Chanel is making its debut. Neither more nor less than on the iconic Fifth Avenue in New York City and designed by New York architect Peter Marino, a frequent collaborator of Chanel, the brand has just inaugurated one of its most unique boutiques. It is a two-story building that becomes the first independent store in the United States dedicated entirely to Chanel fine watchmaking and fine jewelry.
Like a delicate but giant golden jewelry box, the boutique shines on Fifth Avenue in a celebration of the savoir-faire and history of quiet luxury that Chanel represents.
The most inspiring thing is that it is a tribute to Gabrielle Chanel with the presence of the number 5, the lucky number of the brilliant creator, and a nod to her affinity for art, decoration and the inimitable interiors of her apartment on 31 Rue Cambon, in the heart of Paris.
And just to honor that legacy and the tastes of Gabrielle Chanel, Patrice Leguéreau, director of the fine jewelry creation studio, has imagined an exclusive collection of fine jewelry that is already on display in New York. It is “Eternal N°5” and is composed of an exceptional diamond transformable necklace and earrings exclusively in the new boutique. The necklace links emerald-cut diamonds that recall the shape of the bottle of the legendary N°5 perfume designed in 1921 to evoke the aerial view of the Place Vendôme in Paris that, like those in the earrings, can be removed and worn in rings.
Framed by the gilded Beaux-Arts architecture of the historic Crown Building, built in 1921, the storefront is adorned with polished and grooved black granite and intricately cast gilded bronze screens. The interiors reflect a delicate yet striking palette of gold and black, enhanced by touches of rock crystal – it was also one of Gabrielle Chanel’s preferred materials – and an exceptional collection of art, antiques and custom-made furniture and lighting.
Black and gold lacquered panels and antique furniture. Wooden lotus bouquets from the Edo period of Japan. Golden walls illuminated by a pair of rock crystal “Dream Catcher” chandeliers by the historic Parisian goldsmith Goossens. Two rooms dedicated to fine jewelry with double-height ceilings that unfold one after the other, with ornamental touches such as handmade sconces, make up this very Chanel space in which there is no shortage of coromandel-style finishes, reminiscent of the screens that Mademoiselle adored. Chanel.
Past the gallery is the haute horlogerie lounge and a spectacular staircase leading to the mezzanine with custom balustrades made from rock crystal plates framed in 24-karat gold by Goossens.
The mezzanine floor houses two other high jewelry rooms, one of which is reserved exclusively for private clients who find there extraordinary decorative pieces such as ceramic camels from the Tang dynasty and a Louis XV desk by Jacques Dubois mixed with “Tweed” lamps. ” from Delos
As for the pieces of fine jewelry and fine watchmaking displayed in the rooms, they are just as dazzling or more so than the surroundings themselves. In the first section, Coco Crush stands out, a refined and delicate tribute to the quilted motif of the emblematic house composed of engraved lines, profile curves and gallons available in 18-carat white, yellow or beige gold and with diamond settings that can be personalized with engravings , an option only available in this new New York boutique.
The charismatic N°5 fine jewelry is also present, as an eternal tribute to Gabrielle Chanel’s lucky number, the number 5. And, of course, also the Camellia, in a collection that gracefully incorporates the motif of Chanel’s favorite flower. Gabrielle Chanel.
There is no shortage of the most special pieces from the Comète collection, the only high jewelry collection that Gabrielle Chanel herself created in 1932. She baptized it “Bijoux de Diamants” and presented it explaining that her idea was “to cover women with constellations. With stars! Stars of all sizes.” Watches are also protagonists in this space, with all their collections, including the iconic J12, featuring multiple bold designs of the original in high-resistance monochromatic black and white ceramic.
And there is no shortage of the recent reinterpretation of Première Edition Originale, a watch originally designed in 1987 highlighting the octagonal shape of the cap of the Perfume N°5 bottle through its black lacquered dial and borrowing the interlacing of black calfskin and chain made of steel covered in 24-karat gold, reminiscent of the timeless Chanel bag.
