Editor’s Note
This article highlights the strategic expansion of premium brands in Korea’s duty-free market, with Italian jeweler FOPE opening its first store. It reflects a broader trend of sustained consumer demand for luxury goods, even amid currency fluctuations.
Lotte Duty Free is attracting a variety of brands aligned with trends to enhance customer shopping satisfaction. Particularly, despite the weak won and strong dollar, customer preference for shopping watches and jewelry is steadily rising, leading the company to focus on attracting premium brands and promotions.
On September 12, the Italian fine jewelry brand FOPE opened its first duty-free store in Korea at Lotte Duty Free’s Main Store in Myeongdong. Founded in 1929 from an artisan workshop in Vicenza, Italy, FOPE is positioned as one of the most notable fine jewelry brands today, combining contemporary sensibility and innovative technology with a venerable tradition.
The FOPE section at Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store was designed with inspiration from the roof of the Basilica Palladiana (Palladian Basilica), a representative building 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 and unveils exclusive jewelry pieces available only at Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store 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 as worn by famous celebrities, “Pomellato” is a popular jewelry brand among foreign customers, including Chinese tourists. “Pomellato” is known for its unique designs, colorful gemstones, and elegant yet unconventional style, handcrafted by over 100 skilled artisans at its Milan headquarters, showcasing the highest craftsmanship and modern sensibility. Recommended items from “Pomellato” are the Nudo and Iconica rings. The Nudo Sky Blue Classic Ring combines the delicacy of sky blue topaz, finished with Pomellato’s signature gemstone cutting technique, with the refined sparkle of brilliant white diamonds, creating a special presence. The Iconica Multi-Color Cocktail Ring is set with various gemstones like rubies and pink sapphires, adding a brilliant light and personality, making it a special point for any style.
The Swiss high-end watch & jewelry maison Chopard can be found at Lotte Duty Free Myeongdong Main Store, World Tower Store, and Jeju Store. Based on innovative design and craftsmanship, Chopard has secured a globally unique position in the fields of high jewelry and watches. Showcasing collections like the Happy Diamond collection born in 1976, the Ice Cube collection, and the L.U.C collection, its manufacture integrates over 150 years of independent production infrastructure and expertise across 45 technical fields to create the finest watch and jewelry collections annually. Notably, Chopard’s popular wedding ring line, Ice Cube, is available only at Lotte Duty Free’s 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. Breguet’s boutique, which holds over 200 patents and has presented new standards in watchmaking, is designed with the brand’s unique elegant and warm atmosphere. The new boutique allows customers to view representative popular models such as the “Reine de Naples 8918,” “Classique Moonphase 7787,” “Tradition 7057,” and “Marine 5517 Titanium.” Furthermore, in May, Lotte Duty Free also renovated and reopened the Boucheron section 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 sections at the Main Store and Jeju Store, receiving steady positive responses from domestic and international customers. On July 1st, the Italian high-end jewelry brand Damiani entered the Busan Store. This marks Damiani’s first entry into a non-metropolitan duty-free store. In August this year, the Damiani section at the Myeongdong Main Store was also renovated to improve the shopping environment, relocating from the existing 11th floor to the 10th floor and expanding the area by approximately twofold. Moreover, sales for brands exclusively operated within the duty-free industry, such as Chaumet, Fred, and Messika, are also performing well.
Lotte Duty Free, which possesses the largest collection of fashion, watch, and jewelry brands in Korea, is offering up to 1.51 million won in LDF PAY on weekdays and up to 1.69 million won on weekends (Fri-Sun) until October 31st at its downtown stores, based on purchase amount and payment method. Additionally, during the event period, Korean customers who purchase over $300 at Lotte Duty Free downtown stores and apply will be entered into a lottery to win prizes: ▲ 1st Prize: French luxury jewelry brand “Dinh van” Menottino Cord Bracelet (1 person) ▲ 2nd Prize: LDF PAY 50,000 won (3 people) ▲ 3rd Prize: Lotte Hotel Basque Cheesecake (5 people).
