Korman Fine Jewelry has cut the ribbon on its spectacular new flagship showroom in Austin, Texas.
Named The Jewel House, the store offers a blend of fine jewellery and prestigious watch brands with Rolex, and Rolex Certified Pre-Owned at its heart.
Other brands in store include Omega, Tudor, Breitling, Blancpain and Grand Seiko in addition to a selection from high end independents Ressence and Trilobe.
It is the second major new point of sale for Rolex in Austin this year, following the opening of a multibrand showroom, also on a Texan scale of 11,000 square feet, with Zadok Jewelers in May.
Korman has been serving Austin for over 50 years, but was bought by its current owners, Kat and Larry Stokes, in 2008.
The family quickly recognised that its existing showroom was too small, and started working toward moving to its new site, close to the University of Texas, and doubling in size to around 11,000 square feet.
They worked with local architect Michael Hsu, which is best-known for designing hotels and restaurants, because they wanted the store to feel as much about hospitality as it is about retail.
“Our relationship with clients has always been side by side, not across a counter,” says Kat Stokes, co-owner of Korman. “We are an untraditional traditional jeweller, and we wanted The Jewel House to reflect that. It’s a place where you can relax and discover the finest gemstones and timepieces. Nothing about it feels transactional or expected. It certainly doesn’t feel like a duty-free store. It feels like home.”
The ground floor of the open plan, two-storey property has a substantial space for Rolex watch displays and intimate lounges, while Rolex CPO is upstairs. There is also an accredited Rolex Service Centre on site staffed by master watchmakers.
Hotel style touches are found throughout, including a bar serving signature cocktails including The Jewel House Mule, Korman Ranch Water, The 365 Margarita.
Local suppliers provide snacks like charcuterie from Honey Brie ATX.
A bridal salon, partnered by De Beers, offers couples a private, personalised experience with in-house master jewellers .
Other jewellery brands include Single Stone, Viltier, FOPE, Artemer, Sylva & Cie, Bayco, Loraida, MAOR, Peruffo, Temple St. Clair, and Goshwara.
We are still awaiting official photography of the interior, but architectural renderings show the open layout of the showroom using natural stones and metallics, all bathed in natural light from large feature windows.
