TURRET towers above the rest as a purveyor of high-end, quality accessories and clothing.
Words Joanna Eckersley Photographs Isuru Upeksha
TURRET is an accessories and clothing store with a focus on suave high-end brands. If you want to make your mark and sign contracts in style, TURRET sells the newest range of Montblanc pens.
In terms of watches, wallets and waist-belts it sells the cream of the crop, often decorated with crystal. The Sri Lanka sourced jewellery and gemstones displayed in store sparkle with up to 16 carat—only eclipsed by the Dancing Diamonds range, which twinkle to the gentle thump of your heartbeat.
The most popular brand at TURRET is without a doubt Montblanc, and the range is displayed at the front of the store, which looks out on the bustling Dharmapala Mawatha—formerly Turret Road. Montblanc, a century-old German company, specialising in pens, has recently branched out to selling belts, watches, sunglasses, wallets and cufflinks.
TURRET’s collection of Montblanc goods is impressive, spanning the entire selection. Collectors’ items include the Leonardo Sketch Pen—actually a self-sharpening pencil—and the JFK pen, which comes with limited edition cufflinks. The John Lennon pen has a lid clip that looks like a guitar fret board, and comes with a record of music by the man himself. If practicality is more important to you, the Montblanc Extreme collection includes a chic leather wallet, which is completely scratchproof. Equally, if you’re looking for new technological innovations, the Starwalker Extreme Screenwriter, with its silicon disk, is one of the most sophisticated devices for writing or sketching on tablets and touchscreens.
In the same well-lit room as the Montblanc selection is TURRET’s line of Baume & Mercier, 88 Rue Du Rhone and Raymond Weil watches. TURRET’s directors are dedicated to design, and wristwatch collectors in their own right. The store acts as an authorised service centre for all of the watches it sells – so you can be rest assured you will be buying the best. Baume & Mercier cater for special occasions, especially weddings, and their watches are sold in matching pairs for newlyweds. 88 Rue de Rhone similarly serves a specific market —an offshoot of Raymond Weil— their watches are entry level, and therefore sold at realistic prices. Raymond Weil, then, is the piece du resistance of watches in this store. And the finest Raymond Weil watch may well be the Maestro. This timeless timepiece is adorned by a traditional moonface which charts the movement of the moon. As part of the brand’s celebration of music it comes in a box with a conductor’s baton.
Jewel Laurel—also on the ground floor—is TURRET’s own jewellery brand. It stocks all 60 varieties of Sri Lankan gems—from cabochons to facets—set in gold, silver and white gold or left untouched for bespoke designs. There is a wide range of traditional and contemporary designs, all conceptualised by Jewel Laurel’s in-house designer. In one cabinet is a moonstone necklace with over 300 stones set in silver—a real head-turner. In another cabinet is the store’s biggest and most expensive gem—a royal blue sapphire.
Finally, upstairs are clothing, luggage cases, handbags and laptop sleeves by United Colors of Benetton and Sisley.The quality wares are complemented by the spacious setting, which is adorned with paper lanterns and decorative plants. The relaxed atmosphere complements the gleaming simplicity of downstairs, and creates a modern ambiance well suited to its classy clientele.
64 Dharmapala Mawatha,
Colombo 3
Tel: (+94 11) 722 0585
