Profile

This upscale international watch company opened its first New York flagship across from Henri Bendel in April 2009. Architects Kazuo Adachi and Hiroshi Yamashita drew upon themes of earthly elements and time in the design of the space: Walls behind the displays are made of reflective champagne glass, where a glimmering Omega logo reflects light. White marble floors, brushed-oak display cases, and a lily-topped, fully stocked bar bolster the opulent atmosphere. The company’s entire collection of more than 800 watches is on display here, including exclusive and iconic timepieces like the Ultra-Thin watch (worn by JFK during his 1961 inaugural address) and the SeaMaster James, otherwise known as "the Bond watch" for its appearance in the James Bond series. Staff specialists sporting three-piece suits can detail the intricacies of each model—representatives are variously fluent in Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Japanese—and an enclosed VIP area allows high-profile guests to browse undisturbed. A marble staircase leads to the second floor, where four watchmakers are on hand for consultations and repairs. — Yelena Shuster