Bachendorf's

ACCENT The Magazine of Life’s Celebrations • Spring/Summer 2015

THE NEW HEIRLOOMS CATCHING UP WITH KRISTIN CHENOWETH

SUMMER’S SORBET SHADES

COLOR IN BLOOM

CONTENTS

Spring/Summer 2015 STORE LOCATIONS: PLAZA AT PRESTON CENTER 8400 PRESTON ROAD DALLAS, TX 75225 214-692-8400 GALLERIA LEVEL 1 13350 DALLAS PARKWAY

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SUITE 1415 DALLAS, TX 75240 972-392-9900 SHOPS AT LEGACY–NORTH 7401 LONE STAR DRIVE SUITE B100 PLANO, TX 75024 972-596-2090

FEATURES

P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E B J I FA S H I O N G R O U P

4 Welcome Letter

PUBLISHER

6 Proposals: Christy & Alex

STU NIFOUSSI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

8 Events at Bachendorf’s

KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN

10 Scene: Haute Looks on the Red Carpet

CREATIVE DIRECTOR HANS GSCHLIESSER

12 Diamonds: De Beers & Forevermark

MANAGING EDITOR

14 Social Media: Hashtag How-to

JILLIAN LAROCHELLE PROJECT MANAGER

16 Timepieces: Worry Over Watchmakers

LISA MONTEMORRA

18 Collecting: Time to Invest

DESIGNERS CYNTHIA LUCERO

20 Trends: The New Heirlooms

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22 Profile: Christopher Designs

JEAN-NICOLE VENDITTI PRODUCTION MANAGER PEG EADIE

24 From the Runways

PRESIDENT AND CEO

28 Guy Style: Men’s Trends

BRITTON JONES CHAIRMAN AND COO

30 Spotted: As Seen On…

MAC BRIGHTON

32 Golf: Triumph & Tragedy 34 Personalities: Kristin Chenoweth 36 Culture: Fashion Facelift

Prices are subject to change without notice and may vary

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depending on size, quality and availability. Copyright 2015 Accent® is published by Business Journals, Inc, P.O. Box 5550, Norwalk, CT 06856, 203-853-6015 • Fax: 203-852-8175; Advertising Office: 1384 Broadway, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10018,

38 Travel: Take Me Away 40 Wellness: Tammy Fender

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42 Food: Celebrating Curaçao’s Cuisine

part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Volume 13, Issue 1. Accent® is a trade-

44 Experts: All About Bridal Rings

mark of Business Journals, Inc. registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. Printed In The U.S.A.

OYSTER PERPETUAL L ADY-DATEJUST PE ARLMASTER

rolex

oyster perpetual, lady-datejust and pearlmaster are trademarks.

welcome

To Our Valued Customers and Friends,

T

he most rewarding part of our business is making people happy. Over the years, my family has strived to accomplish this by offering the highest quality items at fair prices and working diligently to deliver first-class customer service.

Bachendorf’s not only offers a vast selection of designer jewelry and watches but also unique heirloom pieces inspired by my father and grandfather. One of the most popular items Harry Bock created is the Bock diamond angel (shown at left). This design came to fruition in the late 1970s when my father was playing with a collection of fancy-shaped diamonds at our office in Antwerp, Belgium. He arranged them on a diamond pad in the shape of an angel, and the Bock angel was born. We now make them in all sizes, from a half-carat total weight up to over six carats.

As always, we are grateful for the support and continued patronage of our loyal customers and friends. We hope you enjoy the articles we’ve compiled for you in this latest edition of our Accent magazine and that you take notice of our favorite local businesses and patronize them if the occasion arises.

Bachendorf’s diamond angels, original design

by Harry Bock.

Sincerely, Lawrence Bock President

The Galleria Mall - Level 1 13350 Dallas Parkway Dallas, TX 75240 (972) 392-9900

Shops at Legacy – North 7401 Lone Star Drive Plano, TX 75024 (972) 596-2090

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Plaza at Preston Center 8400 Preston Road Dallas, TX 75225 (214) 692-8400

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engagements

Christy & Alex

As their July 11, 2015 wedding day approaches, Bachendorf’s customers Christy and Alex recount their heartwarming proposal memories. get engaged I wanted it to be with a ring she absolutely loves, rather than me just guessing.

C: I had to convince him to go shopping together because he had always envisioned it as being a surprise. But just like clothes, you never really know what suits you best until you try it on.

A: Initially we thought she wanted a round stone with a simple band, but as the afternoon went on and she tried on dozens of different styles, we ended up falling in love with a cushion-cut stone. We experienced that moment where we both just knew, and I was so glad we’d gone together.

Surprisingly the ring buying was the easiest part! I met Deborah at Bachendorf’s and she sat me down for a “diamonds 101.” Because it’s such a big purchase I had shopped around at a few places, but at Bachendorf’s I immediately found that sense of trust and the high-end feel I had been looking for. The name recognition and quality of service were unmatched. I knew nothing about diamonds, and they laid it all on the table for me. I really appreciated that they made sure I was comfortable, gave me all the options and didn’t push me into anything.

Tell us how the proposal played out.

A: I got her mom and sister in on it; they helped me pack her suitcase. On the morning of our engagement, Christy thought she was headed to a workout class, and that’s when it all started.

C: He thought of every little detail. I had a work trip two weeks before and he had even taken a picture of my toiletry bag so he would know what I needed! I didn’t suspect anything. I got a call early in the morning from a gentleman who told me my ride was outside waiting, and when I looked over at Alex he had the biggest grin on his face. I still thought maybe he had booked me a day at the spa or something.

Then I saw the driver loading big suitcases into the car, and when Alex handed me our passports, that’s when I knew we were going international. But he didn’t tell me it was Cabo until we had to check in at the airport.

A: Once we got to the resort, we had lunch and drinks and played on the beach, then I had a couple’s massage planned for the afternoon. That evening I told her there was one more surprise, which was dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa, a beautiful restaurant built into the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean. Before our reservation we took a walk on the beach, and that’s where I proposed.

C: It was surreal because you dream about the moment your whole life, and suddenly he was there smiling at me and we were in this beautiful location. He nailed it from what I can remember! After I said yes, I wanted to take a picture on my phone, but he pointed to an abandoned surfboard in the distance and a lady popped out from behind it! She had captured our entire proposal!

A: I was so nervous trying to remember what I wanted to say while also trying to find the one place in the sand the photographer and I had agreed on. But it worked out perfectly, and after dinner I also gave Christy a letter that contained the more articulate version of what I wanted to say so she could keep it forever.

It all ended up coming together in the moment.

How did you two meet?

Alex: In February 2005, I was a freshman at the University of Kansas. Christy was still in high school and looking at colleges. I was friends with her older brother back in Dallas, so at his advice she gave me a call and asked me to show her around campus when she came for a visit. We hit it off and have been together ever since.

Christy: We started dating right away; I took several trips back to KU in order to “solidify my decision,” but secretly it was just to see Alex! That summer he came home to Dallas, and we made it official. Then we both went back to KU in the fall.

Alex, when did you decide to propose?

A: We got engaged in July 2014, but the planning started months before. I knew I wanted to do something really special for Christy—she deserves it. I asked her father for his blessing, and I talked to her mom about it, too. It didn’t seem right to only ask him because we’re all so close.

It was a good thing I got their approval, because 24 hours before I had booked a surprise trip to Cabo, where I planned to propose. (Christy and I had been there once before and quickly decided it was our favorite place.) Once I had the ring, the tricky part was figuring out how to get her to Cabo without her having any idea.

How did you choose Christy’s engagement ring?

A: For years we didn’t talk about specifics, but I realized that if we were going to

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BACH_P006.pdf

EVENTS AT BACHENDORF’S AT BACHENDORF’S JEWELERS, WE CONTINUE OUR LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF HOSTING FUN EVENTS TO ENTERTAIN CLIENTS AND BENEFIT CHARITABLE CAUSES.

