Melbourne is widely regarded as Australia’s fashion capital for a number of reasons. Besides Melbourne’s plethora of menswear shops and mega complexes offering the world’s leading brands for all things suits and sneakers, luxury watches are also high on the agenda for the quintessential man.
Following our recent list of Sydney’s best watch stores, we’re heading south to track down the best Melbourne watch stores. Whether it’s your first Swiss piece or a luxury watch to mark a milestone, these are the Melbourne watch shops to be checking out for your next grand purchase.
And once you’ve bought your prized possession, check out these best watch repair & service centres in Melbourne to ensure they live a long and happy life.
Watches Of Switzerland
No stranger to the luxury watch market in Australia, Watches of Switzerland has stores both in Sydney and Melbourne. Their family-owned watch store located on Collins Street offers a service that is steeped in knowledge of luxury timepieces. It all began with Eric van der Griend in 1996 and has today grown to incorporate the help of his children whilst boasting over twenty brands and 4,000 references of Swiss watches.
Additionally, they are also the exclusive Australian retailer of A. Lange and Söhne timepieces. With no shortage of watches to choose from and the reputation as an official retailer of major brands across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, you can bet that the boutique will have exactly what you’re after.
Address: 294 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9671 3388
Brands: Rolex, A. Lange and Söhne, Jaeger–LeCoultre, IWC, Cartier, Panerai, Hublot, Piaget, Breitling
The Hour Glass
Hailing from Asia as one of the most respected retailers of luxury watches, The Hour Glass sports over 40 boutiques across nine cities including Melbourne. Leading the advocacy of not just fine luxury watches but also the concept of horology, The Hour Glass endeavours to be the watch world’s leading cultural retail enterprise for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
They currently stock over fifty of the world’s best Swiss brands under the one roof.
Address: 257 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9650 6988
Brands: Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Hublot, IWC, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, Rolex, TAG Heuer
Panerai
If you’ve set your sights on a Panerai timepiece, then, of course, you could head to one of the authorised boutiques on this list, but for the best experience, you’ll want to go direct. Panerai’s store on Collins Street was its first to open on Australian shores. The 60 square metre store was designed by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola and faithfully mimics the look of Panerai’s watches. The focal point of the store – other than its collections of gorgeous timepieces – is a huge wallclock that resembles a Panerai dial.
Address: Shop 10/360 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9108 0639
Brands: Panerai
IWC Schaffhausen
IWC is another Swiss watch manufacturer to have set up shop in Melbourne and can be found literally next door to Panerai, so you can’t miss it. As with Panerai, IWC’s Melbourne boutique was its first to open here in Australia, and the Collins Street location was chosen deliberately for its association with luxury brands. Expect to find all of the company’s latest collections, presented in a store that exudes masculine tones and dark wood accents.
Address: Shop 9/360 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9108 0634
Brands: IWC Schaffhausen
LK Boutique
One of the country’s most enduring watch retailers founded by Louis and Martha Kennedy is LK Boutique. The humble store began life back in 1976 and is today one of the most respected watch retailers in the country with five specialty boutiques located across Sydney and Melbourne.
The Melbourne boutique stocks everything from jewellery to accessories but it’s their watches on offer that shine the brightest. Names like Rolex and Patek Phillipe join an extensive range of some of the most esteemed brands to choose from so that even the most discerning horology punter won’t be disappointed.
Address: Crown Casino, Shop 17/8 Whiteman Steet, Southbank, 3006
Phone: 03 9686 7900
Brands: Patek Phillipe, Rolex, Cartier, IWC, Tudor
Vacheron Constantin
Another luxury watch brand that called Melbourne its first Australian home is Vacheron Constantin. Its store – also on Collins Street – welcomes customers in the world of the brand, not only showing off the various watch collections but educating customers about the history and tradition of the much-loved brand.
