Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry

ACCENT

THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

FALL/WINTER 2014

JEWELRY TRENDS

HOT OFF THE RUNWAY

BLANK CANVAS : ROBERTO COIN’S HOME

PLUS:

SPECIAL WEDDING

SECTION

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

CONTENTS

B AT O N R O U G E 7560 CORPORATE BOULEVARD 225.926.4644 MALL OF LOUISIANA, 225.766.6000

Fall/Winter 2014-15

NEW ORLEANS LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER, 504.832.0000

FEATURES

SHREVEPORT 6605 YOUREE DRIVE, 318.222.2929

6 Welcome Letter

L A F AY E T T E ACADIANA MALL, 337.981.8071

8 Red Box Insider

JACKSON, MS RENAISSANCE AT COLONY PARK, 601.957.6100

10 John Hardy’s Bali Experience 12 Save the Date

SAN ANTONIO, TX NORTHSTAR MALL, 210.541.9575 THE SHOPS AT LA CANTERA, 210.699.9494

14 From the Runways 22 Interiors: Roberto Coin

CEO LEE MICHAEL BERG

24 Pearls: Adding Panache

C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R KENNETH S. GIKAS VICE PRESIDENT GREG JOHNSON

26 Designers: Penny Preville 28 Industry Insider: Baselworld

VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER MALL OF LOUISIANA JOHNNY TATE

30 Anniversaries: Patek Philippe 52 Pantone Fashion Color Report

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JANE HARRINGTON

54 Golf: Jack Nicklaus in Paradise

ADVERTISING MANAGER AMY GRAHAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS BRENDA BERG CHAD BERG RYAN BERG, MARKET PRESIDENT SCOTT BERG, MARKET PRESIDENT

58 Spirits: Rarities on Display

30

C R E AT I V E D E PA R T M E N T AMANDA MAYO JAMES OSBORNE 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 PUBLISHER STU NIFOUSSI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R HANS GSCHLIESSER MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN LAROCHELLE PROJECT MANAGER LISA MONTEMORRA PRODUCTION MANAGER PEG EADIE PRESIDENT AND CEO BRITTON JONES

BRIDAL SECTION

CHAIRMAN AND COO MAC BRIGHTON

36 Here’s to the Bride & Groom 38 The Big Day 44 The Honeymoon 48 The Planning

26

Prices are subject to change without notice and may vary depending on size, quality and availability. Copyright 2014. 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, 212-686-4412 • Fax: 212686-6821; All Rights Reserved. The publishers accept no responsibilities for advertisers’ claims, unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Volume 12, Issue 2. Accent® is a trademark of Business Journals, Inc. registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. Printed In The U.S.A.

OYSTER PERPETUAL DATEJUST

rolex

oyster perpetual and datejust are trademarks.

DEAR FRIENDS T

radition is more than just a custom or ritual passed down between family members. Tradition is a culmination of memories shared in the hearts of the ones we love.

Lee Michaels has become a tradition in the lives of our clients where every day is a reason to celebrate. We feel a true connection with our clients in knowing that every Lee Michaels’ red box has a story to tell.

The concept of tradition as the notion of holding on to a previous time is evident in the gifts we give to our loved ones: an engagement ring to profess our love, a fine timepiece to commemorate a graduation, or a charm to signify a single memory. We at Lee Michaels surround ourselves with tradition every day as we help our customers create countless moments and memories.

This year my family shared in our own traditions and created beautiful memories when my youngest son, Chad, was married. A wedding always encompasses its fair share of tradition as well as incorporating more contemporary ideas. Lee Michaels strives to provide our customers with those same concepts in the fine jewelry and watches we offer. From a beautiful antique pair of earrings from the 1870s to the hottest new designer pieces, we can ensure that every Lee Michaels’ red box has its own unique story.

Our family sincerely appreciates your business and we hope that you will continue your tradition of making Lee Michaels your first choice for all your fine jewelry needs during this holiday season.

Best personal regards,

Lee Michael Berg CEO

RED BOX

Insider Ryan Berg with the Jewelers of America JPAC in Washington D.C.

Miss LSU, Deandra DeNapoli, accepts a David Yurman bracelet from Lee Michaels

Thierry Stern of Patek Phillipe speaking in Basel

Engagement Extravaganza in Baton Rouge

Mad Hatters Fashion Show & Hat Contest

Customers at the Engagement Extravaganza event in Baton Rouge

L

ee Michaels has a long-standing tradition of hosting exciting in-store events for our clients, as well as participating in charitable causes that benefit our communities. That tradition continued this past spring when we held our first ever Engagement Ring Extravaganza events in Baton Rouge, Jackson and Shreveport. Couples were invited to browse our largest ever in-store selection of settings and loose diamonds, all while indulging in Champagne and wedding cake. It was a fun weekend for all! Our red box was represented at the Miss LSU Pageant and at the International Conference of Junior League Presidents. The annual Mad Hatters event benefiting The Baton Rouge Symphony League had our ladies going back to the Roaring `20s with a “Great Hatsby” theme! Spring was filled with exciting in-store events as well as community events we were proud to be a part of.

