A Luxury Out of Reach: Accessibility Challenges at Watches of Switzerland

I’ve recently started getting into watches—there’s just something fascinating about the craftsmanship, the design, and the precision that goes into each piece. So when I was walking around Legacy West and saw a Watches of Switzerland store, I was excited to take a look inside and see some of these luxury timepieces up close. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t go quite as smoothly as I had hoped.

Getting There

As I made my way toward the store, I noticed that the shorter route leading to the entrance had steps, which meant I had to take the longer, accessible path instead. While not ideal, I was still looking forward to exploring the shop once I got there.

The Entrance Issue

When I arrived, a doorman kindly opened the door for me. However, the doors were very narrow, and my wheelchair couldn’t fit through the opening. The doorman called over a security guard to help unlock the other side of the door to make more space. Both of them tried multiple times, but unfortunately, they weren’t able to get it unlocked.

At that point, the security guard offered an alternative—he told me I could enter the store through the back entrance by going through the store next door. While I appreciated that they tried to come up with a solution, I wasn’t comfortable entering a luxury shop through the back of another store. It didn’t feel like the kind of experience that should be necessary just to access a retail space.

Final Thoughts

While the staff’s willingness to help was appreciated, the physical inaccessibility of the store itself made it impossible for me to actually enjoy what Watches of Switzerland had to offer. For a luxury brand, accessibility should be part of the experience, not an afterthought.

⭐ 2 out of 5 rating. A beautiful store from the outside—but for wheelchair users, this “luxury” feels frustratingly out of reach.