America Ferrera, Gracie Abrams, Carey Mulligan, and More Celebrated Chanel’s New Watches and Fine Jewelry Flagship Boutique on Fifth Avenue
Following in the footsteps of the French fashion house’s Place Vendome boutique, New York is finally getting the full Parisian treatment with the opening of Chanel’s watches and fine jewelry flagship on Fifth Avenue. And on Wednesday night, the stars came out to celebrate this extra sparkly milestone.
Carey Mulligan, Lucy Boynton, Sadie Sink, Michelle Williams, Whitney Peak, America Ferrera, Elizabeth Olsen, Katie Holmes, Kerry Washington, Chase Sui Wonders, Amandla Stenberg, and Cazzie David were among the first to discover the new boutique—all decked out in head-to-toe Chanel looks, naturally.
“Tonight is kind of amazing because, in Maestro, Felicia Montealegre wears a custom Chanel suit that they made for the film,” Mulligan began. “I know she wore Chanel clothes and jewelry in real life so it’s full circle to be in New York celebrating the house’s incredible fine jewelry collections.”
Located on Manhattan’s most prestigious thoroughfare, this store serves as Chanel’s first watches and fine jewelry flagship in the United States. Of course, it’s no coincidence that the new address pays tribute to Gabrielle Chanel’s iconic lucky number five.
The two-story boutique is designed by the house’s longstanding collaborator Peter Marino. The New York-based architect drew inspiration from the savoir-faire of Coco Chanel’s famed apartment, 31 Rue Cambon, and the elegance of the esteemed Place Vendome boutique. From the gold lacquer paneling to the rock crystal “Dream Catcher” chandeliers—and even a pair of Tang Dynasty ceramic camels—no surface was left untouched by Marino’s magic.
“You can see parts of the boutique have been influenced by Gabrielle’s apartment. I think Chanel does such a good job of honoring the past and bringing it into a very cool and contemporary atmosphere,” Boynton explained.
For guests eager to take a closer look at the latest collections, lavish salons adorned with contemporary art including a Vik Muniz portrait of Coco Chanel encrusted in diamonds, offering a more intimate setting for clients to truly feel at home. “The first time I wore Chanel jewelry was to one of the couture shows. They were these beautiful delicate pieces that showcased the exquisite complementary of aesthetics and texture that Chanel does so beautifully.” Boynton said, smiling. “It was terrifying and thrilling at the same time.”
On the main floor, a separate salon dedicated to Chanel’s luxury watch collection complements the expansive jewel box-esque interiors with a touch of timelessness. “I love watches!” Stenberg exclaimed. “I think they are so elegant and timeless. My favorite piece of Chanel jewelry is a gold banded watch with a pearlescent face.”
To commemorate this landmark moment, the director of the fine jewelry creation studio, Patrice Leguéreau, also unveiled the Eternal N°5 collection, which features transformable high jewelry pieces that are exclusive to the New York boutique.
Attendees arriving at the dramatic staircase were stopped in their tracks by the 55.55 masterpiece diamond necklace flown in from the Maison’s Patrimony, becoming arguably the most shocking guest of the night. Inspired by Chanel’s iconic N°5 perfume bottle, the dazzling necklace was designed in 2001 to celebrate the fragrance’s 100th anniversary. Let’s just say this one-of-a-kind piece was very much the talk of the town. “If I could have my dream Chanel piece it would be the 55.55,” Peak laughed. “And, when I say 55.55, I mean 55.55 carats!”
After a buzzy cocktail hour with the collections, Seth Myers, Natasha Lyone, Derek Blasberg, Anna Weyant, Eileen Kelly, Zazie Beetz, Lori Harvey, and more trickled next door for the dinner party. Gorgeous black lacquer tables adorned with wintery white bouquets set the signature Chanel scene for the opulent evening ahead.
Kumamoto oysters and a twice-baked potato topped with caviar were the only starters that could rightfully introduce the A5 wagyu steak and poached lobster ravioli entrées, taking the creme de la creme of traditional American cuisine and lending it a French twist. Of course, the martinis and flutes of Champagne were flowing well into the highly anticipated after-party.
“I heard there is a special performance, so I’m excited to see who’s performing!” Ferrera gleamed. Little did she know Grammy-nominated artist Gracie Abrams was warming up her vocals backstage. Singing a medley of her own song, including her hit “I miss you, I’m sorry,” Abrams was greeted by rapturous applause from the growd.
While the glitzy eventually drew to a close, the Chanel celebrations were just beginning. The new Chanel watches and fine jewelry flagship will officially open to the public on February 9, 2024.
Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com1/26Carey Mulligan
Dimitrios Kambouris2/26Amandla Stenberg, Chase Sui Wonders, and Lori Harvey