DIAMONDS AND DEBS 2015 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Debutantes at Bachendorf’s annual Diamonds and Debs event.

MARCO BICEGO LUNCHEON Katy Bock, Paige Westhoff, designer Marco Bicego and Amy Green.

Designer Marco Bicego hand-engraving one of his pieces at Bachendorf’s Plaza at Preston Center location.

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LLADRÓ IN-STORE SIGNING Lladró president Rosa Lladró (above right) with Bachendorf’s customers at an in-store signing event.

BREITLING / RED BULL AIR RACE CHAMPIONSHIP PARTY Bachendorf’s president Lawrence Bock, Breitling pilot Nigel Lamb, Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin and national director of sales for Breitling USA, Chuck Anderson, celebrating the return of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship to Texas at Bachendorf’s at the Galleria.

The Breitling Race Team: Max Lamb (track and tactical analyst), Victoria Griffiths (team coordinator) and Nigel Lamb (pilot).

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scene

KATY PERRY

JULIANNE HOUGH

BELLAMY YOUNG

wore a Harry Kotlar fancy canary yellow diamond ring to the Grammys.

wore a David Yurman Petite PavĂŠ pinky ring to the Elle Women in Hollywood event.

wore a David Yurman Labyrinth gold dome ring to the Elle Women in Hollywood event.

HAUTE LOOKS ON 1

KAROLINA KURKOVA

TAYLOR SCHILLING

ZOOEY DESCHANEL

wore a Forevermark Cluster Shield diamond ring to an Art Basel party in Miami.

wore a Forevermark Exceptional Diamond Jewelry by Premier Gem ring to the Emmys.

wore a Forevermark by Maria Canale Aster Collection diamond ring to the Emmys.

THE RED CARPET Take a cue from these decorated digits and ring in spring! BY JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

HowLong is FOREVER?

De Beers CEO Philippe Mellier talks challenges, long-term prospects and social responsibility.

BY KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN

“THE PRODUCT WE SELL IS SCARCE AND BECOMING SCARCER.” PHILIPPE MELLIER, DE BEERS

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What are the diamond industry’s most pressing challenges and how are you dealing with these?

The growth in demand for diamonds will soon outpace supply; supply is forecast to plateau, and then decline after 2020. We are investing heavily in our production capacity: we’ve committed considerable capital to major expansion projects at our existing operations and to developing new deposits. In Botswana, we continue with our hugely important investment at Jwaneng which, we estimate, will deliver over 100 million extra carats from one of the world’s richest diamond mines.

In South Africa, an underground project will extend the life of its largest diamond mine to 2044. In Canada, progress continues at one of the largest new developments in the diamond world, and we look forward to receiving the first production within a couple of years. We’ve recently opened a mine in Namibia after two years of development work.

Where is this growth in demand coming from?

The engine is the U.S., coupled with growing demand from the East as more Indian and Chinese middleclass consumers choose to purchase diamonds.

How is the consumer landscape changing?

The increasing polarization of wealth means that bridal jewelry and wealthier consumers are driving the U.S. growth today. There has also been a recent increase in consumer preferences for brands, which is why our partnership with Forevermark has been so successful.

Generation Y and Millennial consumers, who will provide the oxygen for future U.S. demand for diamond jewelry, are looking for uniqueness and ethical reassurance in the products they buy. The Forevermark brand responds to their need for confidence, trust, quality and excitement. (We recently inscribed our millionth Forevermark diamond!)

What responsibility do you feel toward countries whose natural resources you are developing?

Our business model is built on partnerships with governments; we are extremely proud of what these partnerships have meant for the economic and social development in these nations. Diamonds represent over three quarters of total export earnings in Botswana and over a quarter of the total in Namibia.

Our relationships in these nations are among the world’s most successful public-private partnerships.

FROM TOP: FOREVERMARK BY STEPHEN WEBSTER, FOREVERMARK EXCEPTIONAL DIAMOND JEWELRY BY RAHAMINOV

diamonds

social media

hashtag how-to E

ven the social media-savvy among us might assume that the use of hashtags in user-generated posts is a relatively new phenomenon— something that’s say, two or three years old at the most. While hashtags have certainly gained popularity during this timeframe, you might be surprised to learn that their origin dates a bit further back. Like, way back.

We’re talking 1990s here. Before Facebook dominated the globe, and even before the rise of MySpace (remember THAT?), hashtags were employed online by Internet Relay Chat technology as a method for categorizing items into subject groups.

There they remained in relative obscurity until August 23, 2007. On that day, Google employee (and later Google+ user experience designer) Chris Messina tweeted a now-infamous question to his followers about grouping conversations within BarCamp, an online network devoted to discourse about technology as it relates to the internet. @chrismessina: “how do you feel about using # (pound) for groups.

As in #barcamp [msg]?”

Happy birthday to you, hashtags. That day in 2007 marked the real beginning.

Tech-savvy Twitter users quickly adopted the hashtag based on Messina’s inquiry, building a momentum that spread within the social platform and then slowly transitioned to other services like Facebook. By the time Instagram, Vine, Google+ and Pinterest were created and gained their own audiences, the hashtag had been steadily earning its place in the collective consciousness.

For those who aren’t as familiar with this context-providing device formerly known as the pound sign, let’s provide a quick primer. In a nutshell, to “hashtag” something means to add the pound sign in front of a word or phrase that categorizes your post by subject matter, thereby making it more searchable to a larger audience beyond your own friends and contacts.

But it’s almost easier to define the hashtag by providing an example.

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For instance, let’s say that Kelly, a Facebook user with more than 600 friends, posts the following line about a new restaurant along with a picture of its exterior.

“I love the pasta at this noodle restaurant in Westport! Yum! #foodie” Ordinarily, Kelly’s photo and associated text would be visible to mainly the 600-plus people in her network. But with the addition of “#foodie,” virtually any member of the Facebook community can locate Kelly’s post by entering #foodie in a search (depending, of course, upon Kelly’s privacy settings). In such a search, her entry would appear along with hundreds of other posts that contain similar content, making it easier for foodies around the globe to interact with one another…and learn about Kelly’s favorite noodle joint along the way.

So exactly what role have hashtags played in our world of fine jewelry and timepieces?

According to top-hashtags.com, a website devoted to tracking the most-used hashtags, people’s posts about jewelry are often punctuated with #fashion, #swag, #jewelry, #diamond, #celebritystyle. A quick review of social media posts by well-known jewelry designers and retailers reveals that other tags like #aotd (accessory of the day) and #jotd (jewelry of the day) are commonly used as well.

The biggest rule in the world of hashtags is that there are no rules.

Clever or nonsensical, comedic or dramatic, they’re merely a way for content creators to get their posts noticed. For lovers of modernity’s increasingly scarce resource—privacy—they’re just more noise in an already too-talkative world. But for those who enjoy the chatter, hashtags are, well, #trendy.

So go ahead: post a picture of the tennis bracelet you received for Christmas, or of the Rolex you just inherited. Then choose or create your own hashtag. #WeWantToSee

IMAGE BY CHRIS NAVARRO

BY ADAM GEBHARDT

Š 2015 John Hardy Limited

One of a kind. One at a time. Each by hand.

timepieces

worry over

The watch business is booming—and that’s got luxury brands determined to make sure watches can be produced and repaired in, well, a timely way.

BY JACK FORSTER

A

watch can be many things: an heirloom, a tool, even a work of art. But what all watches have in common is that they’re machines, and like any machine, they need to be taken care of. Though most customers give little thought to maintenance when they buy their first watch, the purchase is actually the end of one story and the beginning of another—one that involves a lifetime relationship with whoever is going to keep the watch in good running order. Making sure there are enough watchmakers to go around is increasingly a challenge.

