Jamie Weiss
The magnetic draw of Sydney should not be underestimated – and I’m not just saying that because I’m a born-and-bred Sydneysider. It’s a bustling metropolis and one of the great world cities, and few cities around the can compete with Sydney’s year-round agreeable weather and fantastic natural environment (especially its beaches!) What better way to take advantage of such meteorological magic than to stroll the city streets shopping for a new watch? Even if you’re only planning to window shop, Sydney is the place to do that as well. Sydney ranks as one of the best places to shop for watches in the Southern Hemisphere, with a proliferation of brands from all around the world hosting boutiques in the Harbour City. Let us lead the way with this comprehensive guide to watch shopping in Australia’s first city, listed in alphabetical order.A. Lange & S?hneThe first and currently only standalone A. Lange & S?hne boutique in Australia, it's an ode to the watchmaker's refined approach to their pieces. Decorated classically, without being overt, it visually communicates Lange's design language adroitly – it’s a tranquil nook among the hubbub of Martin Place. Visit their website to find out more, and check out the recap of the boutique lock-in we hosted with Lange in this very boutique.Address: Shop 1/14, Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9223 0088Bell & RossThe French masters of square tool watches have recently opened a boutique in The Strand Arcade, Sydney’s iconic heritage-listed Victorian retail arcade that connects Sydney’s two main drags, George and Pitt Street, and a location that’s long played host to vintage watch dealers and antiquaries. It’s a unique place for such a young, upstart brand to call home – but Sydney’s watch collectors haven’t complained.Address: Shop G017, The Strand Arcade, 412-414 George St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 8021 5525BreitlingMore akin to a clubhouse rather than a traditional watch boutique – with a Triumph motorbike out the front and a (non-functional, sadly) pool table on the upper level –?this is unmistakably a Breitling boutique, as it follows their new, younger and bolder approach to visual merchandising. Head here for more details and directions to the store. It’s also one of the few places you can cop Breitling x Deus merch (Deus, of course, being a Sydney brand).Address: 61 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9221 7177BulgariOne of a few entrants on this list situated on Sydney's iconic Castlereagh Street, the Bulgari boutique is in good high-end company. Whether it's clothing, jewellery or watches you're after, the Roman jeweller is sure to have something for you.Address: 64-68 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9233 3611CartierA giant gold and glass Mecca of luxury sitting pride of place on Sydney’s main drag, George Street, Cartier’s flagship Australian boutique is one of the most sumptuous stores in the country and a great place to discover iconic watches like the Panthere, Santos or Tank. Head on up the spiral staircase and you’ll find a bar that serves coffee and signature Cartier cocktails. Further down George is a concession in the DFS Galleria in The Rocks – Cartier is also well-represented among the multi-brand jewellers such as Watches of Switzerland. Click here to discover Cartier’s Sydney locations.Address (Sydney Flagship): 388 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Sydney Flagship): +61 1800 130 000Address (DFS Galleria): 155 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000Contact (DFS Galleria) +61 2 8234 8678ChanelChanel has been following in the footsteps of other luxury brands-turned-watchmakers, upping their game from daily wearers to haute horlogerie. Their three Sydney area locations are sure to give a taste of what the brand has to offer.Address (Flagship): 70 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Flagship): +61 13 0024 2635Address (Westfield): Shop 4026/28, Cnr Pitt Street Mall and Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Westfield): +61 2 9900 2988Address (Westfield Bondi Junction): Shop 4039, Level 4/500 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022ChopardChopard is a brand known for its impeccable attention to detail and beautiful designs. Founded all the way back in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard, this intimate spot is the brand's only standalone boutique in Australia. Just be careful when you walk in because you just might fall in love with a piece and walk out with an empty wallet.Address: 119 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 8197 6007Grand SeikoLooking like the hammered metal finish on one of their watches, Grand Seiko’s Sydney boutique – the brand’s first boutique in the country, which has just been followed up with a standalone location in Melbourne – is truly in line with the brand's design language. Technically located in the Westfield Sydney Shopping Centre but with a facade among the “watch alley” that is Market Street, the boutique is surrounded by just about every other brand you can think of, but it still stands out as a beacon of class and elegance.Address: Shop 2026C, Westfield Sydney (shop front on Market Street), 188 Pitt St Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 02 9805 4775Gregory JewellersWith a huge presence in New South Wales, we've selected only a few Gregory boutiques with the most interesting selections. This includes Baume & Mercier, IWC, Panerai, Tudor, Zenith and others.Address (Bondi Junction): Shop 3015/3017, Westfield Bondi Junction, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022Contact (Bondi Junction): +61 2 9389 8822Address (Chatswood): Shop 464-465, Westfield Shopping Centre, Chatswood NSW 2067Contact (Chatswood): +61 2 9884 8900Address (Liverpool): Shop 2069, Westfield Liverpool, Macquarie Street, Liverpool NSW 2170Contact (Liverpool): +61 2 9821 3311Address (Parramatta): Shop 4018, Westfield Parramatta, 159-175 Church Street, Parramatta NSW 2150Contact (Parramatta): +61 2 9633 5500Hardy BrothersWith brands such as Jacob & Co, Louis Moinet and Speake-Marin