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The Carollinum Company
We are a Czech, family-owned company, a leader in the retail of luxury watches and accessories on the Czech market. In Prague’s very exclusive Pařížská Street we run the only Rolex mono brand boutique in the Czech Republic. In addition, we have been entrusted with running a boutique for the exceptional watchmaking company Patek Philippe. To cap it all we also have the multi brand Carollinum boutique with a curated selection of timepieces by twelve brands of international renown.
Our vision
“Carollinum aims to be that unique partner to everyone who wants to discover their passion for the watchmaking art, original handiwork and values that last for generations.”
Tamara Kotvalová, founder and owner of Carollinum
Tamara Kotvalová, founder and owner of Carollinum
People in Carollinum
Tamara Kotvalová
Owner and founder of Carollinum
Tamara Kotvalová, an accomplished businesswoman and the owner of the Carollinum company, started off in cosmetics retail. Then in 1992, she built a network of shops with jewellery in Moscow. In 1996, she founded Carollinum, her own company specialising in the retail and distribution of luxury watches and accessories. Carollinum has since expanded and now runs three stunning boutiques in Prague’s up-market Pařížská Street. These boutiques include the only mono brand boutiques for Rolex and Patek Philippe in the Czech Republic. The third retail outlet is the Carollinum Boutique with twelve prestigious watchmaking brands in its portfolio. Two of Tamara’s three children, Daniela Jannová and Martin Janna, work in the company.
Tamara Kotvalová dedicates herself to charity: she is an honorary member and sponsor of the endowment fund Slunce pro všechny and a board member and regular sponsor of Klub přátel dětí dětských domovů. She is a member of the Children Oncology Department at Prague’s Motol Hospital and she sponsors curative stays for children and war veterans.
Creating luxury watches is demanding and unparalleled work. So much time and care go into the making of each single timepiece. In our boutiques we do our best to reflect this ethos of precision craftsmanship in the way we approach our customers with the aim of making their visit to us a unique and unforgettable experience.
The Carollinum Boutique is a gateway to the universe of top-quality watches. Here we are happy to assist each customer in their choice while respecting and understanding their unique personality, preferences and interests. Based on our knowledge, we carefully select models from widely available collections as well as from the extremely limited ones.
For more than twenty years, we can be proud of the exclusive representation of four prestigious brands Montblanc, Baume & Mercier, Hamilton and Mido. Our clients come to us when they want to thank their business partner or a loyal employee with a gift of lasting value. They know that at Carollinum they are always sure to get originals that have been skilfully produced in the manufacture famous for its fountain pens, watches and leather accessories, all of which we have in our range.
Kateřina Daňková
Head of Carollinum’s marketing department
In Carollinum since 2019
The most important calling card for a market leader such as Carollinum is to have a very sound approach to marketing. The year 2020 is all about new opportunities and novel means of communication. You can look forward to our magazine, special events, e-catalogue and a campaign brimming with charismatic ambassadors. To put it simply, watches are our way of life.
History of our company
1996 – Carollinum is founded
The history of the family-owned Carollinum Company starts in 1996. The company was founded with the ambition to become a leader on the market with luxury goods. The first important success was celebrated that same year when Carollinum obtained Montblanc representation for the Czech Republic, thus bringing to the country the leader among producers of accessories, writing instruments and jewellery.
1998 – Opening of the Alfred Dunhill Boutique
The history of Carollinum’s presence in the Pařížská street – Prague’s new epicentre of luxury goods retailers – begins in 1998 when the first boutique of the London brand Alfred Dunhill in Central Europe is opened. Since then, the brand has abbreviated its name to Dunhill but has remained a producer of luxury men’s fashion and accessories to this day.
2002 – Opening of the Carollinum Boutique
2002 is an important milestone in the history of Carollinum. This is when the company opened a jewellery and watchmakers’ shop in Prague’s Pařížská street. Tamara Kotvalová, the founder and owner of the company, introduced onto the Czech market seven luxury watchmaking brands, including global leaders such as Breitling, IWC, Piaget, Cartier, Chopard and Baume & Mercier.
2004 – Rolex for the first time in Carollinum’s portfolio
Rolex watches, a legend of the watchmaking world, found its way to the Carollinum Boutique in 2004. Timepieces worn by American presidents, successful sportsmen and Hollywood stars were made available to our customers. Rolex prides itself with over 500 patented innovations and over a century-long tradition.
2008 – Opening of the Montblanc Boutique
Ten years of cooperation with Montblanc brought us to decision that it’s about time to take the presence of this brand on the Czech market a step further. Montblanc’s products, including accessories, pens and watches, kept gaining on popularity among our customers and the German brand has achieved a premium position on the market. Carollinum decided to open a monobrand Montblanc Boutique in Pařížská street.
2012 – Opening of the Rolex Boutique
The opening of the monobrand Rolex boutique, the only such Rolex boutique in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, on the corner of Pařížská and Široká street in Prague’s Old Town was without exaggeration the event of the year. Carollinum has been very honoured to acquire a Rolex representation that includes a boutique and feels privileged to this day. The gala opening of the Boutique in May 2012 saw a number of Czech celebrities including the late singer Karel Gott.
2016 – Opening of the Patek Philippe Boutique
Patek Philippe, one of the last Geneva-based watchmakers to remain a family business, opened its monobrand boutique in Prague in cooperation with Carollinum. For Carollinum it is a great honour to be the only authorised dealer of the brand with over 180 years of uninterrupted history that draws inspiration from its rich history of watchmaking craftsmanship, patents, and grand horological complications.
2019 – Refurbishment of the Carollinum Boutique
Carollinum loves to offer its customer an ever growing quality of services and shopping comfort and this is why we refurbished the Carollinum Boutique after six years of its existence, in 2019. Larger space allowed for another VIP salon, while light-coloured furniture and terrazzo floors filled the spacious rooms with light. The boutique is a shop-in-shop concept, providing each brand with its unique space.
2019 – Carollinum Rolex Boutique – the Flagship store
The only Rolex monobrand boutique in the Czech Republic and Slovakia is still to be found at the same address in Prague’s Pařížská street. Following its significant enlargement and refurbishment in 2019, its truly grandiose size of ca 160 m2 makes it one of the largest Rolex boutiques in Central Europe. Customers can now enjoy choosing timepieces by one of the most prestigious watchmaking brands in a modern, spacious environment.