Servicing even a simple watch means taking apart a tiny mechanism no bigger than a quarter, with hundreds of parts, without damaging anything. Then each part must be meticulously cleaned before the entire movement is reassembled, with the correct amount of lubricant applied to moving parts that, in some cases, are no bigger than the eye of a housefly.

A properly serviced watch will also have its seals changed, to maintain the

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water resistance it had when first sold.

Then its performance has to be checked and the watch adjusted to within desired specifications before it can be released back to the customer. If it’s a complicated watch, the time necessary to service it increases exponentially. For a vintage watch, finding replacement parts can require hours of detective work.

Educating a new generation of luxury consumers to understand exactly how much goes into servicing a watch is an important step forward. Patek Philippe has had a service center in the United States for many years, and its U.S. president Larry Pettinelli says, “There’s no question that there is a need to educate clients about using qualified Above: watchmakers and what it takes to Watchmakers maintain a fine timepiece.” working at the Patek Philippe It’s demanding work, and a hurried Institute in watchmaker is a bad watchmaker. To Shanghai. clients used to getting a car sent in for repair back within a few days, it’s mystifying that it should take so long.

The problem watch owners and watch brands alike are facing is that there just aren’t enough people around who know how to service a watch properly. It’s difficult enough when you’re trying to get a fairly simple, threehanded wristwatch cleaned and oiled; if you have something more complicated—a chronograph, perhaps, or something really challenging like a perpetual calendar or tourbillon—it’s critical to entrust the timepiece to one of the increasingly few skilled watchmakers around. Nobody wants to wait weeks or months to get a favorite watch back, and luxury brands know that since every watch they sell is going to need service sooner or later, something has to be done to fill the gap in trained watchmakers.

Fortunately, progress towards this goal is being made.

FAR LEFT AND NEXT PAGE COURTESY OF LITITZ WATCH TECHNICUM; OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF PATEK PHILIPPE

watchmakers

One of the biggest names in watchmaking, Rolex, is also one of the front-runners in making sure the watches it sells are watches it can keep running. Here in the U.S., one of the best-equipped schools for watchmakers is the Lititz Watch Technicum in Lititz, Pennsylvania, launched by Rolex in 2000. The cost of tuition is entirely underwritten by Rolex and watchmakers there work in spotless, NASA cleanroom-style facilities, using a combination of traditional tools and state-of-the-art equipment. Though most Watchmakers watchmaking programs teach servicing a watch rather than at work inside the Lititz making one from scratch, Technicum students must Watch actually make their own timepieces before graduation.

Technicum.

Still, the Technicum graduates only a handful of students each year. According to a story watch historian Stacy Perman wrote for Bloomberg, there were 43 watchmaking training programs in the U.S. Germany; it also has a partnership with the British School of Watchmaking in 1976, compared to only a dozen in 2006, when the story ran. And it’s not just in Manchester. The Nicolas G. Hayek Watchmaking School in the United an American problem. In countries like China, where boom economies have States (started in Seacaucus, NJ in 2005 and located in Miami since 2009) driven an explosion of watch sales, the difficulties in getting a watch serviced provides a comprehensive, 3,000-hour curriculum that gives graduates a can present a major headache to owners, and a crisis of confidence in brands. well-rounded understanding of both the theory and practice of he principal of the Lititz Watch Technicum, German-born Herman watchmaking. It even includes courses on time and physics, and the Mayer, traces the shortage in trained watchmakers to a global event: evolution of instruments for reckoning time. the advent of inexpensive quartz watches. Says Mayer, “Reduced Beat Aebi, head of Swatch Group Customer Service, says such training demand was caused by the quartz dominance starting from the late ’70s. is essential for the future of luxury watchmaking. “Our products are made That situation led to watchmaking losing its attraction as a field of to last a lifetime,” he says. “Many people come back to us and expect high employment. The full-fledged watchmaker as a professional had levels of service [for] watches that have been passed down from generation disappeared from the awareness of the general public by the time the to generation.” And though watchmaking as a profession is still an unusual renaissance of the mechanical high-end started.” choice, Aebi says that, increasingly, “Many students seek us out. It is a Companies with the ability to do so are taking steps to make up for the passion to become a watchmaker, and they have parents or grandparents shortfall. Patek Philippe, which despite a general slowdown in luxury watch who were watchmakers and have passed down the passion and skills.’’ sales continues to be one of the most ardently desired and passionately A few independent watchmaking programs also still exist. The collected watch brands in the world, has established watchmaking schools Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology has a program that is one in Shanghai and Beijing, intended to train watchmakers in China to handle of the oldest in the country, having been established in 1946. The program the brand’s service needs there. offers an associate’s degree and enjoys the support of Rolex, which provides Patek Philippe’s New York service center is one of the most highly material (state-of-the-art equipment) and financial assistance. regarded in the United States. “The U.S. service center has been in existence Still, relieving the shortage will be a gradual process, since for decades,” says Pettinelli. “Our watchmakers are capable and trained at watchmakers can’t be trained overnight. The Patek Philippe program, for the highest level to work on the most complex timepieces. But minute instance, requires two years of training and 3,500 hours just to reach a level repeaters and tourbillons are sent back to Geneva so they can be addressed where Patek considers the trainee qualified to service quartz and simple in the workshop they were originally created in, oftentimes with the actual mechanical movements. The OSU program, one of the most highly watchmaker who created the timepiece.” Though Patek doesn’t yet have a regarded in the USA, graduated only six students last December. And while watchmaker’s school in the United States, Pettinelli says that there are basic training programs provide a solid foundation, it’s only the beginning. serious discussions underway to establish one—a logical extension of the Learning how to handle the really big guns of horological complexity— firm’s commitment to bringing top-level expertise to its local markets. repeaters, perpetual calendars, tourbillons—takes many more years, and The Richemont Group, which owns some of the world’s most there’s no way to rush the process. prestigious brands, including Cartier, IWC and Vacheron Constantin, Pettinelli remarks, “I don’t think we are yet at a crisis, but certainly there supports the schools known as the Institutes of Swiss Watchmaking, with is a growing realization that supply is not keeping up with demand.... The training centers in Dallas, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The Institute’s U.S. major issue regarding delayed watches is the lack of qualified watchmakers. campus, the North American Institute of Swiss Watchmaking, bases its For instance [Patek Philippe’s service center in New York] does 10,000 3,000-hour program on the curriculum set by WOSTEP (Watchmakers of repairs a year with only 20 watchmakers.”

Switzerland Training and Education Program), the current industry standard Help is on the way, as more and more watch brands strive to make sure for watchmaking schools seeking to offer students a comprehensive that at least basic repairs can be handled more quickly. For watch general introduction to the craft. customers and collectors, it helps to remember that if you buy something The Swatch Group, which owns Blancpain, Breguet and Omega, among meant to last a lifetime, it’s worth taking a little extra time to care for it— others, has a total of six watchmaking schools worldwide: in Shanghai, and worth appreciating the skill and dedication it takes to be a watchmaker.

Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Miami, and Glashütte and Pforzheim in

T

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collecting

time to

invest

Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMTMaster II, 40mm in stainless steel with rotatable black and blue ceramic bezel and Oysterlock bracelet.

Watchmaking history appeals to a new generation.

BY WILLIAM BUCKLEY

P

hilatelists collect stamps and numismatists collect coins, but watch collectors, in the grand scheme of things, are a relatively new breed.

Seismic shifts—from pocket watch to mechanical wristwatch to quartz and atomic movements—indicated the fading of each previous technology into obscurity. But by the end of the 1980s, manufacturers realized that there was a market for mechanical wristwatches both as timepiece and work of art. A new generation of consumers was excited by the craftsmanship of traditional horology, and the watch collector was born.