to their name, Hardy Brother's Sydney boutique covers a broad budget spectrum. Their spacious and comfortable Sydney showroom makes watch shopping a real pleasure.Address: 60 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 8262 3100The Hour GlassThe official Rolex and Patek Philippe retailer in Australia is enough of a description to stop by on your next purchasing journey. If that doesn't quite entice you, there's also Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, MB&F and many more. You could spend days just in the store and never get tired of trying on almost every watch in the case.Address (The Hour Glass): Cullinan House, 142 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (The Hour Glass): +61 2 9221 2288Address (Rolex Boutique): 192 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Rolex Boutique): +61 2 9160 3888HublotThe watchmakers responsible for the Classic Fusion, Big Bang and Square Bang find themselves in a lineup of five major brands, flanked by IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai and Piaget. The Hublot Boutique Sydney?is a great way to enjoy something new and fresh if you’re tired of the same old same old from other brands.Address: Shop 5/84 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9221 0554IWCAnother King Street fixture worth a visit is IWC Schaffhausen. The IWC boutique takes subtle inspiration from all parts of its history to create a warm, wood-clad environment. It almost feels wrong to go in and not?buy a watch from this lovely locale.Address: Shop 2/84 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 02 9061 4522J. Farren-PriceAs authorised dealers of Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Greubel Forsey to name a few, J. Farren-Price is well-equipped when it comes to the higher end of the market. Their knowledgeable staff will be able to answer any question you can think of, and maybe a few that you haven’t!Address: 80 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9231 3299Jaeger-LeCoultreThe Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique aims to immerse the customer in the brand universe as Justin Devaux, the Jaeger-LeCoultre manager of Australia and New Zealand, explained to us in this interview. Spend a few minutes in the boutique and you’ll realise just why Jaeger-LeCoultre is called “the watchmaker’s watchmaker”.Address: Shop 4/84 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9061 4520KennedyA powerhouse in the Australian market, Kennedy’s Sydney boutique is a watch lover’s dream, offering Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Ulysse Nardin and more.Address (Kennedy Boutique): Unit 1, Shop 0, The Star Grand Hotel and Residences, 80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009Contact (Kennedy Boutique): +61 2 9518 9499LonginesWith multiple points of sale in Sydney as well as a new flagship boutique, Longines is looking to expand the opportunities for its customers to experience the brand first-hand. With over 50 retailers throughout Australia, they seem to be doing just fine.Address (CBD): Shop 2025, Westfield Sydney Shop front on Market Street Cnr Pitt St Mall &, Market St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (CBD): +61 2 8043 4005MontblancWith five classically styled collections, Montblanc is looking to combine the historic recognition of the Minerva brand with modern manufacturing. Their two Sydney locations offer a great way to browse all of the progress they’ve made as of late in the luxury watch market.Address 1: 75 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact 1: +61 2 9233 3927Address 2: 115-117 King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact 2: +61 2 9231 5671Nicholas HackoNicholas Hacko is the only extant master watchmaker in Australia (other than Canberra’s self-taught young maestro Reuben Schoots), and not only sells his own watches but also repairs and retails vintage watches – especially Omegas. He’s also a prolific Seiko seller, but the most exciting watches to be found in his Culwulla Chambers spot is his own.?Hacko began his horological project in 2016, releasing the NH1 model in early 2019. They’ve now expanded the lineup with multiple NH models, as well as the MK1 and MK2. Head over to their brick-and-mortar location to see these beauties first-hand.Address: Culwulla Chambers, 67 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9232 0500OmegaSpanning three boutiques, Omega has a strong presence in Sydney. Their Martin Place flagship boutique offers watches and watch accessories, but also Omega jewellery, leather goods and other tidbits. Nevertheless, all three boutiques are worth a visit if you’re an Omega fan, and who isn’t?Address (Martin Place): 20 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Martin Place): +61 2 8080 9696Address (Bondi Junction): Shop 4073, Westfield Bondi Junction, 500 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2020Contact (Bondi Junction): +61 2 9369 4300Address (Galleria): DFS T Galleria, 155 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Galleria): +61 2 8234 8666PaneraiRubbing shoulders with JLC on the left and IWC on the right, the Florence-based watchmakers found their Sydney home on King Street. Few addresses are better for getting those watch-mad shoppers in the door. Actually, the three boutiques are interconnected, so you can shop all three brands – Panerai, IWC and JLC – all at once. Neat.Address: Shop 3/84 King St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9061 4521PiagetPioneering some of the thinnest mechanical watches throughout their history, with their most popular modern offerings fighting in the densely populated sports watch segment, Piaget's King Street and Westfield boutiques in Sydney offer both watches and jewellery.Address (King Street): Shop 6/84, King Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (King Street): +61 2 9266 5084Address (Westfield): Level 4, Shop 4032/188, Westfield Sydney, Pitt St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (Westfield): +61 9222 1686Roger DubuisOffering the experience of future hyper-horology, Roger Dubuis’ Sydney boutique reflects