Online Jewelry Sales: Elite luxury jewelry house Faberge is preparing to enter the world of web retail with a special collection of pieces, some of which are worth up to $7 million.
Revived Faberge plans to enter the luxury online market, despite the current economic downturn and eventually combat other luxury retailers like Bulgari, Tiffany, and Cartier.
The Faberge Web site will showcase its signature jewels and gems to wealthy customers, but final transactions will be done with private showings.
Luxury Watches: Although the world of haute horology is generally stemmed from tradition, history and classic appeal, one can't ignore the influx of creative design, mechanics, and aesthetics that are surfacing on the market today. One particular trend that has charmed its way into the public eye, is the "Black Out" look. These predominantly black designs give a sense of mystique and intrigue. Whether the pieces are coated in ceramic, PVD, or carbon, these styles give the conventional aesthetics that encapsulate the watch world, while incorporating a contemporary finesse.
Hublot Big Bang - King Power
This complex dial (pictured above), with its intricate layers, houses a split-second foudroyante chronograph movement.
Limited Edition 500 pieces
Movement: Self-winding mechanical split-seconds foudroyante chronograph,
Case Material: PVD-Coated Titanium, Black micro blasted Ceramic
Case Dimension: 48mm
The UR-103T by Urwerk
Always testing the boundaries of creativity, Urwerk has created the "Tarantula" with a steel case that has been treated with AlTiN - Aluminum Titanium Nitrade. Only for the geniuses who can learn how to read it.
Price: Approx $65,000
Movement: Manual, 43 hour power reserve
Case Material: Stainless steel treated with Altin
Case Dimension: 50mm
Panerai Radiomir Black Seal
As part of their historic collection, this Radiomir is coated in ceramic, so you don't have to worry about scratching..
Price: $8,000.00
Movement: Manual, Sub Sec, 56 hr Power Reserve
Case Material: Ceramic
Case Dimension: 45 mm
Corum Black Hull 48
This stealthy addition to the Admirals Cup parallels the navigational world with its 12-sided bezel and strong tight lines.
Price: $8,000.00 , limited to 1000 pieces
Movement: Chronograph, Date, Sub Seconds
Case Material: Titanium PVD
Case Dimension: 48 mm
Bell & Ross BR 03-92
With all of its "blackened elements" the Bell and Ross Phantom embodies all of the essential elements that define the brand: readability, performance, precision, and water resistance.
Price: $4,000.00
Movements: Date, Sweep Second
Case Material: PVD Stainless Steel, stainless steel
Case Dimension: 42 mm
Corum Ti Bridge
This is for the collector who values and understands the Corum Golden Bridge, but requires a more modern and less formal timepiece for their collection.
Price: $14,000.00
Movement: Manual
Functions:72 hours Power Reserve, Skeletal Dial
Case Material: Titanium PVD
Case Dimension: 42.5 x 41.5 mm
Banford and Sons
Taking the art of bespoke and implementing the idea into watches, has truly captivated the attention of connoisseurs, including myself. Each model is available with a number of personalized elements including, military grade PVD, dial color options, and engraving. You have to admit a Black Rolex Milgauss is inimitable...
Prices Vary.
Luxury Watches: Elite watchmaking house Vacheron Constantin is the world's oldest watch manufacturer and has been in continuous operation since its founding in 1755. Vacheron is truly one of the elite watchmaking houses - performing everything from the creative design process to the research and development of movements to the actual crafting its watch components and of courses the watches themselves.
In commemoration of the grand opening of Vacheron's newest exclusive flagship boutique in Hong Kong, as well as to honor the brand's long history with China, Vacheron has introduced a very exclusive limited series of 3 "Dragon" dialed watches, each of them available in only 9 numbered pieces.
There is of course great symbolism in the dragon motif, as the dragon is the Chinese symbol of prosperity, creative and divine strength. Furthering the exclusiveness of these particular Dragon-dialed timepieces, Vacheron Constantin will be making them available only at the new location in Hong Kong, Vacheron Constantin Mansions in Geneva & Shanghai and Vacheron Constantin boutique in Moscow.
The "Dragon Dials" as I like to refer to them come in 3 case variations - rose gold, yellow gold, and platinum. The yellow gold is my favorite, as its white dial provides a crisp, clean backdrop for the phenomenal engraved dragon motif.
These pieces are truly special - so special, in fact, that I think to try and describe them in words is beyond reason. I will only say that the exclusivity of these watches and their engraved dials is phenomenal by any standard of haute horlogerie, and to own one of these watches will be a true privilege.
