went to Tudor, did you speak with sales rep Meighan? Very nice young lady. She just called me yesterday. I meant to call her and see what good news she has. 😱I want a BlackBay 58.. may be next honestly
No, I spoke with Amaya Leverette. There was some guy there too, but those were the only two in the boutique.
The BB58 is super nice. I was eyeing an FXD. It's on the list. I'm thinking a sea dweller next and an FXD, then I'm jumping to the AP/Pateks, but I need to save a bit first.
Yep. I was a bit shocked. Walked right out.
I would have too!
Can you actually make a living selling cufflinks?
You can when you make £20000 profit on each watch.
Nice reading, thanks for sharing your experience 👍
Wow, I didn't know Lennox had all of those, especially the #audemarspiguet . That mall was a bit of a bust last time I went, but it was years ago. I'll have to try and get up that way.
Though, I think I'd go grey market or such. I tend to dislike how ADs make people jump through hoops and even then the chances of getting the warch you want is a maybe of a possibility of a wait list 15 years un the making.
Wow, I didn't know Lennox had all of those, especially the #audemarspiguet . That mall was a bit of a bust last time I went, but it was years ago. I'll have to try and get up that way.
Though, I think I'd go grey market or such. I tend to dislike how ADs make people jump through hoops and even then the chances of getting the warch you want is a maybe of a possibility of a wait list 15 years un the making.
That was my first time there. It was nice, but I agree with you. From now on I'm going mostly grey for what I want. I did the whole "AD Experience" with my GMT Master II, and that was jumping through hoops and buying stuff. I understand that brands want you to "buy" in, but this AD nonsense is stupid. I'd still buy from the Omega, Tudor, and Grand Seiko boutiques. If I'm going upstream Rolex +, grey it shall be.