The Bergs with Penny Preville at Couture in Las Vegas

Junior League presidents at the Association of Junior Leagues International Annual Conference

“WE DO NOT REMEMBER DAYS,

We Remember Moments.”

John Hardy’s Bali Experience through the eyes of a Lee Michaels associate.

A

s much as Gretchen Varnell, assistant manager at the Mall of Acadiana store in Lafayette, LA, has traveled, she never expected to visit Bali. This Far East land of bamboo and legend is the birthplace of John Hardy Inc., world renowned for handcrafted jewelry with a precedent-setting, distinctive Balinese signature. For more than 25 years, John Hardy has been a significant Lee Michaels corporate partner. Founders Cynthia and John Hardy and Damien Dernoncourt, John Hardy CEO, have supported and personally attended a number of community events in Lee Michaels’ market areas.

Earlier this year Gretchen competed with other Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry associates for the John Hardy tour of its Bali design and production headquarters. Contestants first had to pass a written test on John Hardy history and Balinese folklore. Candidates who achieved the required score then submitted an essay on the topic, “What would the John Hardy Bali Experience mean to you?” Gretchen was thrilled when she received congratulations on her selection as the tour winner. “I was honored to represent Lee Michaels and especially enthusiastic because John Hardy does more than create incredible handmade jewelry; it also sustains an innovative and high commitment to our planet. That was inspiring.”

In preparing for this unique cultural and artistic immersion, Gretchen took along two personal reminders. “Since ‘Every Box Has a Story’ is our company motto, I thought, what better way to document my trip to Bali than to bring a Lee Michaels red box and take pictures throughout the entire trip? Because it sure is going to have a great story to tell!

I knew I would not be there if it was not for Lee Michaels, and, of course, John Hardy offering this amazing contest.” The second reminder was her favorite and most special John Hardy piece, the Naga (dragon) sterling silver link bracelet. Gretchen said, “I am most in love with the Balinese legend of the mystical dragon, the Naga that lives atop three main volcanoes in Bali.

At dusk he dives down to his beloved, the pearl, and at dawn rises up. The water that cascades from his scales waters the rice fields of Bali. The Naga symbolizes love, prosperity and protection. I wrote in my essay that my husband is my Naga and I’m his pearl. It is also pretty cool that the Greek meaning of my name is pearl.” Gretchen purchased the bracelet because it symbolized her win and more significantly, it represented her family.

Once at the John Hardy compound, we were taken through every step of creating a piece of jewelry. The company’s story summarizes: “John Hardy’s first partners, the descendants of the goldsmiths to the royal courts of Bali, were the basis of today’s partnership between designers and artisans.

Together they meld time-honored jewelry-making techniques with fresh designs…”

Gretchen was impressed enough to record: “Actually seeing it all in person from design all the way to the finished piece… along with me actually getting the hands-on experience puts it all in a whole new light. We actually sketched and painted a ring for practice, then designed and sketched our own clasp that we later carved in wax (that was quite difficult). We also got to weave chain…

Now I have a greater appreciation for my woven bracelets after seeing them stretched, shaped and massaged on a rolling pulley-type system… a great workout.”

Gretchen recalls her participation in John Hardy’s environmental commitment in Bali: “They have their Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo program to help restore the critical natural habitat of Bali. I was honored and lucky to personally be a part of their mission.” John Hardy Inc. is highly regarded as a champion and visionary of sustaining and expanding the green environment. As Mr. Dernoncourt has stated, “Being green is a never-ending process. Every day, we are implementing energy-efficient programs and evaluating ways to lower our impact on the environment because we care for our people.” This commitment spurred the decision to locate the Bali compound on land that can be returned to rice farming in only 90 days, to construct compound buildings of bamboo, adobe and thatch among other

local natural materials, and to farm organically on the compound to provide enough fresh produce for traditional Balinese cooking for the 650-member staff and lunchtime visitors. Gretchen’s journal continued: “I will cherish that very moment that I got to plant my bamboo (which was a young black bamboo seedling) and add to that awesome growing number that John Hardy has planted to date. We planted ours in East Bali; that benefits the villages associated with the East Bali Poverty Project.”