Address: 88 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9228 7100
Brands: Vacheron Constantin
Piaget
While Piaget watches can be bought from authorised dealer Monards (mentioned below) for a direct brand experience you’ll want to head to the company’s boutique in Chadstone. A short trip out of Melbourne CBD sure, but that trip will take you to a boutique of sheer opulence. In true Piaget fashion, you’ll be greeted by an incredibly high-end store, with gold accents everywhere you look.
Address: 1341 Dandenong Road, G-477 Chadstone Shopping Centre, Chadstone, 3148
Phone: 03 9040 4350
Brands: Piaget
Hardy Brothers
Reputation plays a vital role in the local watch game and one of the oldest retailers of luxury timepieces with a significant degree of this is Hardy Brothers. 1853 saw the arrival of John Hardy into Australia from England where he shortly began trading from his rooms in Sydney’s Jamison Street which later moved to Hunter Street to become Hardy Brothers during the next eighty years.
During that period Hardy Brothers had spread its reach into Melbourne, setting up a showroom on 298 Collins Street in 1918. Standing the test of time doesn’t come easy. As such, Hardy Brothers has been built on reputation, quality of service and design through providing a unique shopping experience.
Address: 338 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9624 5300
Brands: Baume & Mercier, Omega, Breitling, Bell & Ross, Zenith, Longines
Monards
The Swiss watch specialists at Monards carry over twenty years worth of experience in the watch industry and know-how to provide a service with the utmost attention to detail. Being family-owned and operated helps this but it’s also the extensive range of brands which helps Monards stand out from the “Paris-end” of Collins Street.
The success story that Monards has written for itself has seen the business open the Monards Flagship Boutique in the Crown Entertainment Complex. They also sell luxury accessories alongside timepieces and a dedicated service centre for a more holistic retail experience.
Address: Crown Melbourne, 15/8 Whiteman Street, Southbank, 3006
Phone: 03 9690 3566
Brands: Baume & Mercier, Blancpain, Breitling, Omega, Vacheron Constantin, Breguet, Piaget, Montblanc, NOMOS Glashütte, Hublot, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Tissot
Watchtime
Priding itself as one of the most trusted watch resellers in Melbourne, Watchtime has been dealing in pre-owned quality timepieces for over twenty years in the Block Arcade. All of their watches are guaranteed authentic and their service centre is run by a WOSTEP-qualified watchmaker. Their brand listing is extensive to say the least and also includes pieces that are no longer in production. If you’re after something special that no one else might have, this might just be the place for you.
Address: 22 Russell Place, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9560 3936
Brands: IWC, Omega, Breitling, Tudor, Chopard, Tissot, TAG Heuer, Tissot, U-Boat, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Bell&Ross, Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Paneria, Patek Phillipe, Rolex
European Watch Gallery
European Watch Gallery is one of the premiere dealers of high-grade timepieces in Australia. The business is headed by vintage timepiece aficionado, Shonie Herbath so customers will know they’re talking to a watch lover and not just a salesman. Herbath is also an authority in Patek Philippe timepieces and holds extensive knowledge of other high-grade brands such like Vacheron & Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Jaeger Le Coultre & Cartier.
The store is conveniently located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD at 83 Collins Street which ensures that there’s a comfortable and discrete space for clients to trade and discuss their requirements. Client satisfaction and brand extensiveness make European Watch Gallery one to drop by.
Address: 83 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9650 1511
Brands: IWC, Omega, Breitling, Tudor, Chopard, Tissot, TAG Heuer, Tissot, U-Boat, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Bell&Ross, Audemars Piguet, Hublot, Paneria, Patek Phillipe, Rolex, Seven Friday, Zenith
The Watch Gallery
Joining the contingency of Melbourne’s reputable second-hand luxury watch retailers is The Watch Gallery. The shop has been running for over twenty years and constantly change their range to ensure that every watch sold is an original in its own right. Competitive pricing is also a winner in this fine institution conveniently located on 337 Collins Street.
Address: 337 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
Phone: 03 9670 4233
Brands: A.Lange & Sohne, Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Breguet, Breitling, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chopard, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger Le Coultre, Omega, Panerai, Patek Philippe, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Tudor, Vacheron Constantin, Zenith
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