Ralph Lauren - New Watch & Jewelry Mansion in New York
After two years of creating a superb building to Ralph Lauren's precise specifications, the establishment of an all-new mansion at 888 Madison Avenue in New York City finally came to a close with the grand opening of the first Ralph Lauren Watch & Jewelry Salon in the US last Thursday - coincidentally also Ralph Lauren's birthday.
The grand opening event held for press, friends of Ralph Lauren, New York City officials, and witnessed notables such as Jerry Seinfeld and Martha Stewart was especially enjoyable as guests got to tour the four-floor flagship mansion devoted to the brand's women's and home luxury goods and complete with one of the most superb collections of Ralph Lauren timepieces. The 22,000-square-foot space is the "feminine" counterpart to the company's redesigned men's flagship store located across Madison Avenue in the historic Rhinelander Mansion.
The night also marked the unveiling of Ralph Lauren Fine Jewelry. What's more, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was on hand for an official presentation of the key to New York City for Ralph Lauren. During his speech, Bloomberg praised Lauren for having the foresight, vision and confidence in New York City to build such a grand mansion and for Lauren's long-standing successful career as well as his charitable and philanthropic work with a variety of organizations including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, to create the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention. The presentation and Ralph Lauren's subsequent speech were light-hearted, jovial and heartwarming.
The magnificent space at 888 Madison Avenue features nearly 600 square feet for the Watch & Jewelry Salon on the first floor in a lavish paneled room with inset mirrors and limestone flooring. French damask drapes frame the elegant entry, where black French polished paneling, decorative metal grillwork and feminine details abound, including an ornate crystal chandelier for an absolute luxe ambiance. Ralph Lauren's exquisite watches are presented in vitrines and showcases, and his newly released Fine Jewelry collection sparkles. The line, inspired by brilliance and tradition, revolves around several themes such as the Ralph Lauren Diamond Link Collection, Equestrian Collection, Monogram and Chunky Chains series - all offering glamour and classic elegance.
The evening witnessed the unveiling of the new Ralph Lauren Stirrup Collection of diamond watches with a sophisticated all-diamond bracelet. All Ralph Lauren watches are powered by only the finest movements crafted by Piaget, IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre. The new Watch & Jewelry Salon complements the dedicated watch areas opened last year at Ralph Lauren boutiques in Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas and Greenwich, and earlier this year in Paris.
The second and third floors of the mansion boast the Ralph Lauren Collections for women, lingerie, casual wear, accessories, handbags, and more - all in a rich, lush environment replete with chandeliers, balcony, and other elegant touches. The top floor is totally dedicated to home goods, with everything from paintings to furniture, bedding, accessories, books and a design studio.