Tesla’s former auto showroom is becoming an Omega watch store in St. Johns Town Center where the Swiss luxury manufacturer is “coming soon,” according to landlord Simon Property Group.
The city is reviewing a building permit application for Hirsch Construction Corp. of Middleton, Massachusetts, to renovate the 2,837-square-foot space at an estimated project cost of $1.75 million.
Omega intends to open at 4835 River City Drive, Unit 105, in an end unit next to the Apple store and in front of RH, the name of the former Restoration Hardware.
St. Johns Town Center is at northwest Interstate 295 and Butler Boulevard.
AEC Integrated of Jacksonville is providing permitting services for Omega. Deforma Studio Inc. of Miami is the architect.
OmegaWatches.com shows that men’s watches start at $3,750 for the De Ville Prestige collection.
Prices start at $3,100 for women for the Constellation collection.
Accessories include NATO straps, bracelets, cuff links, sunglasses, belts and more. Omega says the “NATO” straps evolved from the leather and canvas ones used by British pilots, navigators and army personnel during World War II.
Simon.com says that Omega, part of The Swatch Group Ltd. of Switzerland, is the world’s leading watch manufacturer and was founded in 1848.
Omega operates stores globally. There are five boutiques in Florida in Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens and Tampa.
Omega also is sold at retailers that include Mayors jewelers in St. Johns Town Center.
The Swatch Group (U.S.) Inc. is based in Miami.
“For more than 160 years the brand has been synonymous with excellence, innovation and precision, making it the only watch brand to be associated with the conquest of space, and the brand that since 1969 has produced the “Moon Watch” – the one and only watch worn on the Moon,” Simon.com says.
It says Omega continues to make technical history with innovation in areas including sports timing, precision technology and design.
SwatchGroup.com says that since 1965, the Omega Speedmaster has been worn on each of NASA’s piloted missions including all six moon landings “and many of history’s greatest explorations beyond Earth.”
The site also says that sports timekeeping includes partnerships in golf, sailing, athletics and swimming, with Omega having served “as the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932.”
It also is known for its association with the fictional movie spy James Bond. “Since 1995, the spy and his Seamaster have been inseparable and the partnership is one of Omega’s most recognized around the world,” the site says.
Simon.com says that for visitors to the “OMEGA Boutique, they will be warmly greeted by a specially-trained staff that is enthusiastic about sharing their unparalleled knowledge of one of the world’s most respected watch brands.”
Omega is building-out in the former Tesla showroom that the electric-vehicle maker opened in November 2015.
Tesla closed the showroom this year, more than a year after the luxury automaker opened a service and delivery center and gallery showroom along Atlantic Boulevard in East Arlington.
Another luxury watch brand is open in St. Johns Town Center.
Breitling 1884 watches, whose prices online show men’s and women’s watches start at about $3,250, built-out at a project cost of $400,000.
Hurd Construction Management LLC of Jacksonville renovated a 1,253-square-foot storefront in the former Oakley sunglasses retailer space at 4751 River City Drive, No. 143A. Oakley relocated within the center.
Founded in 1884, the Breitling watchmaker is based in Switzerland.
Breitling USA is based in Wilton, Connecticut.