I thought an AD may only carry one brand

an AD can sell as many brands as it's an AD for. Or, for that matter, any additional brands that it's not (it just won't be an AD for those brands).

 

I thought an AD may only carry one brand, whereas a Boutique carries many.

I think you have that exactly backward.

At least the way those terms are typically used - and not in the more general definition of "boutique" where many jewelery stores could be called "boutiques". When folks here say "boutique" they almost always mean a "brand boutique" or a store opened by a brand to sell only that brand of watches.

 

This was my understanding.
Boutique = 1 brand.

Boutiques serve better drinks in my experience.

 

I thought an AD may only carry one brand, whereas a Boutique carries many.

Say what?
When one says boutique in terms of watch sellers, they are talking about (usually) manufacturer owned/run places that sell their watches.

I mean, google Omega boutique and what do you get?
A store with a big Omega Logo above the door staffed by people with .swatchgroup.com email addresses. For all intent purposes, they are the manufacturer.

An AD is just a store (or perhaps more accurately in some cases, a store run by a group) that has authorised re-seller status given to them by the manufacturer.

That is why one can offer me say, breakfast with the head of their R&D department and visits to partner companies and the other doesn't.

 

As said before, Boutiques usually only carry one brand like an Omega boutique, a Cartier boutique, a Blancpain boutique, etc... while an AD (Authorized Dealer) can carry many brands like Tourneau, Ben Bridge, Polachecks, etc...

 

$$$$$$$

You can negotiate a discount at most ADs, from what I understand a boutique will not discount.

 

Boutique: Single brand, not much wriggle room for discount, more elaborate shop design in line with the brand identity.

 

But strangely, many single brand boutiques here in Singapore are actually owned and run by an authorized dealer who also has their own shops selling multiple brands?

Sent via carrier pigeons

 

It's quite common, boutiques are rarely operated by their respective brands. They are probably requested to set up a boutique or risk losing the rights to carry a particular brand.

 

On top of the single brand boutiques I have always considered the single GROUP stores boutiques as well , like Swatch's Tourbillon.

 

Boutique, selection and a glass of wine.

 

All boutiques are ADs, but all ADs aren't boutiques.

Boutiques offer one brand only. I believe often times owned by the brand itself.

 

Okay Gents, thanx for the input. I guess I had it just the opposite. I suppose I have a lot of AD's in the area that also carry some high end jewelry, which is fine by the wiife. I look at watches and she's scoping out the jewelry.