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Swiss Shops in NYC


Wednesday, December 17, 2008

sailing.jpgSwiss culture is chock-full of bragging points--from wood carving, embroidery and sports, to watches and chocolate. New Yorkers love all of these things; the intellectual, the sophisticate, and, most importantly, those with an allowance to brag. Fortunately, their are a few embassies of Swiss dominance right here in New York. For a taste of Swiss exports in NYC, hit the jump.

1

Victorinox

136 Prince St
New York, NY 10012

Victorinox makes the immortal Swiss Army brand of portable cutlery. A Swiss Army knife is as common as a condom, in that both should be carried on your person, and often, regretfully, aren't. Seeking preparedness? This SoHo shop stocks all things Swiss Army, including watches, camping and hiking gear, pocket knives, and luggage. Masters of the practical, Victorinox garments protect you (and your iPod!) in any type of athletic pursuit. [link]

N 40° 43.32012 W 74° 0.1648
2

TAG Heuer Boutique

422 W Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(212) 965-5304

A testament to the reliability of Swiss time, John Glenn wore a Tag Heuer timepiece on the first U.S. manned space flight to orbit the Earth. Though not as flashy as a Rolex or trendy as a Swatch, Tag can definitely hold its own in the watch world (the cool see-through part in the back, duh!). New York hosts the very first Tag Heuer boutique, naturally, in SoHo. [link]

N 40° 43.30226 W 74° 0.5410
3

Swatch

640 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
(212) 673-1025

Popular with the hip-hop community in the 1980s (and teenyboppers who used theirs as a ponytail holder), Swatch is a pop-culture staple among crazy hipsters and little brothers everywhere. Tipsy and in Soho? There's one on both Broadways -- so if you stumble in either direction of the Apple store, chances are you'll find one. [link]

N 40° 43.35158 W 73° 59.45279
4

Rolex

665 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 758-7700




Rolex developed the first watch to display multiple time zones simultaneously, making it the ultimate New Yorker timepiece. So that we may call our grandmothers on their birthdays, or chat with our friends who summer in Berlin, a Rolex makes us look good and keeps us in touch with those who live outside of command central. In New York, check out the only official Rolex outfit in the United States, right on Fifth Avenue. [link]

N 40° 45.36748 W 73° 58.33510
5

Bally

628 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 758-6352

The Swiss started the biz in 1851, and by the time the 20th century rolled around, even rappers were keen on the brand. Bally is known for being conservative in that tennis-and-swim-club way, where you imagine one male leg crossed, bearing a clean loafer and no sock on the aristocratic foot. On Madison Avenue, an American flagship for Bally, the interior reflects the sleek aesthetic of the brand. [link]

N 40° 45.48794 W 73° 58.17169

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