Despite all the intricate planning that made the visit so productive, enjoyable and memorable, Wednesday, April 16 was a day with an unexpected encounter. Gretchen recalled the attraction of the red box: “… we took in the sights of Ubud… and on our agenda that day was to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. Well, as the travel brochure states: ‘The sanctuary is inhabited by a band of grey-haired and greedy long-tailed Balinese macaques who are nothing like the innocent-looking doe-eyed monkeys on the brochures.’ This is so true.

In this beautiful sanctuary there are amazing, mystical Banyan trees, temples, lovely pathways, of course, plenty of monkeys, and now a Lee Michaels wrapped red box. I knew before going in to be cautious of the monkeys because they like to snatch loose items like sunglasses, etc. and love food, but I had to get a picture with the red box in the monkey forest… with a monkey. I found the perfect spot with a monkey chilling out a few feet away. But before I could even pull the camera down, he took it. The monkey ran up a hill, turned around and faced us with the box held in his hands by the side of his face as if he was showing off, saying “Look what I’ve got and you are not going to get it back.” I so thank Neil [Lagarde] for capturing that final shot with his camera… this box certainly had an amazing journey from the flight, the tour of the John Hardy compound, taking in the sights, to forever living in the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali. Can’t get a more amazing story than that!”

Gretchen’s John Hardy Bali Experience reaffirmed the premise of her winning essay: “I am most inspired by the company’s love of family and how truly connected each and every one is. The John Hardy family is the Classic Chain collection. Each link in the weave is an individual who has a role in making the company successful and run smoothly, whether it be the designers, artisans, bamboo builders, the chef that cooks the food, the chicken that was the food, the staff at the New York office, and, of course, stores like Lee Michaels.

What connects the family together is John Hardy himself. He is the clasp. It was his love for Bali and the Balinese traditions in jewelry making that inspired him to start this company that still flourishes today. John Hardy, the company as a whole, is so much like Lee Michaels in the fact that both share many things in common: the longevity of our associates, strong belief in customer service, attention to details and those little extras, passion, commitment to giving back to our communities, and quality.”

save the date

Upcoming LM EVENTS

Personal Appearances October 3, 2014 • North Star Mall - San Antonio, Texas October 15, 2014 • Mall of Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Louisiana October 16, 2014 • Lakeside Shopping Center - New Orleans, Louisiana October 30, 2014 • Youree Dr. & E. 70th Street - Shreveport, Louisiana

Collector’s Class Event November 12, 2014 • Lakeside Shopping Center - New Orleans, Louisiana

Fall Trunk Show October 22, 2014 • Renaissance at Colony Park - Jackson, Mississippi November 5, 2014 • Youree Dr. & E. 70th Street - Shreveport, Louisiana

Personal Appearance November 7, 2014 • 7560 Corporate Blvd. - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

RUNWAYS

5 Color CONTRAST

4

Juxtapose brights for a modern take on tonal.

1

3

2

1. Marco Moore 14k rose gold pendant set with amethyst, white topaz and diamonds, $1,550. 2. 18k white gold bracelet features tsavorites, sapphires, citrines, topaz, green quartz, amethysts and diamonds, $27,500. 3. Marco Bicego 18k yellow gold bracelet from the Murano Collection features mixed semi-precious stones, $1,980. 4. Ippolita 18k yellow gold ring from the Rock Candy Gelato Collection with orange citrine, rutilated quartz with turquoise doublet, and clear quartz with mother-of-pearl doublet, $2,995. 5. Marco Moore 14k rose gold earrings set with amethyst, white topaz and diamonds, $2,200

RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY ACCESSORIESDIRECTIONS.COM

from the

P OIS MOI COLLECTION

from the

RUNWAYS

1 Bright as the fresh-fallen snow.

4

3

2

1. 14k white gold and diamond white South Sea pearl earrings, $2,775. 2. Michele Serein with diamond dial on white crystal strap, $965.

3. Roberto Coin 18k white gold bangles from the Pois Moi Collection featuring drilled dots and pavĂŠ diamonds, top $9,900, bottom $4,300. 4. 14k and 18k white gold and diamond white South Sea baroque pearl necklace, $13,100.

RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY ACCESSORIESDIRECTIONS.COM

WINTER Whites

5

from the

RUNWAYS

DARK Magic

1

4 3

1. Armenta blackened sterling silver 31” cable chain with yellow gold cravelli stations and blackened sterling silver white diamond circles, $3,745. 2. 18k white gold ring features a black diamond center stone surrounded by pavé black and white diamonds., $7,250. 3. Konstantino sterling silver and 18k yellow gold ring features a black onyx center stone, $510. 4. John Hardy sterling silver bracelet from the Naga Collection has a braided chain with dragon end featuring black sapphires, $1,150. 5. (Top to Bottom) David Yurman Midnight Melange sterling silver and darkened sterling silver cable bracelet with pavé diamonds and hinge opening, 6MM, $2,400. David Yurman Midnight Melange sterling silver and black rhodium cable bangle bracelet with black pavé diamonds, 4MM, $1,450.

