Breitling bows flagship store in Manchester

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
May 31, 2017

Swiss watchmaker Breitling has opened a new standalone store at the Intu Trafford Centre in Manchester, backing up its first monobrand store in Kent's Bluewater.

Officially opening its doors on May 24, the 1,000 square foot boutique is managed by Aurum Holdings. It's the second-largest monobrand store to by unveiled Aurum, with Britain's largest TAG Hauer store scheduled to be opened by the group at Meadowhall in Sheffield this autumn.

The new Manchester store design upholds Breitling's aeronautical origins and boasts a mosaic of aircrafts. Other features include pop art paintings by artist Kevin Kelly and the iconic Breitling pin-up girl full centre, surrounded by American wooden panels and glass display cabinets.

The full range of watches will be housed at the new store, as well as the exclusive Breitling for Bentley collection.

In late April this year, it was revealed that the Swiss luxury watchmaker has been sold to CVC Partners. The private equity firm will purchase a majority 80-percent stake in Breitling from Theodore Schneider, who will hold 20 percent after completion of the transaction.

Prior to the news, Breitling was one of the only remaining Swiss watch brands to be independently owned. Founded in 1884 by Leon Breitling in the Jura mountains, the firm now employs 900 people and is headquartered in Grenchen in Switzerland.