Edward Faber, one of the leading experts on vintage watches and founder of the Aaron Faber Gallery in New York, explains, “Before 1930 watches were essentially pocket watches retrofitted to the wrist. With the advent of World War I, huge advances in technology were made in all areas, from automobiles to aviation, and watches soon followed suit. The nuances of jeweling and modern technology enabled watchmakers to integrate features like chronographs and moonphase calendars, and mechanical wristwatches entered their element.”

But with the “quartz revolution” came a level of timekeeping accuracy that changed daily life. What began in 1929 with the quartz clock took 40 years to miniaturize, but in a few swift years mechanical watches began to look like they would become obsolete. “We’ve learned in this industry to fear new technologies, and for good reason,” explains Michael Friedman, historian for Audemars Piguet. “What we could accurately call the quartz revolution was known to many as the quartz crisis because it essentially wiped out the industry as we knew it; it took many years to evolve past that.

But interestingly, what the quartz era in the 1970s really did was to liberate the watch industry. We’re now in an era of experimentation and expressionism largely because the accuracy problem was solved when the quartz watch debuted.”

With smart watch production numbers in the tens of millions, manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are investing in the future of timekeeping. And whether or not smart watches become as ubiquitous as the quartz and mechanical movements before them, increased interest in traditional craftsmanship has secured the future of mechanical watches. “To connect with a timepiece, which may have plus or minus a few seconds per week but is part of horological history, is a strong statement,” insists Faber.

“People in their 20s and 30s are looking at vintage Rolexes and IWCs and they’re excited to collect them, they’re excited to buy them. When they buy vintage watches, they’re also buying the stories behind them.”

Patek Philippe Ref. 5170G Men’s Chronograph with pulsometric scale. White gold with silvery white dial.

Featuring Caliber CH 29-535 PS Mechanical manually wound movement.

WHAT COLLECTORS LOOK FOR

Brand: This is the number-one consideration. Currently Patek Philippe and Rolex are most coveted.

Papers and Presentation: Watches with their original papers and boxes in good condition are worth more.

Metal: With only a few exceptions, platinum is number one, followed by rose gold, then yellow gold, then steel.

Complications: Chronographs, moonphases, tourbillions etc. can increase a watch’s collectability.

Rarity: The more mass-produced a watch is, the less desirable it is to a collector.

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POIS MOI COLLECTION

trends

the new heirlooms

Today’s jewelry merges the best of past and present.

BY BETH BERNSTEIN

When considering buying fine jewelry, a woman should ask two important questions before making a purchase: Will the styles endure or at least make a comeback? And will they retain their intrinsic value? Renowned jewelry houses and savvy independent designers ask themselves these same questions before jumping on a new trend direction. For spring/summer 2015, the hottest jewelry styles possess these qualities and are part of an evolving trend we’ll call “The New Heirlooms.” This is jewelry that recalls the past with vintage silhouettes or antique details, but has been reworked with a current sensibility to appeal to today’s modern woman.

GO FOR THE GOLD

BRING ON THE BLING At the same time, we’re witnessing a return to Art Deco-inspired long, linear and ultra-clean shapes, many with fluidity of movement. These appear in white gold and feature varying cuts of diamonds, reminiscent of Cartier in the ’20s and ’30s.

Cabochon and sugar loaf cuts of emeralds, sapphires, spinels and rubies are also trending. The cuts are generally set in white gold or platinum and featured in flexible bracelets, large stone rings, lariat necklaces and tassel earrings, which flow and swing when a woman turns her head. Arm bracelets and hand and hair jewelry are renewing this category with the youthful spirit it needs to inspire a new generation of fine jewelry devotees.

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FROM TOP: ROBERTO COIN, MARCO BICEGO, IVANKA TRUMP, PENNY PREVILLE

At the auction and collector level, signed pieces by storied design houses (think Boucheron, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels) have been fetching record prices. Inspired by the renewed demand for bold jewelry, chunky yellow gold styles are back in all of their adorning glory.

Retro looks from the ’40s and ’50s, including single bracelets with multiple charms and large, intricately designed links, are back. For a fresh look, they can be stacked with early antique serpent styles that wrap several times around the wrist, or ’70s-style buckle bracelets. Looks popularized in the ’80s by designers such as Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso are being rethought in modern forms: wider-than-wide cuffs, knuckle rings and pendants that dangle at 32” or longer.

Large hoop earrings in various oval, marquise, round and square shapes take on an organic feel, while stud earrings, stackable rings and bib necklaces all incorporate movement. Many also sport colored gemstones, which range from more muted varieties of labradorite and moonstone to fancy colored sapphires and various hues of tourmaline. There’s also a return to figurative Art Nouveau shapes with touches of enamel and intriguing color combinations.

Plaza at Preston Center 214-692-8400; Galleria Level 1 972-392-9900; Shops at Legacy North 972-596-2090

profile

Love on steroids

Diamond cuts so magnificent, they’re patented!

BY ERIK DEFRUSCIO

A

rtist and jewelry designer Christopher Slowinski, known for creating innovative diamond cuts and settings, modestly insists that his best creations have happened by accident. “When I started out cutting diamonds, I was actually lousy at it; it was a mistake that led me to come up with a different arrangement of facets.”

Slowinski, a native of Poland with an engineering background, moved to America in 1976 and apprenticed with a diamond cutter in New York City.

He started out learning how to set stones, and after two years in the industry he opened a small contracting shop with a friend, doing mostly repairs and custom work. “I didn’t start with special skills but soon learned I had the ability to make a design better than the original—creating a better flow, tweaking the design to individual tastes.”

Early in Slowinski’s career, he was sent a ring with princess-cut diamonds that had a few stones missing. “They thought I was a genius and could repair anything,” he recalls. “However, it wasn’t possible for me to save this ring.” From the frustration of not being able to fix it, Slowinski ultimately created his famous invisible setting, filing his first patent in 1991.

“It was absolutely perfect. Most other rings had problems with lost stones, but I never lost stones with this setting.”

Ultimately opening his own small shop and gradually building a collection, his breakthrough came in 1998 when he created a 77-facet diamond (vs. the generic 48), the first-ever modified step cut, for which he filed his second patent and which fast became a top seller. Ironically, he discovered this Crisscut diamond by mistakenly placing a diamond on the cutter the wrong way. “I messed up the stone but noticed how beautifully the erroneous triangle enhanced the light,” Slowinski explains, ripping and folding a sheet of paper in an attempt to demonstrate how a generic emerald cut becomes something else entirely. “I thought I had something special but I couldn’t get a cutter to make it. Finally, I went to Israel and had it made. It’s still a top seller.” He ultimately used a similar concept on round cuts, which required three years of work and four patents. A unique cut with 109 facets, the Brilliant Crisscut appears round but actually has 12 straight walls and 12 sides, creating the illusion of a scalloped border.

Then, as Slowinski recalls, “I broke all the cutting rules,” coming up with yet another new cut where “light bounces off seven times inside the stone before exiting, greatly amplifying the stone’s brilliance.” This amazing diamond design, called L’Amour Crisscut, appears 40 to 50 percent larger than a comparably sized emerald-cut diamond and, as Slowinski puts it, “is so brilliant that it sells itself.”

What’s next for Slowisnski (who works with 60 craftsmen at his two facilities in Manhattan and personally inspects every stone that is cut and every setting cast)? “I think I can finally take a break,” he says, heading off to Europe to show his collection at Baselworld, the most prestigious jewelry show in the industry. A break? We don’t, for a second, believe him….