Luxury Watches: Lucerne, Switzerland-based luxury watch manufacturer Carl F. Bucherer recently introduced four new, beautiful, blue-dialed variations in its signature Patravi line of watches. The Carl F. Bucherer Patravi "Blue Wave" watches offer a nice balance of form and functionality in two case shapes (round and tonneau) that can be paired with a stainless steel bracelet or a distinctive blue calfskin strap.
The Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ChronoGrade Blue Wave is the slightly more complicated watch of new Blue Wave models, delivering in its round, stainless-steel case an impressive array of functions including a chronograph with flyback function, retrograde hours indicator, big date, annual calendar, and a bi-directional power reserve indicator. The 44.6mm case is generous but not egregiously sized, and with a modest 50 meter water resistance it will suit most daily activities but would perhaps be more appropriately used for enjoying the views of Mount Otemanu while lounging above the turquoise waters of Bora Bora from your Over-Water Bungalow at the St. Regis Bora Bora.
The Carl F. Bucherer Patravi T-Graph Blue Wave differs from the ChronoGrade most notably in its tonneau shape (the manufacturer refers to it also as a "barrel" shaped case) but it also has fewer functions by half (the CFB 1960 caliber offers a chronograph, big date, and bi-directional power reserve display). On this watch Bucherer is particularly proud of its the special arrangement of the chronograph function's minutes circle - the timer scale has been positioned deliberately along the inner edge of the markers, meaning that the stop-seconds can be read quickly and completely, and is accurate to a quarter of a second.
As for price, well, these particular pieces are far from entry-level in the watch world - if you hadn't guessed by now, Carl F. Bucherer watches command a premium. Although the Patravi T-Graph Blue Wave is listed at roughly half the cost of the Patravi ChronoGrade Blue Wave, you can still expect to plunk down approximately $6,600 and $12,000, respectively. The price difference is not surprising as it appropriately reflects the differences between the functionality and strap choice for the two watches. Either way, you can't really go wrong with one of the new Blue Wave watches from the family-owned Carl. F. Bucherer brand.
Luxury Watches: By the introduction of Eco-Drive, Citizen has changed the way watches tell time. An Eco-Drive watch uses the simplest, yet most technically advanced power generating and storage system in the industry today.
Eco-Drive utilizes a solar conversion panel and energy cell, which are the power providers for Citizen's quartz watches (a system citizen has been using for over 30 years, since its creation in 1976). Their ability to use light from any source means you will never be depending on a battery again. The absence of power-generating machinery that would require additional upkeep is another advantage to Eco-Drive technology.
As technology is moving into the eco-friendly age, Citizen is again at the forefront of the industry with this technology. At Baselworld this year, the brand released brand new, exclusively Eco-Drive watches for both men and women.
Available in five styles, the Citizen Eco-Drive Chrono-Time A•T includes world time in 26 cities with atomic timekeeping with radio-controlled accuracy. The rotating inner calculation ring, perpetual calendar power reserve indicator and a 1/5 second chronograph that measures up to 60 minutes give the dial of the timepiece high graphic impact as well as high functionality.
The brown crocodile strap of the the Limited Edition Citizen Eco-Drive Chrono-Time A•T enhances the stainless steel rose gold-toned case, bringing the design to the level of luxurious timepieces and making it the perfect addition to any man's collection. With a worldwide limited release of only 2,500 pieces, aficionados and collectors alike will be eager to get their hands on this one.
The Chrono-Time will be available in stainless steel with a brown leather strap, stainless steel with a black or blue dial, two-tone rose gold stainless steel and, of course, the limited edition which comes in an exclusive wooden presentation box.
Citizen's list of "World's First" achievements goes on and on, from the world's slimmest LCD watch to the first voice recognition watch to the world's first professional dive watch with an electronic depth sensor. Now, Citizen is bringing their innovative light-powered technology from 1976 into the 21st century with the exceptional Eco-Drive Chrono-Time A•T, fusing luxurious timepiece components with the industry's most sought-after technology.
Luxury Watches: First released in March 2007 in platinum, the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 31 hand-wound mechanical watch is now available in a beautiful rose gold case on a hand-stitched red brown crocodile strap.
It is safe to say that A. Lange & Söhne, a "Made In Germany" brand that sits at the pinnacle of all watchmakers with second-to-none quality, ingenuity and the timeless traditions of fine watchmaking, has really outdone itself with the Lange 31 in Rose Gold.
The watch's namesake is derived from its astounding power reserve of 31 days, a feat which is unmatched by other manufacturers of haute horlogerie and which is made possible by the use of two stacked mainspring barrels and a constant-force escapement which work in harmony with all of the 406 parts that comprise the manufacture Calibre L034.1.
