The watchmakers of Place Vendôme

Place Vendôme, located in the heart of Paris, is a universal symbol of luxury, elegance and know-how. First recognized for its great jewelry houses, it has also become the headquarters of great jewelry houses since the 19th century, where each, through its history and signature collections, contributes to the fame of this square, which embodies a dream come true for watch lovers around the world.

Initially, it was first of all the jewelers who set up shop one by one on rue de la Paix, adjacent to place Vendôme, (with the house being the very first Mellerio dit Meller, which settled there in 1815). This is why they are not all listed on the square itself. Several of these houses offer both watches and jewelry, and others, particularly Swiss brands, specialize only in timepieces.

The installation of the watchmakers “Place Vendôme” and rue de la Paix in chronological order

Boucheron 

Boucheron was the first jewelry and watchmaking house to set up shop on Place Vendôme in 1893. Founded in 1858 by Frédéric Boucheron, this house is known for its creative audacity and technical expertise, quickly associated with high-quality watches. The house became known in the watchmaking world for its watches with elegant lines such as Reflection et Bohemian Snake.

Van Cleef & Arpels

Then the house Van Cleef & Arpels settled in Place Vendôme in 1906, marking the place with his unique style imbued with poetry and imagination.The house quickly established itself throughout the world thanks to its magical creations inspired by nature, fairy tales and haute couture; but also for their technical sophistication: the house is known worldwide for its Serti Mysterieux of which she alone holds the manufacturing secret. In the field of watchmaking, Van Cleef & Arpels has stood out by creating watches with complex mechanisms and enchanting designs, particularly in the collections Chains et Alhambra.

Chaumet

THE HOUSE Chaumet has been installed on Place Vendôme since 1907. Renowned for its crowns and tiaras, Chaumet then diversified into watchmaking, where it combines Parisian elegance with Swiss precision, uniting the spirit of fine jewelry with that of watchmaking, as demonstrated by the collections Imperial, Josephine, Hydrangea.

Cartier

Cartier joins the prestigious rue de la Paix in 1935. Although already famous throughout the world, this new address strengthens its positioning in the world of jewelry and watches, where it is known for its iconic models inspired by the style Art Déco, such as the watch tank ou Santos.

Piaget 

Famous for its ultra-thin watch movements, among the thinnest in the world, the house of Piaget settles in Place Vendôme in 1991. Its most famous classic models are Altipiano et Protocol, but there are also many exceptional vintage models. It is also one of the rare houses to master the entire process, from design to production, within its Swiss workshops.

Hublot 

Hublot is setting up in Place Vendôme in 2010, bringing a contemporary touch to the traditional watchmaking world. Known for its bold designs and mastery of modern materials such as ceramic and carbon, Hublot embodies the spirit of the fusion between art and technology. The brand targets customers looking for modern watches with a sporty-chic style, a strong character and high-level watchmaking expertise, as demonstrated by its flagship collections Classic Fusion et Big Bang.

Vacheron Constantin

One of the oldest Swiss watchmaking houses, Vacheron Constantin (1755) settled on rue de la Paix in 1906. Renowned for its elegant watches with great technical complexity, it attracts collectors and lovers of fine watchmaking, with emblematic models such as Patrimony et Overseas.

Leon Hatot

Originally from Besançon, the Léon Hatot house, settled in Place Vendôme in 1928 where it seduces with its French watches with a refined and timeless design which attracts a clientele in search of exceptional pieces.

Baume & Mercier

Baume & Mercier settled on rue de la Paix, where it became known for its classic and elegant watches, with a focus on precision as well as family and traditional values. Its flagship models, like the collections Classima, Riviera et Hampton, attract customers looking for authenticity, know-how and timeless designs.

Chanel

In 1991,, Chanel enters the Place Vendôme with a unique vision of watchmaking and jewelry, drawing on the timeless aesthetic of the house founded by Gabrielle Chanel. Making its mark with iconic pieces such as watches J12 et Première It captivates a clientele looking for sophisticated and innovative creations.

Patek Philippe

In 1995,, Patek Philippe joins Place Vendôme. Renowned for its high-precision mechanical watches and watchmaking complications, the Geneva-based house embodies traditional Swiss know-how. Its creations, like the models Calatrava, Nautilus et Ellipse are prized by a demanding clientele with a passion for fine watchmaking.

Dior

THE HOUSE Dior made its entrance into Place Vendôme in 2001, bringing a creative vision of jewelry and watchmaking inspired by the world of haute couture. Known for its artistic pieces and unique style, Dior offers watches with elegant and bold designs, appealing mainly to a female clientele through collections such as D My Dior et Gem Dior.

Chopard

Since 2003, Chopard is present on Place Vendôme, adding a touch of Swiss glamour and elegance to this mecca of jewelry. The house of Chopard stands out for its flagship collections such as Happy Diamonds et A thousand miglia, which are aimed at customers looking for unique and daring pieces, symbols of creativity and excellence.

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jaeger-LeCoultre, a Swiss watchmaker, is strengthening its presence at Place Vendôme in 2004, where it exhibits watches renowned for their precision and elegance. Recognized for its iconic models such as the Reverso and Master, Jaeger-LeCoultre combines tradition and innovation, appealing to fine watchmaking enthusiasts in search of exceptional watches.

Breguet

Breguet has been present at Place Vendôme since 2006, where it exhibits exceptional watches appreciated for their technical innovations which attract lovers of fine watchmaking, with iconic models such as the Classic and Reine de naples.

Bulgari

Bulgari, Italian jewelry house known for its exuberant and dynamic creations, arrived on Place Vendôme in 2006The house places great importance on voluminous pieces as evidenced by its signature collections: Serpenti, inspired by the shape of the snake, Octo which has an octagon shape, a mixture of circle and square, and finally Bulgari Bulgari which features the house monogram on its dial.

Omega

Omega established itself on rue de la Paix in 2007 where it has established itself thanks to iconic models such as the Speedmaster, the first watch to be worn on the Moon, as well as the Seamaster, a classic inseparable from divers and the world of cinema. 

Rolex

Rolex joined the Place Vendôme in 2008, strengthening its roots in Parisian luxury. World-renowned for its high-quality, robust and precise watches, these flagship collections such as the Submariner,  Daytona or Datejust remain essential in the watchmaking world today.

Blancpain

Arrived at Place Vendôme in 2010, Blancpain shares with the Parisian public its Swiss watchmaking expertise dating back to 1735. Renowned for its sophisticated mechanical watches and its innovations in the field of diving and chronographs, Blancpain targets a clientele passionate about fine watchmaking, in search of pieces that are both classic and high-performance, such as the models Fifty Fathoms et Villeret.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton, famous for its expertise in luxury leather goods, is entering the world of watchmaking with a boutique on Place Vendôme from 2012The French house offers bold and modern creations including its iconic models Drum et Stopover.

Breitling

The Swiss watchmaking house Breitling settles in Place Vendôme in 2012. It is renowned for its pilot and sports watches and stands out for its precision and robustness associated with the world of aviation. With iconic collections such as the Navitimer and Chronomat, the brand attracts a dynamic clientele in search of high-performance watches with character. 

Graff

In 2016,  Graff is setting up shop on Place Vendôme, bringing with it spectacular and daring timepieces. Known for its exceptional diamonds, the British house offers creations all in lights, particularly through the collections Spiral et Classic. 

Gucci

The Gucci house invests in the Place Vendôme in 2019 and marks its unique approach to jewelry and watchmaking, fusing Italian aesthetics with a contemporary spirit. Known for its iconic motifs and bold style, Gucci appeals to a dynamic and modern clientele, including the collection G-Timeless.