“FOR ME, TECHNOLOGY IS AS IMPORTANT AS AESTHETICS.” CHRISTOPHER SLOWINSKI, CHRISTOPHER DESIGNS

22

from the

RUNWAYS

PUMPED-UP PEARLS

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1. MIKIMOTO Akoya cultured pearl necklace with diamond rondelles set in 18K white gold 2. MIKIMOTO World of Creativity Shine collection white South Sea cultured pearl earrings with diamonds set in 18K white gold 3. LISA NIK Earth and Sea collection 18K rose gold twisted wires drop earrings with baroque pearls 4. MIKIMOTO Akoya cultured pearl bracelet with signature clasp in 18K white gold 5. MIKIMOTO black South Sea cultured pearl earrings with diamonds set in 18K white gold ELIE SAAB RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

from the

RUNWAYS

SORBET SHADES

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4

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

3 5

LISA NIK Sparkle collection 18K white gold pendant with blue topaz oval center and diamond bezel chain MARCO BICEGO 18K hand-engraved yellow gold earrings with mixed semi-precious gemstones LISA NIK Rocks collection 18K white gold cushion ring with rose de france amethyst and diamonds BACHENDORF’S 1.77ct fancy light purplish pink oval diamond ring with half-moon sides and three-sided micro pavé LISA NIK Rocks collection 18K rose gold hoop earrings with citrine cushion detachable drop elements ZUHAIR MURAD RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

guy style Stephen Webster for STEPHEN WEBSTER “Ceramic has been around for a while in the watch world and I wanted to work out how to incorporate it into our men’s jewelry. It’s inexpensive but it still looks substantial and feels good. After about three years, our Ceramic Link collection is finally ready. The idea is you invest in the clasp, which we’re making in rose, yellow and blackened gold with various

Guy Bedarida for JOHN HARDY

gemstones. My favorite designs include the Revolutionary, the Churchill and the HALF

CORONA, which

“This has been our best year yet for men’s; we’re

looks like a vintage cigar cutter. The

actively growing the collection with the help of

ceramic bracelet is affordable

our very talented men’s designer, Nicolas Robert.

Men are really getting comfortable buying jewelry, as long as it’s something cool with an interesting story behind it. They love our pieces that incorporate mixed materials, like metals with leather. They don’t want to overspend, and most of all, the pieces need to be comfortable. They should be simple, sleek and easy to clasp.

“We recently introduced a highly polished

BRONZE FINISH that looks like rose gold. I love it used on our Classic Chain reversible

MEN’S TRENDS A look at what’s hot from our favorite designers.

BY JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

bracelet, which we’ve made more flat and rectangular, less chunky than in the past.

enough that guys can buy it in different colorways; we have manly options like oxblood, gunmetal gray and matte black.

There are different widths available, but chunkier seems to be more popular at the moment.

“Our designs are never basic, but you could say they’re moving in a more classic-clean direction, with the interest coming from MIXING MATERIALS (like leather, mother of pearl and black sapphires with various metals) rather than novelty designs.

“Cuff links have been historically strong for

“Whereas women generally don’t want to

us. (I wear them every day even though I spend a lot of my

tell each other about how their jewelry was made, men like jewelry that

time in the middle of the jungle!) Another thing I’m excited

has a meaning and that they can talk about. In other words,

about is the introduction of the John Hardy EAGLE theme.

men like a story—and that works out for me

The eagle is obviously an American icon and it has a history in

because I’m a big storyteller!”

Bali as well. It has been a huge success at all of the trunk shows and personal appearances where I’ve shown it.”

Evan Yurman for DAVID YURMAN “I admire men who take risks with their choices in terms of accessories. Layering pieces to create a signature look really resonates with me. I also appreciate collectors: men who accumulate and wear their jewelry like talismans to remind them of special places and times in their lives. When designing for women, the first thing we ask ourselves is ‘Is it beautiful?’ With men, we find ourselves asking ‘Is it interesting?’ We look for innovative materials, unusual techniques and design motifs steeped in history.

“I’m most excited about our FACETED

METAL collection. The inspiration came from a high jewelry piece that we created out of platinum to mimic the

facets of a remarkably cut diamond. We took this idea of applying a stone-cutting technique to metal and created bold, tailored pieces that seamlessly blend sterling silver and gold.

“We’re launching a collection called Heirloom in both green and BLACK

JADE this spring; it’s the first time that we’ve

used these stones. We have also introduced a limited run of Paraiba Tourmaline pavé into our Frontier collection. This stone is remarkable for its vibrant blue color and exceptional rarity.”

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It comes down to cause and effect.

You’re the cause. This is the effect.

The Continental GT Speed Convertible.

For more information call 214.849.5300 or visit www.bentleydallas.com

BENTLEY DALLAS The name ‘Bentley’ and the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. © 2015 Bentley Motors, Inc. Model shown: Continental GT Speed Convertible

spotted

Idina Menzel wears Forevermark during a performance at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

As Seen On...

Our favorite stars share a love for our favorite brands!

Sarah Jessica Parker wears Mikimoto at the Great American Songbook Gala.

Estelle wears David Yurman during a performance at the New 30 Yorkers for Children Fall Gala.

IDINA MENZEL COURTESY OF DOMAIN LA; SARAH JESSICA PARKER BY PATRICK MCMULLAN COURTESY OF MIKIMOTO; TARAJI P. HENSON COURTESY OF MICHELLE MARIE PR

BY JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

COURTESY OF D’ORAZIO & ASSOCIATES

Cara Delevingne wears John Hardy at the Serpentine Gala Summer Party.

Jennifer Lopez wears Harry Kotlar during an appearance on Ellen.

Hillary Clinton wears Marco Bicego at the Democratic Convention.

Kate Walsh wears Roberto Coin at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women In Entertainment: Power 100 Breakfast.

2

golf

triumph & tragedy

Gary Player won the 1965 U.S. Open Championship, but Phil Mickelson missed his chance in 2006.

The U.S. Open Championship is golf’s toughest tournament. BY EDWARD KIERSH

Gary Player celebrated at Bellerive in 1965.

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GARY PLAYER COURTESY OF BLACK KNIGHT ARCHIVES; PHIL MICKELSON COURTESY OF ROLEX

I

t’s one of the most demanding athletic showcases in the world, where unshakable endurance and remarkable precision are all-important. The U.S. Open Championship, which will be held in June, this year at Chambers Bay near Tacoma, Washington, has long been a proving ground for the world’s best golfers. Every year since the first Open, in 1895 at the Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, legends have been inspired by brave men battling ankle-high rough, dramatically contoured fairways and unnervingly fast greens.

“The Open was my most coveted title because it’s such a grueling test, and it consistently offers special moments in the game’s history,” says 1965 Open champion Gary Player. “Open courses are so physically and mentally demanding that handling the terrific pressure is essential to winning—and that requires a combination of patience and precision.”

Although the Open is especially merciless (maybe because of it), many of the game’s most inspirational moments have taken place during this United States Golf Association-staged event. Only last year at Pinehurst, Martin Kaymer ran away from the field by shooting a nine-under par 271, the third lowest score ever. It was a triumph reminiscent of three-time champion Tiger Woods’ stunning 12-under par performance at Pebble Beach in 2000, and Rory McIlroy’s blistering 16-under 2011 conquest of Congressional. Staging his own heroics in 1990, Hale Irwin, at age 45, became the oldest man ever to claim the title. His uplifting win belied the great Walter Hagen’s remark about a typical U.S. Open course: “It makes duffers of us all.”

Few golf aficionados can forget how “The People’s Champion” Phil Mickelson turned victory into defeat at New York’s Winged Foot Golf Club in 2006. Trying to carve a three-iron around a tree to buttress his one-stroke lead, Mickelson hit a branch, only managing to advance his ball a mere 25 yards. Obviously dismayed, he subsequently plopped the ball into a bunker, and later rued, “What an idiot I am!”

As Rolex, one of the tournament’s chief sponsors, suggests, Open golfers who do achieve a win become “witnesses to history,” masters of “impossible physics on the most hallowed grounds.” They display the same boldness and passion that make Rolex an iconic watch brand, so it’s no wonder that Rolex is irrevocably linked with greatness.