Hand assembled and decorated, including a hand-engraved balance cock, the movement in the Lange 31 Rose Gold exemplifies A. Lange's exceptional quality standards and craftsmanship. The movement is hand wound using a special "winding key," while the time is set via the crown and the date via a push piece which is located on the outside edge of the case near the 10 o'clock hour.
The design of the solid silver dial on the Lange 31 took almost 2 years to finalize and keeps with A. Lange's "State of the Art Tradition" philosophy with its clean layout and understated look. It is at the same time asymmetric but well balanced. Hours and minutes are displayed with hands crafted of rose gold, there is a "small-seconds" sub-dial at 6 o'clock, a large power reserve indicator, and a date function. The dial also bears the "Made In Germany" notation along with the A. Lange & Söhne logo.
Although A. Lange & Söhne is a manufacture that tends to be very "traditional" and "timeless" with its watches, one may wonder if this watch - which is sized at just shy of 46mm in diameter - reflects an ever so subtle shift to a larger size case to meet demand for larger timepieces than in decades past. Then again, one may also come to the conclusion that the larger size does not detract too much from this astounding timepiece - and at 31 days power reserve, the high powered caliber such as the L034.1 certainly demands a case size worthy of its capabilities.
The price for this watch is likely to be around $150,000, and thus like many of A. Lange & Söhne's masterpieces, the exclusive Lange 31 Rose Gold will be admired by many but truly enjoyed by very few.
Fine Jewelry: Engagement ring designs by Verragio have always retained an element of exclusivity due to Barry Verragio's unwavering attention to fine design and dedication to a rigorous quality standard. This summer, the brand's reputation for unparalleled and creative design continues with the addition of a new collection.
The revolutionary Lumino setting created by Verragio's seasoned designers has created a new way of looking at, and displaying, the stones of an engagement ring. The setting lifts the diamond up into the light, for ultimate brilliance. By minimally covering the diamond, it is allowed to capture 75% more light than in traditional settings, while giving the wearer the impressive view of the entire stone.
Combined with the inventive Lumino Setting is the elegant scrolling design implemented on the inside of the band in their Paradiso Collection. Studded with diamonds, the design is not only beautiful but practical as well. The scrolling design prevents the ring from spinning as well as providing absolute comfort by hugging the contours of your finger.
Verragio's achievements in luxury ring design have evolved this year to include the addition of the new Couture Collection of engagement rings. The sleek lines emphasize simplistic design and highlight the diamond displayed in the Lumino Setting.
Each ring is designed to accommodate anywhere from a classic round center stone to an asscher or radiant cut. A top-view of the rings shows a row of brilliant stones, either hugging the center stone on the band, or coming right up the sides of the Lumino Setting.
A truly unique element of the Couture Collection sits tucked just beneath the center stone. Each Couture Collection engagement ring includes a small, crown shaped bezel, featuring its own small diamond underneath the raised center stone.
In addition to providing unique engagement ring designs to brides, Verragio also designs matching wedding bands to match the bride's engagement ring and wedding bands for the groom as well.
By the end of the summer, the new Couture Collection of both engagement rings and wedding bands will be available at certified Verragio dealers, while they are already available for pre-order.
Luxury Watches: TAG Heuer's award-winning Grand Carrera has undergone several transformations during its influential existence, and this year the brand has released yet another game changing design.
The new Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS Caliper Chronograph is the newest version of the complex timepieces and the first automatic chronograph with the powerful 1/10th of a second Caliper Rotating Scale.
Technical inventiveness paired with futuristic design is what makes the new Grand Carrera unique, which is easy to see with its high-impact dial. Punctuating the sleek black dial are twelve hand-applied, curved faceted indexes. The dial lacks numerals, unlike most contemporary watches, but this is where the timepiece makes its difference a matter of ingenuity.
Two rotating systems decorated with Côtes de Genève and polished facets represent easily read chronograph minutes and hours at 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock respectively, along with the linear second counter at 9 o'clock. But unique to the new Grand Carrera is the exclusive Caliper Rotating Scale, marked by an oversize crown with a definitive red line at 10 o'clock that enables precise readings of 1/10th of a second, magnified to 10X for quick and easy readability.
On top of their technical achievements, the powerful TAG Heuer Calibre 36 RS column wheel movement is COSC-certified, ensuring its reliable precision while it functions at 36,000 vibrations per hour.
In addition to the visually stunning new Grand Carrera, TAG Heuer has taken their design to another level by offering the timepiece in the Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS2 Caliper Chronograph Ti2, a version crafted from ultra-resistant and biocompatible grade 2 Titanium (Ti2), which is twice as light as steel.
The case back in both versions consists of double sapphire crystals, secured with six screws, through which the automatic movement is visible. The Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS Caliper Chronograph is available with a black rubber strap with a solid steel end piece and folding clasp or a 3-row multi-faceted bracelet, while the Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS2 Caliper Chronograph Ti2 comes with a black rubber bracelet with a black titanium end piece and folding clasp.
Both new editions of the always-exciting Carrera line from TAG Heuer are promising, with leading technology in the timepiece industry as well as implementing some of this summer's hottest looks in horologie. TAG Heuer continues to adapt to the tastes and expectations of the discerning connoisseur and collector, making each of their designs top-tier accessories for the contemporary man.
Luxury Watches: Although Bell & Ross is a relatively young brand, you would not be able to guess it from their exceptionally designed timepieces. The expertly engineered movements paired with the simplistic cases and dials speak to the brand's knowledge that lies beyond their years.
Standing as the tried and true icon of the brand is the Instrument collection. These watches have been aligned with their four fundamental principles: legibility, functionality, precision and reliability. New to the collection this year is the Instrument BR Heritage, which revives the spirit of the collection and brings it into the 21st century.
The aeronautical feel of the watch is not accidental: the square-shaped case and round bezel take their inspiration directly from aircraft cockpit instrument panels and honors the brand's official induction as an official supplier to the French Air Force.
Its striking visual impact sets the Instrument BR Heritage apart from other classic styles while recalling the distinct details of 1940s aircraft instruments. The unique combination of modern design techniques and vintage style elements brings the timepiece into the modern age while recalling a look of the past.
Sand colored indexes and numerals play off the natural leather strap, printed with the Bell & Ross name and emblem. The dramatic black case, bezel and dial are all constructed from glass bead blasted steel, finished with a carbon powder coating.
Bell & Ross came onto the scene with a team of designers and specialists of aircraft and space controls at the helm, ready to put their project into motion: creating timepieces perfectly suited to professional use. It is the execution of this intention that has made each of the brand's timepieces both unique in the field and immensely popular.
While Bell & Ross has the professional in mind at the outset of all their designs, the aesthetics of their collections make them perfect for any man looking to augment his wardrobe with a reliable and distinct accessory.
News & Trends: As the signature design of the brand, it makes sense that Patek Philippe would reinvent the Calatrava line, time and time again, to include contemporary technology, whilst maintaining the basic style ethics that made the line what it is today.
The sleek, clean lines of Patek Philippe's officer watches are timeless and classic while remaining relevant to today's world of watch making. Due to Patek Philippe's incredible ability to maintain their rigid, self-imposed quality standards and a knack for raising the bar, a Calatrava officer's watch will never go out of style.
As the latest interpretation of Calatrava history and tradition, the Ref. 5153 reminds us what an expertly crafted timepiece looks like. From the rounded bezel in the front to the sapphire window in the case back, no detail has gone overlooked.
Beginning with the face of the watch, the Ref. 5153 catches the eye with a silvery opaline dial featuring a hand-guilloched sunburst pattern in the center, with the small golden cartouche which displays the arched Patek Philippe Geneve signature in black.
Accenting the smooth white of the dial are the faceted, arrow-shaped hour markers and the two crisp Dauphine hands in gold, with the large date aperture at 3 o'clock. Surrounding all of this are the subtle and meticulously placed small gilt minute pearls.
Behind the beautiful dial and mirror-polished, rounded bezel is the 29-jewel, self-winding mechanical movement. 213 parts make up the Caliber 324 S C and give the wearer the reliability of a 45-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through the screwed case back with the sapphire window when the hinged cover is open.
The unparalleled craftsmanship exhibited by the brand for decades has set it far above the rest in the industry, and it is easy to see why upon inspection of a piece. Immaculate dials, seamlessly integrated parts and a finely tuned, powerful movement all combine in their masterpieces, making Patek Philippe popular to critics, coveted by collectors and cherished by owners.
Fine Jewelry: The intricate and unique designs by Penny Preville have been garnering recognition and awards, as well as quite a following amongst collectors and celebrities alike, for decades. Preville's eye for detail and feminine elements is what has her pieces standing out from the rest in the industry, and this summer, she has released a much-anticipated collection.
Due to the popular demand by her fans and collectors, celebrated jewelry designer Penny Preville has debuted her first engagement ring collection. For years, brides have been donning Penny Preville diamond right hand rings as engagement rings. Their inherent femininity and unique design made them ideal for the romantic statement of an engagement ring, and now, finally, Preville has designed the lines so many brides-to-be have been looking for.
Making up the stunning collection are six, individually designed and conceptualized engagement rings. Behind each ring is a story or symbolic motif that influences its design, making each piece entirely unique and independent of the next.
Some of the rings are products of very special commissions, one of which began when Preville's oldest son asked for a special ring to propose to his college sweetheart, Mara.
Therefore, the design work on the Mara Ring was underway and the end result is a breathtaking ring featuring the Art Deco shaped Asscher cut diamond. Two leaves parting on the band surrounded by side stones and many small diamonds made it ideal for Mara as well as any delicate and elegant bride with simple, understated style.
After the creation of this ring, Preville was asked to create a variation on the classic round brilliant cut solitaire six-prong setting. What Preville produced is most likely the most stunning of the collection: the Liat ring. The ring features the center stone set in an ornate engraved basket with six-prongs sitting atop a thin band, but what makes the ring special is the metal: the clarity of the diamond is highlighted by the warm, pink gold mounting.
Aside from the two stunning commissioned designs, Preville went on to create rings around some of the most famous and well known love stories of our time. The Juliet ring honors the heroine of Shakespeare's play with an ivy leaf sprouting from a round brilliant cut diamond center stone, symbolizing both connection and growth between the couple, while the Aphrodite ring displays a pattern of crossover lines around the band, recognizing the commitment but ever-present individuality of a husband and wife.
Penny Preville's designs have been featured repeatedly and hailed as the ideal jewelry to wear down the aisle. Join the ranks of Preville's fans such as Oprah, Sarah Jessica Parker and Nicole Kidman by adding some of the stunning designs to your own collection.
Luxury Watches: The world of elite watch design has been changed dramatically by the innovation of one brand: Philip Stein. Since the introduction of Natural Frequency Technology, the company has skyrocketed to the top of the list of most preferred, luxury watch brands and, this summer, two new spectacular designs will be released for sale: the Special Edition Titanium Chronograph for men and the Cocktail Watch for women.
By integrating two fields, the world of luxury timepieces and mind and body wellness, Philip Stein has done what no other luxury watch brand has. Embedded with Natural Frequency Technology, the pieces not only make you look good, but feel good as well.
In 2003, Philip Stein introduced Electromagnetic Frequency Technology that utilizes electromagnetic fields, and just last year in 2008, Natural Frequency Technology was introduced. Both technologies work within the same beneficial key frequency of 7-9 hertz and are offered in their best-selling timepieces.
With this rare innovation, the watch industry has been forever altered, as well as changing the way people actually feel about time. Their Natural Frequency Technolgy utilizes a metal disk, infused with key frequencies that are then exposed to the wearer. By emitting a frequency at 7-9 hertz, what physicists believe to be natural to the earth, your body is being exposed to a balancing frequency, informing the body to relax. Wearers have reported better sleep, less stress and clearer focus, leading many scientists to believe the human body needs this frequency to reach optimal health.
True to Philip Stein's "All In One" philosophy, the brand has released its exclusive and sleek designs. The two sophisticated timepieces, the Special Edition Titanium Chronograph for me and the Cocktail Watch for women, Philip Stein continues its reach into the elite community.
As the company's first foray into the titanium genre, the Special Edition Titanium Chronograph will not disappoint. As the lighter alternative to steel, the watch fits comfortably on the wrist with its "stay-flat" curved body and oversized face. Its black dial is contrasted by white and orange details, all covered by a spherical sapphire glass.
For the ladies is the stunning Cocktail Watch. Both elegant and feminine, the timepiece is the company's smallest to date. The sleek and delicate lines of the watch are accentuated by the luxurious dial. The Cocktail Watch features pave diamond and mother of pearl dials in semi and full pave diamond cases. With your choice between satin and silk straps, everything about the Cocktail Watch is extravagant from case to clasp.
In addition to these new designs is the introduction of the interchangeable strap program at Baselworld this year by Philip Stein. Customers are now presented with straps in a wide array of textures and colors. With five collections of textured and embossed straps, a limited edition hand painted crocodile skin and an exotic Teju Lizard strap, the watches can transition from everyday wear to a pivotal evening accessory.
JustLuxe is a luxury Web publication providing objective analysis and information to affluent consumers to assist with their decision making, decisions such as charting a yacht, purchasing a jet membership card, booking a luxury hotel, traveling to a specific destination, or buying real estate. Our writers conduct interviews with industry executives and leaders in their fields, analyze product offerings and review the Web sites of leading companies to ensure our readers have up-to-date data to make informed decisions. Consumers can find purveyors of fine luxury goods, services and travel solutions throughout the pages of JustLuxe via content or with our advertising partners. See our Best of Luxury High end Brands and partners.
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