David Yurman Midnight Melange sterling silver and black rhodium cable bangle bracelet with white diamonds, 4MM, $2,700.

RUNWAY IMAGES COURTESY ACCESSORIESDIRECTIONS.COM

2

Looks so sultry they’ll put a spell on you.

Rewards Get more of what you love!

Every time you shop at Lee Michaels you will earn 2 points for nearly HYHU\ IJ1 you spend. Also, we’ve partnered with your favorite jewelry designers to bring you special focus months, where you will receive 2 %2186 SRLQWV Ī4 SRLQWV WRWDOī IRU HYHU\ IJ1 you spend on the featured designer of the month.

• 0HPEHUVKLS LV IUHH DOO \RX QHHG WR VLJQ XS LV DQ HĥPDLO DGGUHVV • Purchases do not have to be made on a Lee Michaels credit card. Earn points with every form of payment: cash, check or credit card!

• Redeem points toward future purchases at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry.

1954

60 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS INSPIRATION IN THE PURSUIT OF TECHNICAL PERFECTION

Heritage Black Bay is the direct descendant of TUDOR’s technical success in Greenland on the wrists of Royal Navy sailors. 60 years later, the Black Bay is ready to stand as its own legend.

TUDOR HERITAGE BLACK BAY® Self-winding mechanical movement, waterproof to 200 m, 41 mm steel case.

Visit tudorwatch.com and explore more.

®

interiors

Prominently displayed near a stairwell in Coin’s home is a sculpture by French artist Arman.

“I had the precious chance to meet him and immediately loved his philosophy,” the designer explains.

B

BLANK CANVAS

orn in Venice, Roberto Coin began his career in the hotel industry and spent the early part of his adult life studying management in Switzerland. At the age of 32, Coin set out on a new path to become a jewelry designer and felt the change of career called for a change of scenery.

“Vicenza became important when I joined the world of jewelry,” he explains. “I chose this city as it is and was a point of reference for gold manufacturing.”

The 10,000-sq.-ft. home Coin eventually purchased in 2000 was originally built in 1960 and in need of some serious renovations. With help from Venetian architect Enrico Novello, Coin designed much of the space himself and now spends about six months of the year there with his wife, Pilar, and their youngest son, Kevin. The family spends the rest of the time traveling or at their other home in nearby Venice.

Located in the hills just outside Vicenza city center, the neutral

Roberto Coin’s minimalist décor serves as a backdrop for creativity.

JILLIAN LAROCHELLE 22

A custom picture window frames “a natural painting of Vicenza.”

structure is modern yet timeless, much like Coin’s extensive jewelry collection.

The home’s minimalist décor is almost entirely devoid of color, serving as a blank backdrop for inspiring Coin’s creative visions. “I wanted to recreate a kind of luxury hotel lounge, full of light,” he reveals. “We managed to create a unique mix of different styles while keeping the atmosphere light and simple. For example, we mixed modern furniture with pieces from the 7th century and Art Deco style with creations from Pierre Fernandez Arman, known as ‘the violins sculptor.’”

In the home’s sitting room, an expansive window hints at the gorgeous view beyond. “The house is full of important paintings and with that window I wanted to create a natural painting of Vicenza,” says Coin. “It is very relaxing watching outside

from that window… and you can also dream of being anywhere in the world.

Moreover, from there I can see the opposite hill, where my son’s house is.”

Despite the sitting room’s prime view, Coin reveals that his favorite room is in fact “my relax room; it is my own studio where I can smoke, read, watch TV and dream. My favorite item in the home is a special statue made by Wallace Chan, which he explained to me was the perfect statue representing my personality. It has many different heads and the biggest one is a child.”

Like the hidden ruby inside each of his designs (meant to bring luck, health and happiness to the wearer), there is more to Roberto Coin—and his home— than first meets the eye.

More of Coin’s extensive art collection is on display in the formal dining room.

Roberto Coin’s 10,000-sq.-ft. home in Vicenza, Italy.

23

pearls

ADDING PANACHE This season’s wardrobe essential is a take on every season’s wardrobe essential: perfect pearls!

KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN

Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.”

–Jean de la Bruyere

24

T

here are few creations of nature as beautiful, versatile, romantic, or transformative as genuine pearls.

Coveted as far back as 51 BCE (the age of Cleopatra), even a simple strand of lustrous, well-matched pearls will add instant panache to everything you wear, from a T- shirt and jeans to a little black dress.