Emphasizing Rolex’s preeminence in watches as well as the integrity of the brand, John Green, president and CEO of Lux Bond & Green, says, “Our clients see Rolex wearers like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Roger Federer striving for excellence, and they too want to own a Rolex. These are the world’s greatest athletes, so buyers want what they want: the absolute best.”

personalities

Right: Chenoweth’s 2014 CD release of career favorites.

Diminutive

Diva

Kristin Chenoweth’s big voice and bright smile have been lighting up stages and screens for decades.

BY BRIAN SCOTT LIPTON

W

hat Kristin Chenoweth lacks in height she makes up for in vocal power, acting ability and fashion sense.

The 4'11'', 46-year-old superstar has thrilled Broadway audiences with her work in such shows as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (which earned her a Tony), Wicked and Promises, Promises. She’s also a frequent TV and film actress, best known for her roles as Annabeth in The West Wing, Courtney in Four Christmases, Olive Snook in Pushing Daisies (for which she won an Emmy) and April in Glee. And did we mention she regularly sells out concert halls and major arenas?

Last fall, Chenoweth released her latest CD, Coming Home, a concert version of which also aired as a PBS special. She’s currently appearing on Broadway opposite Peter Gallagher as

34

From top: Chenoweth in The Good Wife; with Peter Gallagher in On the Twentieth Century; in Glee; as Glinda the Good in Wicked.

tempestuous 1930s film star Lily Garland in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of the hit musical On the Twentieth Century.

Accent recently caught up with Chenoweth to chat about her career, her fashion choices and her favorite pieces of jewelry.

The character of Lily Garland in On the Twentieth Century has long been on your radar. How does it feel to finally get the chance to portray her on Broadway?

It’s definitely been on my bucket list. The composers, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, told me before they passed away that I was the next rightful owner of that role. I’ve always kept that in the back of my mind, and it seemed like now the time was right. And here I am doing it! I’m very nervous, because it’s a difficult score to sing, and there’s some major physical comedy.

When you play a character like Lily, who is a bit of a diva, which parts of your personality do you draw from?

I guess there is strength in me that I can only see at times when I’m being pushed to the limit, and Lily is a push-to-thelimit type of character. And vocally she’s a soprano, so that is right in my wheelhouse.

The character you’re best known for may be Glinda from Wicked. Do you ever get tired of singing songs from that show at your concerts?

Sometimes I wonder if the audience really wants to hear Popular again, but they prove me wrong every time. They always do!

How did you choose which songs to record for Coming Home?

It’s a culmination of songs I’ve been singing my whole life, so it’s more of a career record. Gospel music is a big part of my life, so I included a song I grew up singing, Little Sparrow, which is a tribute to Dolly Parton. There’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which I’ve been singing since I was itty-bitty. And I Could’ve Danced All Night from My Fair Lady shows my vocal training. Everything I do is represented on that album.

What are your favorite things to do off-stage?

When I need to get away, I like to go to Cabo San Lucas and lie by the pool and drink margaritas and hang out and eat. I also like to just stay in bed and watch TV. Tell us about your sense of fashion, both in real life and on the red carpet.

I keep it pretty simple. I think simple is better when you’re petite. And I like to mix and match. If I get a dress from Zara, then I’ll pair it with Christian Louboutin shoes.

Do you have a surefire look for attracting attention?

I don’t think cleavage ever hurts.

How do you use jewelry to complete a look, and what are some of your favorite pieces?

I don’t do a lot of big jewelry unless I’m on stage. Personally, I like smaller stacked necklaces and rings. I have a brand-new pair of broken arrow earrings that my friends gave me knowing I’m from a little town in Oklahoma called Broken Arrow, so currently those are my favorite.

Have you inherited any family jewelry heirlooms that mean something particularly special to you?

There is a black onyx ring that my grandma had. She gave it to my mom and my mom, not too long ago, gave it to me. That’s one of my prized possessions. So is another ring that my grandma had throughout her life; it’s an opal with diamonds around it. Those are the kind of things on which you can’t put a monetary value.

35

“Sometimes I wonder if the audience really wants to hear Popular again.. . they always do!”

culture

Italy’s designers step up to preserve cultural landmarks.

BY ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON

L

ast spring, in the wake of crippling recessions, Matteo Renzi, Italy’s newest (and youngest) prime minister, called on the private sector to help fund emergency restoration of collapsing structures in the ancient wonder that is the buried city of Pompeii. Heavy rains and flooding had caused severe damage, and the government was unable to cover the whole bill. Now the program is expanding to the country’s museums, fountains and other icons, particularly in Rome. And its fashion giants—including Fendi, Bulgari and Tod’s—are stepping up to the plate.

While corporate sponsorship of public projects is nothing new in the U.S., it’s fairly unprecedented in Italy, where there’s a resistance to mixing private and government programs. “The ideological refusal to permit the private sector to intervene—as if only the public sector could guarantee the guardianship of heritage—must end,” Renzi announced last March.

Soon after, luxury jeweler Bulgari said it would put $2 million toward an extensive refurbishment of the storied Spanish Steps in the Piazza di Spagna, where decades of heavy traffic have taken a toll on the 290-year-old structure. Scheduled to begin this year, it will help celebrate Bulgari’s 130th anniversary as a “special gift from

Roberto Cavalli held a runway show beneath Milan’s Arch of Peace and donated $120,000 towards its restoration.

GETTY 1; RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY OF ACCESSORIES DIRECTIONS

Fashion Facelift

Bulgari to its city,” CEO Jean-Christophe Babin said in a statement.

These gestures are not completely without precedent: In 2010, Roberto Cavalli presented his collection beneath Milan’s Arch of Peace in exchange for a $120,000 donation toward its restoration. What’s changed is the scale—and the ability to do some branding during construction.

Tod’s, the shoe company famous for its elegant driving moccasins, announced it is helping to finance a series of projects at Rome’s 2,000-yearold Colosseum. Plans for the $30 million comprehensive restoration have been in the works since 2012. (They met with some controversy, since part of the agreement involves promotional opportunties for Tod’s in exchange for the funding.) A series of restorations of the site’s arches, facades and entrances will keep the famous amphitheater partially shrouded in scaffolding for over two years. In the end, though, the city should be able to enjoy its massive monument for another few millennia.

And last summer, Fendi announced it would dedicate almost $3 million to a restoration of the Trevi Fountain, the Neptune-and-chariot adorned destination built in the 18th century and made famous in the films La Dolce Vita and Three Coins in the Fountain. While tourists might lament visiting the site while it’s drained and under scaffolding, it’s also possible they’ll catch Fendi’s creative genius Karl Lagerfeld, who loves photographing Rome’s fountains. For Fendi, restoring the city’s fountains (more projects are planned) makes sense. Insists Silvia Venturini Fendi, creative director of accessories and thirdgeneration designer, “It’s our duty to pay tribute to the city of Rome which has given us so much.”

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®, T H E D I A M O N D. T H E P R O M I S E .™ A R E T R A D E M A R K S O F T H E D E B E E R S G R O U P O F CO M PA N I E S . © FOREVERMARK 2014 – 2015. FOREVERMARK®,

A TRUE PROMISE WILL NEVER BE BROKEN Less than one percent of the world’s diamonds can carry the Forevermark inscription - a promise that each is beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced.

Forevermark is part of The De Beers Group of Companies.

travel

Take Me Away

Escape your everyday routine and experience self-discovery during a yoga retreat. BY ELISE DIAMANTINI

Left: Open-air meditation session in Nicaragua during a Yoga for Bad People retreat. Right: Scenes from the juice cleanse retreat in Montauk, NY.

