Portugues Luxury - Full Sail into the Storm
WORLDTEMPUS - 21 December 2011
The Portuguese of the fifteenth century are poetically known for having explored new worlds. Starting with Ceuta in 1415, a remarkable succession of adventurous explorers opened the horizons of old Europe to a path taking them around the world and ending with returning Macau to China in 1999.
The first and longest-running global empire in the world owes its success to the ability of literally being able to navigate against the winds. From 1441 onward, the Portuguese used the famous Caravelas ships with triangular sails that could navigate a zigzag course well known to all able seamen as "beating," which allows the vessel to advance indirectly upwind.
The Caravels are now long gone from the minds of the Portuguese and the once-proud nation of courageous seafarers has turned its attention to the rough seas of economic recovery that are now visible on the horizon. A storm for which a remarkable group of watch retailers is bracing with a dose of courage, resilience and ? unexpectedly ? investment.
Two well-known retailers have recently garnered a fair amount of media attention by opening new boutiques that would feel at home on any given luxury mile, be it Madrid, Milan, Paris or London. This is a strategic move that doubles as a bold and remarkable step toward the future, but also as a call to arms in order to cater to an increasingly demanding and knowledgeable watch collector.
Boutique dos Relógios Plus
The most recent boutique in a chain of more than 30 originally launched in 1997 was designed by a Brazilian architect and can proudly assume the title of flagship store of Tempus Internacional, the company that owns it. One of four stores dedicated within the group to haute horlogerie, the Boutique dos Relógios Plus in Lisbon, which just opened inNovember, gathers an impressive selection of high watchmaking brands from Greubel Forsey, Richard Mille, Breguet, Roger Dubuis, Parmigiani Fleurier, Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie, Glashutte Original, Bulgari, Zenith and Breitling in addition to three shop-in-shop corners dedicated to Cartier, IWC and Omega.
Walking around the interior of the shop, one discovers several spaces designed like a watchmaker's workshop or an horological library, with plenty of literature capable of satisfying even the most demanding expert. It is therefore not unexpected that with such an impressive array of brands, a private room dedicated to the serious collector, complete with a collector's salon Time Mover system by Buben & Zorweg, could only be accompanied by a fully functional champagne bar to indulge to the most demanding customers.
Ourivesaria Camanga
Jose Teixeira came from Angola to Portugal in 1975, bringing with him the name of the company he founded when he was still on African soil. "Camanga" is the name for a rough diamond in Kibundo, a traditional Angolan dialect. In 35 years of existence ? during which the company has opened seven shops ? time and experience have shaped this rough diamond into a brilliant cut that is now ready to reveal its full potential. The newest shop, located near the famous Spanish El Corte Inglês shopping mall in Lisbon, opened in November and spans an impressive 420 m2 across two floors.
The remarkable modern decoration of the premises nevertheless exudes the undeniable influence of a certain '70s look, lending it a mixed style between contemporary and vintage. Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Corum, Franck Muller, Girard-Perregaux, Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Ulysse Nardin, and Zenith are among the main brands one can find during a visit, where even the most private customers are able maintain anonymity. Driving straight into the garage, a dedicated elevator will take them directly into a VIP room separated from the main shop. Just one of many surprises one can expect at Camanga.
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