Dressing with pearls does not require complicated how-to charts. Simply clasp on a single strand to enhance the elegance of everything in your wardrobe, or splurge on a longer length to be worn doubled or tripled for maximum impact. Akoya, fresh water, Black, White or Golden South Sea, Conch, Melo, Baroque, Keshi, Mabe, natural or cultured: the choices are vast, the rewards more so. Follow your heart and choose pearls that most closely reflect your spirit; talk to our highly trained associates and we’ll help you make the perfect selection.

For holiday 2014, options include suspended settings that showcase the pearl from every angle, and pearls mixed with colored gemstones (mint tourmalines, star sapphires) or with fancy-cut diamonds.

Another suggestion: once you own that perfect strand of luminous white or ivory pearls, why not test the magic and mystery of Black South Sea cultured pearls? In 1914, exactly a century ago, Mikimoto established its first Black cultured pearl farm on Okinawa Island. In celebration of this milestone anniversary, Mikimoto has launched a limited-edition multi-colored Black South Sea cultured pearl necklace and bracelet set with signature clasps. Consider too Mikimoto’s Black and White South Sea cultured pearl gradient lariat set in 18K white gold with pavé diamond clasp (pictured far left), the Baroque Black South Sea cultured pearl and pavé diamond ring (pictured left), or Black South Sea pearl and diamond Embrace earrings.

Could there be a more meaningful holiday gift? Or as the poets put it: “Love makes everything beautiful, even tears become pearls if they flow in someone’s love.”

ADD THE NEXT CHAPTER

Love Story.

TO YOUR

Apply today for Lee Michaels

PREFERRED CARDHOLDER PROGRAM Lee Michaels cordially invites you to join our family of GE CAPITAL account holders. The Lee Michaels credit card offered by GE CAPITAL RETAIL BANK is the symbol of our extraordinary service, quality and value for which Lee Michaels is known in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and throughout the Gulf South. When you open your Lee Michaels credit card account, we can now offer you plans to help you achieve your dreams.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Extraordinary Experience of Lee Michaels.

FAST. SIMPLE. SMART. • Quick in-store or online application process • Instant credit available • Low minimum payment • Special payment options available • No annual fee • Invitations to exclusive events • Subject to credit approval • For applicants desiring credit lines over $10,000, please apply in store

designers From the Art Deco collection

crossing the sands in full bridal regalia. Similarly, her new Arabesque line evokes the signature domed arches found in the Arabian desert, while her Moondance collection of earrings and necklaces could be delicate pieces of 15th-century Burano lace, or perhaps Russian Imperial latticework from the days of Tsar Nicholas II. Other cultural obsessions over the years have resulted in pieces inspired by American Indians (feathers), Greco-Roman times (beading and twisted designs) and English nobility (tiaras).

“I’m inspired by architecture and clothing and painting and shoes and bags: anything really with an interesting fabric or shape or pattern,” says Preville, whose interest in design and jewelry originated from her mother, an artist, interior designer and antiques dealer, as well as her paternal grandmother, whose collection of Cartier, Van Cleef and Tiffany jewels provided fascination for a little girl well beyond their monetary value. “Her jewelry box was like a treasure chest,” recalls the designer who, as a child, once sewed a suede pouch to hold her own collection of fine “jewels” (more commonly recognized as rocks).

Among her grandmother’s spoils Preville discovered vintage designs with bold, colorful stones in exotic settings that have since become her signature— if she even has one. “My designs—whether necklaces, earrings, bangles or rings—have lots of detail, engraving, twists, beading. There is a very feminine, romantic feeling to them,” says Preville, who incorporates From the everything from diamonds and sapphires to semi-precious Opal collection stones like turquoise, opal and green chalcedony, among others, in her offering.

Although adding to her jewelry line is foremost in her mind, Preville has already begun to look beyond bangles to a future that includes her name on everything from picture frames, tabletop items and bedding to a signature collection of handbags.

“I just see patterns all the time, and the patterns I love I can just see on everything,” she reveals. We can’t wait to see where her inspirations lead next.

CULTURALLY OBSESSED Penny Preville’s jewelry reflects her fascination with worlds gone by.

WILLIAM KISSEL

T

here is a set of earrings in Penny Preville’s jewelry collection that look like a pair of matching baroque chandeliers more suited to a Venetian palace than the lobes of one’s ears. Another pair from the designer’s Deco collection appears to be a mini version of Paris’ famed Eiffel Tower encrusted with several carats of diamonds, an engineering feat even Gustav Eiffel couldn’t have managed.

If such architectural folly appears incongruous to fine jewelry design, don’t tell Preville. The award-winning New York-based designer has spent a lifetime studying art history, ancient civilizations and building design, all in an effort to create intricately detailed jewelry that conjures images of faraway places and worlds gone by.

