Luxury watch brand with close motorsport links to open upmarket Glasgow boutique

Scottish jewellery business Laings is to open a luxury watch store within Glasgow’s “style mile” later this year creating several jobs.

The new outlet will mark the first “mono-brand boutique” with the TAG Heuer brand for family-owned Laings and reflects its “continued commitment to a bricks and mortar presence”. The showroom, which will be located on Buchanan Street in a site previously occupied by high street fashion label Diesel, will see eight jobs created, including a store manager, supervisor and multiple sales roles.

Stuart McDowell, managing director of Laings said: “Our TAG Heuer boutique will offer an immersive experience for our clients, showcasing its world-renowned Swiss watchmaking expertise, passion for precision and cutting-edge technology. With a wealth of collections on display, we are looking forward to welcoming clients into the store - whether it be their first venture into luxury Swiss watches or extending a growing passion for TAG Heuer. Our boutique will be the perfect environment for clients to engage with our in-store TAG Heuer specialists and enjoy a truly exceptional experience.”

The launch signifies a strengthening relationship between Laings and TAG Heuer, which is known for its history of F1 and motorsport links. It also comes after Laings announced that it was investing £5 million in a new flagship store in Rowan House on Buchanan Street. The move is part of the firm’s “multi-layer growth strategy” to build on its legacy as a top destination for luxury jewellery and watches.

Rob Diver, managing director of TAG Heuer UK and Ireland, added: “[This] will be our first mono-brand boutique together [with Laings]. This new space will enable us to offer our customers a fully immersive in-store brand experience in the Glasgow city centre, and is part of a new exciting journey with Laings.”

With showrooms across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton and Cardiff, Laings offers jewellery and luxury watches from some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Rolex and Patek Philippe, alongside a dedicated Omega mono-brand boutique in Wales. The firm last year signed a 15-year lease to take over Rowan House, a B-listed building on Glasgow’s busy Buchanan Street. A planning application submitted to Glasgow City Council highlighted the company’s proposal to revitalise the 19th century retail and office development.