YOGA FOR BAD PEOPLE Don’t be alarmed by the name: Yoga for Bad People is bad in a really good way. This traveling retreat company is the brainchild of NYC-based yoga instructors Heather Lilleston and Katelin Sisson, who provide guests with the perfect combination of yoga asana, meditation and fun-filled activities in beautiful settings all over the world. Lilleston describes the retreats as “not too much granola, not too much discipline, but just enough structure to give you an outline within which your own personal flavor of R & R can flourish. We like to think we have mastered the art of having a good time, rather than mastered the handstand or shoving our feet behind our heads.

That can be fun too, but mainly we want the experience to feel inclusive.”

Yoga for Bad People travels the globe to find gorgeous locations in countries like Nicaragua, Brazil, even Cuba. Yogis on retreat can expect a led meditation in the morning followed by a vinyasa yoga class, brunch, midday activities (like tanning, surfing, hiking, shopping, relaxing, etc.), an evening yoga class (generally more restorative), dinner and then time to chill out or explore the city’s nightlife. Yoga classes are focused on alignment and therapy, and as Lilleston says, “The practice reflects and balances out the

group dynamic, personal needs and the local environment, as well as offers a physical challenge. We make sure to give plenty of hands-on assists throughout a class. Led meditations are always optional, but those who have committed to them for the duration of the retreat have often been able to continue the practice at home.”

Another thing that makes Yoga for Bad People unique is the music.

Lilleston and Sisson say you’ll hear anything from Outkast to Cat Power to Led Zeppelin to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. “It’s not uncommon for the vibe of the class to feel like you have one foot on the mat and one foot on the dance floor,” she explains. “Bottom line: we like to have a good time.”

LUXYOGA Imagine this: an all-inclusive retreat at a private villa in the South of France with two daily yoga classes taught by master instructors, a personal chef who cooks delicious food using healthy local ingredients, and luxurious personalized service. When you book a LuxYoga retreat, this scenario becomes your reality. Benjamin Sears, who is trained in Bikram, Forrest and Dharma Mittra yoga, as well as meditation and pranayama, created LuxYoga as a high-quality yoga immersion and luxury vacation. “We offer a yoga

38

program where teachers get to know the students in a space where they will reflect and grow,” explains Sears. “Plus, it’s really nice to do some challenging yoga and know that after the class our concierge will be waiting with fresh-pressed juice and a beautiful lunch. This is a deep yoga retreat for real people. We want to create not only a vacation, but a transformative experience. We try to get people to dig a deep well and really enjoy themselves.”

Each retreat, specializing in either Bikram or vinyasa yoga, has no more than 15 people and two expert teachers. In addition to daily classes, students can attend in-depth workshops—photo analysis, lectures and clinics—that provide a deeper understanding of the practice. All levels are welcome, from beginners who want to learn more to certified teachers who want to refine their knowledge. “We want to make people feel safe and

EXOTIC YOGA RETREATS

E

xotic Yoga Retreats is exactly what its name implies: vacations with an emphasis on yoga in non-touristy locations, where students can experience “luxury travel, blending yoga and inner discovery with sensory experiences of visual beauty, healthy sumptuous cuisine, cultural enrichment and outdoor adventure.” Founder Gayle Olson, author of The Yoga and Fitness Guide for Women, is also a 20-year veteran teacher of vinyasa, Iyengar and Hatha yoga styles. She personally scouts locations in order to provide guests with “a deeply relaxing and inspiring setting [in which] to unwind, enjoy a little healthy indulgence, connect with themselves, with nature and with other interesting people from around the world: to enjoy simple pleasures in life, wrapped in a little luxury!”

Upcoming 2015 retreats include trips to Croatia, Bali, Bhutan and Provence.

Practicing handstands in Cambodia on an Exotic Yoga Retreat.

Yogis sharing a locally sourced meal during a LuxYoga retreat in the South of France.

“We want to create not only a vacation, but a transformative experience.” comfortable, and offer them a way of life that they can re-create at home.

We do journaling exercises and meditation to promote self-reflection. And while I care about the asana and I want people to improve, I’m more concerned with people than poses. The poses are just tools to help people.”

Sears says that while each activity at LuxYoga is optional, guests are typically inspired to take part in every aspect of the retreat. “And it’s not a Kumbaya situation, it’s a really special experience: yoga facilitates the bonds people make, but the bonds are not forced. It just happens that people form lasting friendships.” In addition to the quality of yoga and small classes, Sears says something that sets LuxYoga apart is the convivial atmosphere of the villa. “For example, our concierge will remember if someone likes mint tea and pick fresh mint flowers for them.

“And the villa itself is something you have to see to believe. We have this incredible unobstructed view of the French Riviera. I wanted to create my ideal vacation: practice yoga in a beautiful place and share wonderful meals with soulful people.”

Accommodations are luxurious, whether guests lodge in a boutique hotel, a lavish sailboat or an extravagant villa; food and wine is always local and organic. Yoga classes are intimate (eight to 12 students) with lots of hands-on adjustments by Olson and her experienced instructors.

She describes a typical day: “Mornings begin with fresh juice, a cappuccino or a healing Ayurvedic tea, depending on where we are in the world. A morning serenity walk on a tropical beach, in lavender fields, or through the rolling hills of Tuscany invites you to savor the tranquility and rejuvenating power of nature. We meet for yoga around 8 a.m., followed by a well-earned farm-to-table brunch on a beautiful terrace. Afternoons are for beach lounging, cultural excursions or other adventures. On touring retreats, there may be only one yoga class each day, with stretches along the way. But on most, we have sunset restorative, pranayama and meditation practices. Evenings are pure magic, as we savor the simple luxury of a healthy gourmet meal with fine wine and wonderful company!”

Pure magic indeed.

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wellness

Pure

BLISS

Tammy Fender wants to care for your skin—and for you.

BY JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

W

hile studying for her college degree in psychology, Tammy Fender took a job behind a cosmetics counter and was astonished at the number of chemicals being used in even the most well respected skin care products. She began training as an esthetician and blending her own treatments, and the lovingly handmade products quickly gained a word-of-mouth following. In 2002 she opened her own atelier and spa, Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care, in West Palm Beach. Here, we interview the sweet and soulful Fender about her namesake skin care line and her philosophy for holistic living.

How do you explain the renewed focus on healthy lifestyles?

In our fast-changing world, we’re craving what brings us peace and vitality.

Everyone is searching for a way to slow down and bring balance back.

What’s the biggest skin care mistake people make today?

It’s important to recognize that the skin is a living organ and that what you put on it permeates to the cellular level. Avoid chemicals when possible and don’t fall into the trap of over-cleansing and over-exfoliating.

What treatment would you recommend to a first-time client?

Our holistic custom facial. We recommend it [in conjunction] with reflexology because when there’s someone at the crown chakra and someone at the base chakra at the same time, there’s an energy balancing

FENDER’S PHILOSOPHY

that takes place. The oils and herbs that the client selects upon arrival are utilized within both treatments, so it’s tailored to each individual.

Tell us about the power of aromatherapy.

When someone comes into the spa, we offer them a collection of herbs and oils prior to going into the treatment room. The oils a person is drawn to indicate the parts of the body that need extra healing energy. For example, if someone is tired they might choose a stimulating oil in order to bring life back into balance. It’s an excellent diagnostic tool.

Are your products FDA approved?

Yes, always. They go through all the clinical testing and trials, but they are 100 percent botanical. The products are also handmade. We use food-grade instead of cosmetic-grade ingredients, since the processing of cosmeticgrade ingredients (they are often heated and/or cut with a solvent) decreases their therapeutic value. In our products you’re getting the livingmost parts of the plant in the most natural form possible.

What’s next for Tammy Fender?

I’m excited to grow into a holistic lifestyle brand and keep living my passion.

Most of all, we want to continue caring for the person as a whole.