For instance, the designer’s new Aquamarine collection set in yellow gold calls to mind jewelry worn by ancient Indian princesses

26

©2014 EBEL – Men’s Ref. 1216202 and Women’s Ref. 1216198

The new EBEL Wave, shown in 18K yellow gold & two-toned stainless steel, hers with diamonds.

THE WAVE REIMAGINED. UNDENIABLY EBEL.

industry insider Left: Chad and Ryan Berg in Switzerland, on their way to shop top luxury collections at Baselworld.

Below: Chad, Scott and Ryan Berg.

BASELWORLD

The Pulse of the Market Visiting the world’s premier trade fair for fine jewelry and luxury timepieces.

T

here’s no better place in the universe to soak up the energy, technology and creativity of the watch and jewelry world than at the industry’s international trade fair in Basel, Switzerland.

Baselworld 2014, which took place this year in March/April and previewed 2015 fashion, featured a magnificent array of 1,500 jewelry and watch exhibitors from 40-plus countries, each booth a complex architectural wonder of beautifully designed showrooms, offices, bathrooms, kitchens, elevators and more. In fact, in the six weeks prior to the show, about 20,000 workers assembled thousands of tons of steel, wood, glass and cables into what amounted to a self-contained city within the exhibit hall. At final count, more than 150,000 attendees came from around the world to immerse themselves in the luxury, innovation and expertise of this amazing event.

The economic impact of Baselworld is enormous: the value of Swiss watch exports alone was about $24 billion last year. What’s more, the fair generates an income of about $2.6 billion, and creates tens of thousands of jobs.

Confirms Patek Philippe CEO Thierry Stern, “We’ve been present in Basel since 1931 as it is the most important platform for meeting our top retailers.

This year, we also received more than 1,000 journalists…”

But for us at Lee Michaels, the real value lies in its magnificent luxury offerings, and the high-level meetings that reinforce relationships with our key suppliers. Baselworld is the the most important timepiece showplace in the world, and by being there we can often obtain exclusives and new products that are not otherwise available. It also gives us a better understanding of the global marketplace. For example, as growth slows in other world markets, brands are refocusing on their watch businesses in the U.S., good news for spring ’15, as our customers and collectors will soon find out!

28

A MAGICAL CITY At the junction of three countries (in Switzerland bordering France and Germany), Basel has a distinctively cosmopolitan charm. The historic Old Town boasts narrow winding streets and quaint market squares with wonderful shops and restaurants. It’s a romantic city made for strolling the sun-drenched banks of the Rhine or sipping some good wine at an outdoor café while chatting with interesting people from all over the world. One caveat: if you visit during Baselworld, you’re not likely to find a room as hotels book up months in advance (and charge accordingly!). Many jewelry buyers stay in Zurich and commute to Basel by train, or else they sleep in temporary barges along the Rhine set up specifically for visitors to the fair.

anniversaries

PASSING THE TIME

Patek Philippe celebrates 175 years at the pinnacle of fine watchmaking.

LAURIE KAHLE

30

T

his year, Patek Philippe marks a milestone that few companies will ever achieve: its 175th anniversary. The revered Geneva watchmaker has operated without interruption since May 1, 1839, when it was founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek. He was joined by Adrien Philippe six years later. Today, it stands as the last familyowned independent watch manufacturer in Geneva under the auspices of the Stern family, which acquired the brand in 1932.

Thierry Stern, who represents the fourth generation of Sterns at the helm, has some surprises in store to commemorate the occasion, though he will reveal nothing until the brand unveils its 175th Anniversary collection in Geneva this fall. Stern’s love of musical minute repeaters and decorative métiers d’art offers some clues to what’s in store.

Expectations are high given that the 150th anniversary in 1989 saw the debut of the Calibre 89 pocket watch, hailed as the most complicated watch in the world with 33 complications. Stern recalls how the 150th anniversary collection, especially its minute repeater wristwatches, signaled a transformation for the brand. “Years later, I realized that anniversary marked a new beginning for complications,” he says. “Before that, such complications were normally for pocket watches. It was a celebration of a milestone, but it was also about a new movement and a new era.”

Stern, 43, has brought a more youthful perspective to Patek’s hallowed halls since he took over as president from his father Philippe five years ago. While Patek Philippe has maintained its traditional core values, Stern has expanded the use of steel to broaden the brand’s appeal to a younger audience. Women have also benefited with a range of complicated timepieces—including a splitseconds chronograph, minute repeater and perpetual calendar—and striking jeweled novelties, such as this year’s diamond-set Gondolo Ref. 7042/100R-001 with an Akoya pearl bracelet.

For men, the new steel version of the Ref. 5960/1A-001 Annual Calendar Chronograph makes a contemporary style statement with its white dial highlighted in black and red. And the Ref. 5990/1A001 Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph, powered by a new automatic movement, combines a chronograph with a practical dual time function.