their well-known angular aesthetic from wall decorations to furnishing. You’ll feel like you’re walking into a museum of modern art, which in some ways, you are. This is Roger Dubuis’ only standalone boutique in Australia.Address: Shop 1/60 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: 1800 329 131RolexThere are quite a few Rolex ADs in The Harbour City, but Rolex’s flagship Australian boutique in Sydney (operated by The Hour Glass) is the largest Rolex boutique in the Southern Hemisphere. Stock availability is another matter – but at least there are several options to choose from should you wish to embark on the arduous journey of obtaining one at retail.Address (The Hour Glass): 192 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact (The Hour Glass): +61 2 9160 388Address (Kennedy): The Star, Unit 3/80 Pyrmont Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009Contact (Kennedy): +61 2 9135 9598SeikoSydney's modern Seiko boutique at Mid-City Centre offers all their greatest hits from Prospex to Presage, and everything in between. It’s the best place in Sydney to try on limited edition Seiko models.Address: Mid-City Centre, Shop L0073, Ground Floor, 197 Pitt St (shop front on George St), Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9805 4747Shum's Watches and JewelleryEquipped with a combination of brands such as Blancpain, Glashutte Original, Omega, Rado and so many more, Shum's packs a lot of punch with a compact boutique.Address: 419 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9211 1887 / +61 2 9281 2866 / +61 431 208 825 / +61 478 903 828SwatchColourful and oozing fun vibes, just like their watches, Swatch’s two Sydney locations are about the most inviting watch boutique we have on this, or any, list. The CBD location has made headlines around Australia and the world for the ridiculous lines it’s seen ahead of MoonSwatch launches.Address (Pitt Street Mall): Shop 2038, Level 2, 188 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 8346 9061Address (Bondi): Shop 4009/500, Westfield Bondi Junction, Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022Contact: +61 2 9939 0370Swiss ConceptThough Swiss Concept is another Rolex dealer, also boasting the likes of Audemars Piguet, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin and Zenith (among others), doesn't hurt either. They’ve also just moved to a grandiose new location right on George Street – give ’em a visit and you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store.Address: 388 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9221 6288TAG HeuerAussies love TAG Heuer, and the brand’s flagship Australian boutique in the Sydney CBD has long been one of their top boutiques globally a testament to how popular TAG Heuer has been with Aussies since the brand launched Down Under in 1986. Occupying the corner of Pitt and Market Streets in what must be the most in-demand retail location in the entire country, the boutique is styled in classic TAG Heuer fashion: big and bold, with nods to the rich history of Heuer.Address: Cnr Pitt Street and Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 8223 6200TissotOne of the more recent boutiques on this list, the Swiss brand synonymous with good value has lots to offer. Whether it's your first watch or something to add to a starter collection, Tissot is sure to deliver.Address: Shop 53A/420, Mid-City Shopping Centre, George Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9138 8888TudorTudor fans rejoice: your favourite brand has planted its flag in the heart of Sydney. Enjoy browsing the wide array of options that this cozy Tudor boutique has to offer, and get some of the best advice from their friendly and knowledgeable staff. The little brother is all grown up and finally has a place of his own.Address:147 King St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact:+61 2 8608 2288Vacheron ConstantinSydney is a city defined by its harbour and the ocean – which is perhaps why you see so many Vacheron Constantin Overseas on well-heeled Sydneysiders’ wrists. Naturally, the Holy Trinity brand boasts its own Sydney boutique on King Street, one of the main watch shopping streets in town. To celebrate its opening in 2023, Vacheron Constantin even produced a piece unique Metiers d'Art Villes Lumieres watch, which features a beautiful imagining of Sydney from the air in glorious enamel – find out more about that piece here, and book an appointment at the boutique here.Address:104 King St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact:+61 2 7205 6090Watches of SwitzerlandOf the many brands offered at Watches of Switzerland Sydney, highlights include Blancpain, Breguet and Jaeger-LeCoultre. We’d name them all but there are just too many to list! The new store at the Crown is pretty swanky.Address (CBD): 199 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 2 9251 0088 or +61 1300 808 135Address (Barangaroo): Shop 3/1, Crown Sydney, Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000Contact: +61 1300 808 135Wamada JewelleryWith two locations in the Sydney area, Wamada Jewellery is a great option for browsing watches that won’t break the bank. With brands such as Bell & Ross, Frederique Constant, Doxa, Hamilton, Tissot, and others, Wamada Jewellery is a great option for watch shopping on almost any budget. In addition to a host of more affordable brands, they also carry slightly higher-priced options like Oris, Maurice Lacroix, and Grand Seiko.Address (Chinatown Haymarket): 406 Sussex Street, Haymarket NSW 2000Address (Chatswood Chase): Shop G66 (Ground Floor), Chatswood Chase, Chatswood NSW 2067Zaeger Luxury WatchesZaeger Luxury Watches carries both new and pre-owned watches of just about every major brand including Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, IWC, and many more. They’re known for their individual approach to watch sales and their wide selection of brands and models available in their Sydney showroom.Address: Suite 101, St James Trust Building, 185 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000Contact: +61 1300 923 437
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