The name Baccarat has been synonymous with French luxury crystal for nearly 250 years—in fact, the company’s sestercentennial anniversary is in 2014. Now there is the company’s freshly minted flagship store on Madison Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets. Although there are five other Baccarat boutiques in America, this jewel of a shop will be the new model for all others worldwide. Since its founding in 1764, Baccarat, whose artisanal manufacture is based in the sleepy village of Baccarat (population less than 5,000) in the Lorraine region of Eastern France, has inspired leading designers from around the globe, and has encouraged many to come to experiment with and design pieces in the brand’s most extraordinary and gleaming crystal. Ranging from iconic lighting to unique tableware, decorative objects, fine jewelry, and tailor-made flacons, Baccarat’s products and tradition of excellence are internationally recognized. (This is a brand with such pride in its products, lore has it that it does not sell its imperfections in an—grâce à Dieu!—outlet shop; anything less than perfect is simply smashed and the ingredients melted and recycled.)

The new 2,800-square-foot boutique was designed by acclaimed architect and designer Rafael de Cárdenas, who has worked internationally and been responsible for Nike’s Bowery Stadium and Capetown’s Unknown Union. The design for the Baccarat shop includes richly textured and colored woods and dark natural stones. The entryway’s two-story-high, faceted surfaces reflect the luminescence of Baccarat’s iconic, effulgent chandeliers. The spaces adjacent to the entryway are swathed in warm-toned textiles, creating intimate environments around the salon. The distinctive design concept will be the new global retail model for Baccarat, allowing the company to showcase not only its legendary crystal, but also its extensive lines of tableware, lighting, decorative objects, and jewelry. -- Ruth J. Katz