“From Patek Philippe, people expect beauty, quality, accuracy, but also some surprise,” says Stern. “In my mind, there will be two lines: one with useful complications you need every day, while the other is more complicated—minute repeaters, tourbillons, split-second chronographs—which you may not need, but you enjoy the quality of them.

Those are really the pieces of art.”

PEACE OF MIND STARTS WITH PROOF OF QUALITY. Weight Carat 1.53

ColorE Grade Grade Clarity VS1

Grade CutExcellent

Laser Inscription Registry Number GIA 16354621 Natural Diamond Not Synthetic

For over 80 years, GIA has brought clarity and global standards to gem evaluation. A GIA report means expert, independent verification from the creator of the 4Cs and the world’s most widely recognized gem authority.

Look for GIA-graded diamonds and jewelers who offer them. www.4cs.gia.edu CARLSBAD ANTWERP BANGKOK DUBAI GABORONE HONG KONG JOHANNESBURG LONDON MOSCOW MUMBAI NEW YORK OSAKA RAMAT GAN SEOUL TAIPEI TOKYO

WHY DIAMOND KNOWLEDGE STARTS WITH THE 4CS Every diamond is unique—a precious expression of celebration and aspiration around the world.

And yet all diamonds share certain features that allow us to compare and evaluate them. Recognizing the need for one standard to describe a diamond’s quality, GIA created the 4Cs: a universal language that diamond buyers everywhere can understand.

Here are some quick pointers to help you become better educated about each of the 4Cs.

Carat Weight 1.53

Color Grade E

Clarity Grade VS1

Cut Grade Excellent

CARAT WEIGHT

COLOR GRADE

CLARITY GRADE

CUT GRADE

Carat weight is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. All else being equal, diamond price increases with carat weight, because larger diamonds are more rare and desirable.

Diamonds are valued by how closely they approach colorlessness – the less color, the higher their value. GIA’s D-to-Z Scale begins with D, representing colorless, and continues to Z, for diamonds that appear light yellow or brown.

Diamond clarity refers to the relative absence of inclusions and blemishes.

The GIA Clarity Scale contains 11 grades, with most diamonds falling in the VS (very slightly included) or SI (slightly included) categories.

In evaluating cut for the standard round brilliant diamond, GIA takes into account seven components: brightness, fire, scintillation, weight ratio, girdle thickness, symmetry, and polish. It then assigns a cut grade ranging from Excellent to Poor.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 4CS AND HOW TO CHOOSE A DIAMOND ON GIA’S OFFICIAL

CHANNEL.

WEDDINGS

IMAGE LARA FERRONI, COURTESY OF AK CAKE DESIGN

A SPECIAL BRIDAL SECTION FROM ACCENT MAGAZINE

Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Rodrigue (Amanda King) June 20, 2014 • Baton Rouge, La.

here’s to the BRIDE & GROOM

Every Lee Michaels box has a story. Knowing we’ve played a part in the special story of these customers’ lives energizes us and continues to give us the passion to deliver extraordinary symbols of emotion and life’s experiences. Every day momentous occasions occur in our customers’ lives, and we are prepared to make the moment your Lee Michaels box is opened an unforgettable one.

Mr. & Mrs. Ray Naquin Jr. (Michelle LeBlanc) May 9, 2014 • Lafayette, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Andrew McGinty IV (Sarah Bankhead) May 30, 2014 • New Orleans, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Wormser (Paige Dampf) December 31, 2013 • Baton Rouge, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Munn (Alicia Harris) June 28, 2014 • Baton Rouge, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Blake Lopresto (Ashley Caillier) June 21, 2014 • Lafayette, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Wales (Sarah Bailey) April 19, 2014 • Greensburg, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Heels (Erin Atchetee) February 8, 2014 • Lafayette, La.

Mr. & Mrs. Reece LeBlanc (Meghan Corley) January 11, 2014 • New Orleans, La.

Mr. & Mrs. River Cornelius (Jourdan Tyler) May 31, 2014 • New Orleans, La.

T H E B I G D AY

BY KRISTEN FINELLO

new twists on tradition WHEN IT COMES TO TYING THE KNOT, COUPLES AND EVENT DESIGNERS ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PUT A UNIQUE SPIN ON TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS. FROM MUSEUM-WORTHY CAKES TO DRAMATIC DRESSES, STEAL THESE IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR BIG DAY A STANDOUT SUCCESS.