“Yin and Yang are the foundations of holistic medicine. Sometimes we all feel a little out of balance, whether it’s because of emotional stress, overworking ourselves, or not nourishing ourselves. My opinion is that the mind and body intuitively urge us to create balance. When you’re eating junk food all the time, the body is going to start craving healthy food. If you’re constantly in front of a computer trying to keep up with your workload, you’re going to crave a yoga class.

But to recognize these signals we need awareness.

“We must remember that all cells need nutrients and oxygen to thrive. This is where plants are so phenomenal. Plant oils and herbs provide the life force. The skin is a living organism, and it’s amazing because it has the ability to regenerate and repair itself. It’s also an eliminating organ: when things are out of balance in the body, they’ll start to be pushed out through the skin.

“Holistic skin care is all about awareness and prevention. You should be intuitive about what your needs are—not what anyone tells you they are. We have different personalities and different genetic make-ups, so each person is different. Our minds and bodies tell us what we need to know if we just listen. We can live in health and peace, even if there is a lot of chaos around us. When we find that inner peace within, it radiates out. That’s what beauty is.”

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food

Shore restaurant at the Santa Barbara Resort in Nieuwpoort, Curaçao. Below, Chef Heinrich Hortencia.

LIONFISH WITH CARIBBEAN RATATOUILLE AND CHIMICHURRI OIL

Celebrating Curaçao’s Cuisine

Ingredients: 4 whole lionfish, fileted 4 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into thick slices 1 ripe plantain, diced 1 red tomato, diced 1 eggplant, diced 1 green zucchini, diced 1 yellow zucchini, diced 1 onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 handful curly parsley 2 cups olive oil ¾ cup unsalted butter Sea salt White pepper

Chef Heinrich Hortencia is a Shore winner.

BY SHIRA LEVINE

H

aute cuisine is not the main reason people travel to the Caribbean. Swimming in the azure waters, snorkeling beside coral reefs and exploring the jungle are the real temptations that lure us to these exotic locales. Except, perhaps, in cosmopolitan Curaçao, where Chef Heinrich Hortencia of the Shore restaurant at the Santa Barbara Resort in Nieuwpoort uses A-list local and imported delicacies in his quest to put the “C” of the ABC Islands on the foodie map. “Everyone recognizes Shore for interesting presentations of ingredients at the fine dining level,” he notes. “I want to change the taste of Curaçao to represent our diversity.”

As Hortencia’s recent win on the Food Network show Chopped has proved, he knows how to deliver more than such white tablecloth menu staples as Lobster Thermidor, despite having spent 13 years cooking in Europe. While he initially returned to this colonial island of narrow winding streets and pastel building facades in order to spend time with his mother following his father’s passing, an edible agenda soon emerged: to elevate Curaçaoan cuisine from simple conch fritters to something worth traveling for.

Hortencia admits that Curaçao’s steady warm weather and smaller production of crops than he was used to in Europe provide a bit of a challenge. Nonetheless, part of his plan involves using the finest local ingredients from such purveyors as The Curaçao Ostrich Farm, which provides the bird’s lean meat and giant eggs.

Currently, Hortenica is on a lionfish kick. “There are too many lionfish around the island, so I am experimenting with preparations. That’s something I can’t do in Europe. We catch lionfish on this beautiful island and prepare it right here.”

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For lionfish: Ask your local fishmonger to clean and filet the lionfish for you. Safe handling is a priority because lionfish spines are very sharp and venomous.

Season filets with sea salt, then pan-fry in hot olive oil on the skin side until crispy. Flip filet onto other side and fry for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and set aside.

For Caribbean ratatouille: Heat pan with a small amount of olive oil. Fry half of the onion and half of the garlic. Add the plantain, then the remaining vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.

For sweet potato: Boil potato until soft. Take out and dry on paper towels. Pan fry in unsalted butter. Season with sea salt and set aside.

For chimichurri oil: Blend parsley, remaining garlic, remaining onion, olive oil, salt and pepper in blender.

On each plate, form a circle of Caribbean ratatouille, then top with a lionfish filet. Plate sweet potato beside the ratatouille, then drizzle chimichurri oil over plate.

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experts

All About BRIDAL RINGS

Our magazine’s trend specialist is now wedding expert to the world.

L

orraine DePasque has a passion for jewelry: she’s been writing about it for most of her career and for many years in this magazine.

So her recent appointment as about.com’s first-ever wedding bands and engagement rings expert comes as no surprise. Here, we chat with her about her new position and about the basics of buying bridal rings.

Congrats on the new job! We always knew you were an expert…

Thank you! About.com has roughly 900 experts, but I’m the first to specialize in engagement rings and wedding bands, which became a separate category on the site this past November.

What are some of your favorite topics?

I recently wrote about platinum, black diamonds and eco-friendly jewelry.

Social responsibility is huge with the bridal demographic: they care about ethical sourcing, reclaimed metals, recycled materials, sustainability, etc.

What’s the hottest trend in engagement rings for 2015?

White metal is still number one, meaning platinum of course, but also white gold (14K and 18K). Yellow gold has also been trending for the past year or so, and estate jewelry is a growing piece of the business. There’s also more interest in natural colored diamonds (thanks to celebrity preferences) and even other colored gemstones. When Prince William presented Kate with his mother’s sapphire engagement ring, it was all about blue; this year, Pantone’s Color of the Year is Marsala, so rubies— equally as durable as sapphires—should be newly popular.

How about diamond cuts: what’s popular now?

Round is still the top trending cut: perhaps 80 percent of the business, followed by cushion cuts, followed by squares. But some of the older cuts, especially marquises and pear shapes, are starting to come back.

The other continuing trend is halos: everything from a single halo around any cut stone, a multi-halo, or even an intricate floral halo.

How are the trends evolving?

It’s interesting. I learn a lot about consumer preferences from Pinterest, and when I recently posted two modern engagement rings (both platinum

with round diamond center stones, one tension set), the response was overwhelming. So while the majority of women have been leaning toward classic or retro, there’s a definite trend emerging toward contemporary.

Another observation: this generation wants special, even customized, wedding jewelry. I truly believe there’s a special ring for everyone, which is why I love what I do. If there’s a particular way you’d like to customize your ring, talk with your jeweler about it; this is what they do every day and they can offer suggestions on personalization.

What about trends in wedding bands?

Personally, I like wraps if you plan to wear your band on the same finger as your engagement ring. But I’m seeing more and more women buying a slim band that may or may not match the engagement ring, especially if they plan on wearing that on the right hand. And women are putting other slim bands of all kinds on their jewelry wish lists, so their husband knows exactly what to buy for their first anniversary, birth of their first child, or even a birthday. Then you can stack them all with your wedding band, creating a dramatic right-hand ring! The whole stackable ring fashion look has sparked this trend, and it’s not going away anytime soon.

Buying jewelry online is a controversial issue: what’s your opinion?

While the internet is okay for research (but don’t believe everything you read!), I’d never suggest buying wedding jewelry online. There are so many elements that go into a ring; if you don’t work with a reputable jeweler, so much could go wrong. I’ve heard horror stories about chipped stones, stones that don’t line up, stones that don’t reflect light, insecure settings. So my best advice is to form a relationship with a trustworthy jeweler, a real person (or family) who’s been around awhile and who stands behind their work. After all, it’s the most important purchase you’ll ever make, a reflection of your personal style, and something you’ll be looking at every day of your life. Don’t risk it!

For more information on wedding jewelry, check out engagementrings.about.com or bachendorfs.com/bridal.

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FROM LEFT: STEPHEN WEBSTER, FOREVERMARK, STEPHEN WEBSTER, HARRY KOTLAR, TACORI

BY KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN

AN ICON JUST GOT LARGER

THE NEW NAVITIMER 46 mm

© D.YURMAN 2015

BACHENDORF’S ACCENT THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

SPRING/SUMMER 2015