Editor’s Note
This article highlights Lotte Duty Free’s strategy to attract premium brands like Italian jeweler FOPE, catering to growing consumer demand for luxury watches and jewelry despite economic headwinds.
Lotte Duty Free is attracting various brands aligned with trends to enhance customer shopping satisfaction. Particularly, as customer preference for watches and jewelry continues to rise even amidst high exchange rates, the company is focusing on attracting premium brands and promotions.
On September 12, the Italian fine jewelry brand FOPE opened its first domestic duty-free store at Lotte Duty Free’s Myeongdong Main Store. Founded in 1929 in a craftsman’s workshop in Vicenza, Italy, FOPE has established itself as one of today’s most notable fine jewelry brands by combining contemporary sensibility and innovative technology with a deep-rooted tradition.
The FOPE store at Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store was designed with inspiration from the roof of the Basilica Palladiana (Palladian Basilica), a representative architectural landmark of Vicenza, the city symbolizing FOPE’s heritage. Utilizing the brand’s signature color ‘green’ as the main tone, it creates a luxurious yet sophisticated atmosphere. The store also introduces special exclusive jewelry items available only at Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store for the first time in Korea.
The Italian luxury jewelry brand ‘Pomellato’, born in Milan in 1967, can be found exclusively at Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store among domestic duty-free shops. Recently gaining more attention through celebrity endorsements, ‘Pomellato’ is a popular jewelry brand among foreign customers, including Chinese tourists. Known for its unique designs, colorful gemstones, and elegant yet unconventional style, each piece is handcrafted by over 100 skilled artisans at its Milan headquarters, embodying the highest craftsmanship and modern sensibility. Recommended items from ‘Pomellato’ are the Nudo Ring and the Iconica Ring.
The Swiss high-end watch & jewelry maison Chopard can be found at Lotte Duty Free’s Myeongdong Main Store, World Tower Store, and Jeju Store. Based on innovative design and craftsmanship, Chopard has secured a unique global position in the fields of high jewelry and watches. It has presented collections including the Happy Diamond collection born in 1976, the Ice Cube collection, and the L.U.C collection, producing the finest watch and jewelry collections annually from its manufacture that integrates over 150 years of in-house production and expertise across 45 technical fields. Notably, Chopard’s popular wedding ring line, Ice Cube, is available only at Lotte Duty Free Jeju Store among duty-free shops.
In early August, Lotte Duty Free newly opened a boutique for the Swiss high-end watchmaking house ‘Breguet’ on the 11th floor of its Myeongdong Main Store. The Breguet boutique, which holds over 200 patents and has set new standards in watchmaking, is decorated with the brand’s signature elegant and warm atmosphere. Popular representative models such as the ‘Reine de Naples 8918’, ‘Classique Moonphase 7787’, ‘Tradition 7057’, and ‘Marine 5517 Titanium’ can be viewed in person at the new boutique.
Furthermore, in May, Lotte Duty Free also renovated and reopened the Boucheron store at its Myeongdong Main Store. The French high jewelry maison Boucheron, first and exclusively attracted to the domestic duty-free market in 2018, operates offline stores at the Myeongdong Main Store and Jeju Store, receiving steady positive responses from both domestic and international customers.
On July 1st, the Italian high-end jewelry brand Damiani entered the Busan Store. This marks the first time Damiani has entered a non-metropolitan duty-free store. In August, the Damiani store at the Myeongdong Main Store also underwent renovation to improve the shopping environment, relocating from the 11th to the 10th floor and expanding its area by approximately double. Additionally, sales for other duty-free industry exclusive brands like Chaumet, Fred, and Messika are also showing favorable trends.
Possessing Korea’s largest collection of fashion, watch, and jewelry brands, Lotte Duty Free is offering up to 1.51 million KRW in LDF PAY on weekdays and up to 1.69 million KRW on weekends (Fri-Sun) until October 31st at its downtown stores, depending on the payment method and purchase amount. Furthermore, during the event period, a prize draw will be held for domestic customers who purchase over $300 at Lotte Duty Free downtown stores and apply. Prizes include: ▲ 1st Prize: French luxury jewelry brand ‘Dinh van’ Menottes Code Bracelet (1 winner) ▲ 2nd Prize: 50,000 KRW LDF PAY (3 winners) ▲ 3rd Prize: Lotte Hotel Basque Cheesecake (5 winners).
