Chanel debuts its first U.S. stand-alone store dedicated entirely to watches and fine jewelry in the historic Crown Building.
Framed by the Beaux-Arts gilded architecture of the historic Crown Building, built in 1921, the storefront is adorned with honed and grooved black granite and intricately cast gold bronze screens positioned behind an iron and glass façade.
Designed by longtime Chanel collaborator Peter Marino, nods to the house’s heritage abound in the maison’s newly unveiled watch and fine jewelry flagship on Fifth Avenue. The two-story space pays homage to the legendary 18 Place Vendôme—the Paris home for Chanel’s high jewelry workshop, creation studios, Patrimoine and Watches & Fine Jewelry boutique.
To honor Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number, the revolutionary N° 5 Perfume and CHANEL’S newest American address, Patrice Leguéreau, Director of the Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, imagined a transformable necklace and earrings exclusively for the New York store
Other signature flourish abound as a palette of gold and black offers a tip of the chapeau to Gabrielle Chanel’s 31 rue Cambon apartment. Rock crystal “Dream Catcher” chandeliers and 24-karat gold framed plates of rock crystal by the storied Parisian goldsmith Goossens—an artisan partner of CHANEL’S Métiers d’art—also speak to a favorite material of Mademoiselle Chanel. A mix of period pieces and more modern flourishes create a timeless elegance as Tang Dynasty ceramic camels and a Louis XV desk by Jacques Dubois mingle with “Tweed” lamps by Delos & Ubiedo and custom lighting by Goossens.
The Peter Marino-designed space features an exceptional collection of contemporary and fine art, antiques and custom-made furniture and lighting.
The impressive collection of art ranges from a sculpture of patinated steel, oxidized copper and amber crystal by the late French decorative artist André Dubreuil in the gallery room to a custom polyptych wall collage featuring 13 panels of gold leaf on linen canvas by Iranian American painter Y.Z. Kami in the Watch Salon. Other notable works include a black-painted wood wall piece by American sculptor Louise Nevelson, a panel by Norwegian abstract expressionist painter Anna-Eva Bergman and a 2004 commissioned work by the Brazilian artist and photographer Vik Muniz depicting the jewel-covered visage of Gabrielle Chanel, entitled “Chanel, Pictures of Diamonds.”
The entryway sets an elegant tone with black and gold lacquer paneling and antique wooden lotus bouquets from Japan’s Edo Period.
Multiple dedicated Fine Jewelry Salons (one reserved for Private client appointments, bien sûr) and a Watch Salon offer sophisticated spaces to view the pieces from the Fine and High Jewelry, Watches and Haute Horlogerie collections. To mark the opening of the Fifth Avenue boutique, CHANEL will offer exclusive High Jewelry designs and pre-launches. To honor Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number, the revolutionary N° 5 Perfume and CHANEL’S newest American address, Patrice Leguéreau, Director of the Fine Jewelry Creation Studio, has imagined a transformable necklace and earrings exclusively for the New York store. Exclusively at the Fifth Avenue flagship will be the Lion Solaire de CHANEL, a new High Jewelry collection inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s beloved Leo star sign, with lion motifs appearing on a necklace, earrings and rings set in diamonds and white gold. Exclusive to New York, CHANEL will provide a custom engraving service for rings from the Coco Crush collection. 730 Fifth Ave.
Photography by: PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAND
