First Baccarat Pop-Up Boutique To Debut in the U.S.

A new Baccarat pop-up boutique has just opened in New York City on the 1st of November, and to no ones surprise, it has already become an extremely trendy place to shop in the West Village.  Being the first Baccarat boutique to make its debut in all of the United States, the 480-square foot transitory atelier is situated at 371 Bleecker Street and presents the brand’s one-of-a-kind, beautifully designed “Gifts in a Red Box” approach (curated glasswork nestled inside florescent ruby tinted packaging).

Amidst all the luminous objet d’art (a small decorative or artistic object) available there are stemware, barware, lighting as well as home decor fixtures.  Furthermore, there’s also stylish accents that include a new capsule collection by famed jewelry designer Marie Hélène de Taillac.  The short-lived retail haven will be open between 11 am through 7 pm from Monday to Saturday, and 12 pm through 5 pm on Sunday.  Even though the company has been doing business for around 252 years, the pop-up boutique will close up on December 31st.  Don’t miss this limited time event, with Christmas on the way this may be the perfect gift to display some Christmastime colors and fun for the holiday season.

Cartier’s Famed NYC Mansion Is Born A New

Cartier has finally reopened their Robert W. Gibson designed Neo-Renaissance mansion, which dates all the way back to 1904.  After a two and a half year renovation the mansion has been born a new.  The extremely talented French-born architect Thierry Despont, who had designed Bill and Melinda Gates home as well as revitalizing the Statue of Liberty, was put in charge of refurbishing the grand mansion back to it’s illustrious long-forgotten form.

The five story, 44,000 square foot mansion (originally 20,000 square feet and spanned across only two stories) has a warm and intimate feel that you’re aware of the second you enter the Fifth Avenue or the 52nd Street entrance.  Another interesting addition to the mansion is a new lacquered panel portraying three gold leaf panthers sipping from a river, which attracts guests into the luxurious foyer.

A classic light oak grand staircase leads you upstairs with each room showcasing its own unique sense of style and ingenuity.  The climax of the second floor, or even possibly the whole mansion, is the Princess Grace of Monaco room: a fascinating and glamorous feminine spot housing Cartier’s finest engagement rings, faint yellow taffeta silk curtains, and beautiful paintings of the Princess Grace herself.  The second floor of the mansion also pays tribute to Gloria Swanson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Morton & Mae Plant.  When you get to the third floor you will be surrounded by one of a kind timepieces, which is just what the third floor’s all about.  The contemporary “Red Room” on the fourth floor is dedicated to accessories & perfume.  With the top floor featuring a terrace that gives you a birds eye view of Fifth Avenue and is also an ideal spot for entertaining.

Despont also revived many of the mansions original furnishings and tirelessly worked with craftsmen in France to construct bespoke pieces, which even include chandeliers that awaken Parisian styles from the 18th and 19th centuries. Despont said “The Cartier Mansion is an icon.  It’s a very modern store with state-of-the-art facilities, but it still has the feeling that the Mansion was always there and it’s magnificent.”

The Georg Jensen – Zaha Hadid Jewelry Collection

Representatives from the Danish jewelry design house, Georg Jensen met with Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid at their London studio back in November of 2014 to begin developing and designing an eight piece jewelry collection, that was influenced by some of Hadid’s most extraordinary architectural workings.  Georg Jensen and Zaha Hadid’s partnership, resulted in the beautiful jewelry items you see below, (as Hadid oversaw and authorized the collection in March of this year, right before her ill-timed passing at the age of 65).  The collection, which was just released on September 1st is priced from $600 to $30,000.  The Georg Jensen – Zaha Hadid Collection introduces five adventurous rings & three cuff bangles in your choice of sterling silver or sterling silver plated with black rhodium and a series of black diamonds.  The design of almost every piece perfectly mirror the mountain-like pattern of Hadid’s Wangjing Soho building in Beijing, China.  This collection, plus the nearly 1,000 structures and buildings in Hadid’s portfolio will ensure that her accomplishments will be celebrated for many years to come.

For more information visit:  georgjensen.com

Elie Top’s Intriguingly New Jewelry Collection Inspired by Astrological Clocks

Famed Parisian designer Elie Top just released his first collection last year, which combines classic artisan creations with 3-D technology.  This new jewelry collection was awe inspired by astrological clocks belonging to the 17th and 18th centuries, making for a most intriguing jewelry line by Elie Top.  Dubbed the Mécaniques Célestes collection, it contains 22 magnificent pieces that feature rotating disks that expose previously concealed components, like the central diamond studded globe in the gold/silver ring shown below ($13,145).  The collection is available at Dover Street Market, New York.

For more information visit:  elietop.com

For more information on Dover Street Market check out:  doverstreetmarket.com

Reza Jewelry Shop Is Now Open at The Legendary Hotel Ritz

Reza was founded in the 1940’s by Russian-born gem dealer Alexandre Reza.  The famed Parisian jewelry house has just announced the opening of one of their salons in the recently renovated Hotel Ritz Paris situated on Place Vendôme.  The new Reza Jewelry Shop known as Reza at the Ritz is only a small stroll from their original private salon at 21 Place Vendôme, which has been known to cater to the elite as well as royals with their magnificent ruby, sapphire, and emerald gems.  The two salons give each customer a one of a kind look designed personally by Alexandre’s son (Olivier Reza), who creates beautifully designed one of a kind pieces, that give off a smart yet sensible style to all of his clients.  For the finishing touches to an already beautiful woman visit Reza at the Ritz.

For more information visit:  alexandrereza.com

Bvlgari’s Summer Sweet Jewelry

Bvlgari has announced yet another beautiful collection that perfectly embodies the concept of a true Italian dolce vita (a life of heedless pleasure and luxury).  This unique jewelry collection was inspired by gelato, sorbet, and many other Italian delights, all dedicated specifically for a nice long summer vacation of taking it easy and lounging around.  The collection gives off such a sweet and refreshing feeling, a feeling only Bvlgari could pull off.

The Roman Sorbet collection shows us many unique designs, which include diamond candies, ice lollies and ice-cream cone brooches made of precious stones.  Also featuring white and pink gold rings, pendants and bracelets, all bedecked with sapphires, amethysts and tsavorites.  Bvlgari brings a simply invigorating contrast of color to the collection.

The collection has brought a new meaning to summer jewelry, Bvlgari Roman Sorbet collection aspires to incorporate the refined Italian way of life with a rich tradition of Roman jewelry.  Ice cream in the jewelry range symbolizes positive indolence and dizziness, so Bvlgari has captured this simple yet savory pleasure and put it to good use in their collection.  The collection was made for casual/every day wear, giving you a break from your typical haute joaillerie.

For more information visit: bvlgari

The Jewelry Royal Chess Set

in 2005 British Jeweler Boodles set out to create The Jewelry Royal Chess Set.  The end result; a solid gold and platinum set featuring diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and even black & white pearls.  Each knight contains a gem-studded spiral, and the king alone is priced at an astonishing $100,000.   The price?  A record breaking $9.8 million.

Though if your in search for a piece equally as extravagant yet considerably less expensive you may want to check out the $1 million Art of War Chess Set.  Created by Victor Scharstein, the game comes with a velvet lined wooden case complete with lock & key and features a board made of ebony with gold inlay.

Meet Lana Scolaro

Lana Scolaro is the daughter of businessman Francesco Scolaro & Socialite Anna Scolaro.  As such the 21 year old jewelry designer has spent much of her childhood jetting between Monaco, London, New York, Ibiza, Saint Barths, and many other chic locales, absorbing the finer points of culture around the globe that she would later put to good use in her jewelry designs.  Her love of fine jewelry & unique symbols—combined with an education at the prestigious Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York City have allowed Lana to create one of the most unique Jewelry Lines around. 

How did you get into jewelry design?
“Design and Fine Art has always been my passion. I attended Parsons the New School for Design in New York and after one year I moved back to Monaco in order to focus on starting my own line with the jeweler connections I had close by in Vicenza, Italy.”

What was the inspiration for your current collection?
“I was initially inspired by the young, rebellious rock elite of our era, as I’d never seen fine controversial jewelry designed for a niche market of the young and fearless, involving weapons and illegal substances. I then realized that I did not want to provoke use of weapons through my designs, as the designs were merely for comical attraction, the same way children play with toy guns; so I decided it would be an idea to donate to specific War Funds such as War Child with each item sold.”

Walk me through your daily routine.
“If I’m going to be honest, I don’t have a daily routine and never have since school. I don’t believe life should be a consistent routine, as each day for me is different. I could spend one whole day with photographers shooting my line, or driving to Italy to the factories making sure my pieces are manufactured exactly how I would like them.”

What is the starting point in your design process?
“The starting point in my design process has always been a rough sketch of my imagination, I’ll then spend a lot of time with the dimensions of the product and precisely draw each design in my portfolio with the exact measurements. I’ll then send my designs to my manufacturer and he’ll send me back a preventive and the CAD files on the computer to see if I would like to go ahead with it before it is produced.”

Where is your all time favorite destination?
“Los Angeles is my favourite destination, I love the energy and stress free vibes there.”

What designers are you currently inspired by?
“Saint Laurent has always inspired my designs, especially with the gun purse in one of the collections. I have also always been a big fan of Anthony Vaccarello; which is ironic as he is now the creative director of Saint Laurent; I love how his collections are full of character, strong and fearless.”

What is your go to timepiece?
“My iPhone.”

When you travel, what items could you not go without?
“My headphones, Elizabeth Arden moisturizer, and my pink fluffy blanket.”

Favorite Restaurant in Monaco?
“Robouchon.”

What was the most challenging obstacle you encountered since starting your own business?
“I realized that most of my collection is targeted at a niche market, which makes it very difficult to pitch the brand to the right people and places, especially deciding which countries to distribute the products to.”

How would you describe the LS Diamonds Customer?
“The LS Diamonds customer is young, reckless, and daring. They are street smart and are always up to date on the latest trends. If they are not making art, they are making music or watching independent films and hanging at places that aren’t in the spotlight. The LS Diamonds customer is exclusive, just like the collection.”

Where do you see LS Diamonds going next?
“LS Diamonds will be distributing more products in the U.S this Fall of 2016, mainly in stores in Los Angeles, Miami and New York. I will be launching a new range I have spent months designing towards the end of the year which I am beyond thrilled about.”

For more information on LS Diamonds visit:  www.lanascolarodiamonds.com

Also, check out Lana’s Instagram at:  www.instagram.com/lanascolaro

Bvlgari’s “Eyes On Me” Collection

People say that the eyes are the windows to the soul and with Bvlgari’s Serpenti “Eyes On Me” Collection, they really are.  Anyone who dares to look into this collection is instantaneously bewitched by the jewelry’s mesmerizing eyes, this new collection features earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces that are designed to make all “eyes on you”.

The jewelry collection was also designed to move conveniently from dawn til dusk, which is an idea that Bvlgari has honored since the 1980’s.  The unique Serpenti form is inspired by Bvlgari serpents of the 60s to 70s.  From Cleopatra to Ancient Greece, the serpent has always represented strength and sensuality, but for Bvlgari it has been a symbol of heritage and modernization.

The eyes are like that of a woman, attractive yet captivating and giving off a bewildering glare that makes the flow of time stay still.  The collection uses metal, precious gems, and a  hexagonal scale pattern as a motif that copies the serpents scales perfectly.  Buyers have the choice of adorable pink gold, white gold, or yellow gold, furthermore you can choose which designs are coated with a particular set of precious gems.  Prices for the “Eyes On Me” Serpenti Jewelery collection will start at $2,860.

For more information visit: www.bvlgari.com

Karlie Kloss Is the New Face of Swarovski

Supermodel Karlie Kloss seems to be continuing in her ever blossoming career having just been named the new Brand Ambassador of Jewelry Giant Swarovski.  The 23 year old who was formerly a Victoria’s Secret Angel from 2013 to 2015, and has just recently been listed among the top 30 models of the 2000s by Vogue Paris.

Based on the comments by Swarovski’s Creative Director, Nathalie Colin, it looks like he is very pleased with the decision: “We are so excited to have Karlie as our new brand ambassador. Besides her amazing beauty, she stands for modernity, freshness, self-confidence, elegance and spontaneity. Everything that we convey through our collections.”

Karlie herself has stated how happy she is to be part of Swarovski Brand. “The ‘Be Brilliant’ campaign is about celebrating the special moments in life, from the extraordinary to the everyday,” Karlie commented. “The pieces in the collection allow women everywhere to shine a little bit brighter, no matter what the occasion.”

For the next two years, we can now look forward to seeing Karlie’s newest campaign for Swarovski; which will be appearing in television, outdoor, digital and print campaigns starting in September of this year.  For now, visit Swarovski’s social media platforms to enjoy a few sneak peeks of what lies ahead.

For more information on Swarovski visit: www.swarovski.com