Trip to California turns into EPIC SHOPPING at South Coast Plaza

Last week’s trip to California, centered around a friend’s wedding, turned into an extraordinary exploration of Southern Orange County’s premier shopping destinations. With the wedding not until Sunday afternoon, I dedicated two days to discovering what South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island had to offer. These shopping meccas, boasting proximity to each other, house an extensive selection of major luxury brands, making them unparalleled in the U.S.

South Coast Plaza, in particular, has evolved into a sanctuary for watch enthusiasts, significantly expanding its repertoire of brands since my departure from the state five or six years ago. Brands like Bucherer, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Omega, Breitling, Tudor, Rolex, IWC, Piaget, Tag Heuer, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Hublot, Panerai, along with corners for Richemont and areas for AP, Chopard, Bucherer, and A. Lange & Söhne, underscore its status as a collector’s paradise.

A highlight of my visit was meeting with Marco at Lange, a former Happy Jewelers employee. Our conversation, rich in knowledge and shared passion for watches, was a standout experience. Though I wish I had taken more photos, the vivid memories of viewing exceptional pieces remain. Marco’s suggestion to visit Happy Jewelers proved invaluable, meeting some of the industry’s most genuine and insightful professionals. I was so happy to finally see a Zeitwerk change over all three digits.

Attempting a visit to Audemars Piguet, I was sidetracked by the sprawling Louis Vuitton store, which, to my surprise, was dedicated solely to women’s fashion. This store is part of a duo in South Coast Plaza, complemented by a separate men’s store and a VIP suite-’L’Appartement, highlighting the brand’s exclusivity.

Check out this incredible travel trunk! Interestingly, a lady in the next room purchased it right then and there while I was present.

Next, they showcased a standard watch trunk. Personally, the color scheme isn’t to my liking; I prefer the sophistication of grey and black. However, they had something even more extraordinary to reveal.

The interior of the standard watch box was presented, and it’s impressively crafted.

But then, the highlight: a unique Pharrell collection box, distinguished as the sole piece available in the entire country.

Remarkably, it doesn’t even appear in their inventory system. Priced at $11,100, it’s significantly pricier than the standard model, which is about $7,000.

Naturally, I couldn't resist placing my Daytona inside to see how it would look!

Notice the rivets forming the LV logo and the script on the right? Those are meticulously hand-applied by skilled artists who work without guides. The craftspeople employed to produce these trunks are so adept that they don't need to measure, trusting their precision and sense of touch to achieve perfection.

Next up is the center piece of this entire room.

Among the store’s unique offerings was a high-end watch trunk priced at $60,000, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship but lacking in practical security features for its valuables. This led me to consider more secure storage solutions for my own collection.

The trunk features four watch winders, two on each side, and above these are eight pillows designed to cradle additional watches. Below, a three-watch travel roll offers portable protection, while three more drawers provide ample storage for jewelry or watch straps.

I inquired about the new LV Tambour collection, prompting them to present an array of models: stainless steel, two-tone, as well as full rose and yellow gold versions. The stainless steel with the blue dial caught my eye – it was the standout for me and would have been my choice had I been looking to purchase one right then.

Forgive me for not photographing the two-tone.

Notice how the blue dial changes its appearance with the play of light, creating a dynamic visual effect?

You know I love me some Gold! #goldgiousfever #aurummadness

The bracelet ranks among the most comfortable I've ever experienced—it was so effortless on my wrist that I nearly walked out wearing the stainless steel watch. It felt as if it vanished on my arm, which was quite a magical sensation.

I found myself quite taken with the in-house movement and its meticulous finishing. The 22 karat gold micro-rotor, adorned with the LV monogram, was particularly striking. Plus, its slim profile added to the allure, measuring under 10 mm in thickness.

That's it for this installment, everyone! Given the rich details, I'm dividing my account into two or three parts to include the WC meetup at The Montage later on Friday and some additional watch shopping adventures on Saturday. Cheers!! 🥂

I suspect the reason for my invitation to the exclusive VIP area was the blue briefcase I was carrying, which housed a collection of 10 watches. It seemed to act as my pass into this select space. If you're curious, that's likely why I was welcomed there.

Next on the agenda was the FP Journe event at the 1916 Company @HydeParkJewelers and then the WatchCrunch meet up at The Montage in Laguna Beach later that evening. Those events will be detailed in the next installment.