SENSATIONAL SEATS Not long ago, draping guest seats with fabric chair covers was a simple and popular way to add interest and elegance at a ceremony or reception. “Over time, though, everyone got tired of seeing so much fabric in a room and chair covers were replaced by the chiavari chair,” says Dallas-based celebrity wedding and event specialist Donnie Brown, author of Donnie Brown Weddings: From the Couture to the Cake. The chiavari, with its classic, elegant style, became the go-to for many couples and event designers. Now the chameleon chair—aptly named because it can be customized to complement virtually any wedding aesthetic—has become the seat of choice. “Chameleon chairs are the coolest chairs in the world,” says Brown, who has used them at many events. Made of steel, the basic chair comes in several styles and leg colors including black, gold and silver. Dress them up with seat cushions, chair covers and jackets (longer swaths of fabric) in dozens of fabric colors, from charcoal and platinum to eggplant and raspberry. For an even more dramatic look, choose chair covers or jackets with tulle, lace, metallic or ruffles. “Now you can completely customize your chairs to your event,” says Brown. “They are fabulous.”

DECADENT DÉCOR “Sparkle and glitz are really big right now,” explains Brown. One creative way to bring some bling to your event is to incorporate jewelry into the décor. Using brooches is especially chic. They can glam up cakes, escort cards, napkins (tie with a pretty ribbon and attach a brooch), menu cards and bridal bouquets. “One of the big things these days is using brooches on the cake,” says Brown. “I also

around each tier instead of piping.” Rhinestones can add a reflective element to guest tables too. “Instead of a fabric runner, arrange a wide band of rhinestones down the center of the table,” suggests Brown. Traditional linens are getting a high-style makeover with the addition of embellishments such as ruffles, stones and beads. Seasonally-hued stones in amber, black and brown are especially trendy for fall.

B R I D A L

38

S E C T I O N

COURTESY OF EDMONSON PHOTOGRAPHY

did a wedding where we decorated the cake by stringing rhinestone necklaces

The Norman Silverman Bridal Collection

The Stimulus

The Response

ELEGANT AFFAIRS

THE FRESHEST FARE From cocktail hour to dinner, the focus is on fresh, tasty and elegant. “It’s about the quality of the food, not just having an abundance of it,” says Andrea Correale, president and founder of Elegant Affairs Caterers in New York. “People are eating less and looking for healthier items such as local, organic produce.” Farm-to-table is a huge trend and couples are displaying menu cards that list the sources of the food they’re serving. The long-popular antipasto table is out, says Correale. In its place she suggests a chef-manned burrata (creamy mozzarella) bar with a selection of pestos and a hanging bread display. Also popular are vegan sushi and dishes such as free-range organic chicken with kale or quinoa salad. For couples wanting to update the traditional Champagne toast, Correale serves flutes of Champagne Jello topped with a toast point and caviar. And whether it’s a rolling oyster bar, gueridon service (in which some dishes are partially prepared tableside on a food service trolley) or strolling waiters offering organic beet and taro root chips, interaction and old-time elegance are back big-time. In fact, even the venerable Viennese table has been replaced by butler-passed bites such as pie fries, cheesecake lollipops, and warm cookies with a shot of milk.

ONE-OF-A-KIND CONFECTIONS No longer just a sweet treat to finish off the meal, cakes are becoming an important design element at weddings. “Couples want a cake that reflects their individuality and harmonizes with the look and feel of their event,” says Allison Kelleher, owner of AK Cake Design in Portland, Oregon.

“That could mean an elegant white cake with sugar flowers or a bold, brightly colored creation.”

Today’s cakes are impressive works of art that feature elements such as mosaics, metallics and hand-painting. So-called “naked” cakes—tiers of cake and filling without an iced outer layer—are also popular with couples favoring a natural look.

They can be served as one large cake or individual mini cakes. Also hot: unusual cake shapes such as spheres and taller-than-usual tiers. “Cake tiers have typically been four inches high but now we’re

taller,” says Kelleher. “When stacked all together they make for a lovely and graceful cake.”

B R I D A L

40

S E C T I O N

LARA FERRONI

seeing individual tiers that are five to six inches or

BECAUSE A STAR DESERVES FOUR MORE. At the four-star Renaissance

®

Baton Rouge, you’ll discover a wedding venue as extraordinary as the day you are celebrating.

Elegant surroundings. Spacious ballrooms for up to 600 guests. Skilled, creative planners to ensure your event is a dream come true by making everything perfectly yours. Every flower. Every morsel.

Every song. Every moment. After all, we’ve designed it for the most important wedding ever… yours.

TO CONFIRM YOUR DREAM WEDDING CALL (225) 215-7000 7000 Bluebonnet Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70810 renaissancehotels.com

ISABELLE ARMSTRONG

DRESSES THAT IMPRESS Every bride wants a dress that wows, and the latest looks don’t disappoint. White is timeless but dresses in soft tones such as blush and peach are gaining popularity with fashion-forward brides looking for a new twist on tradition, says Tara Nattini, president of bridal design house Isabelle Armstrong. “The silhouette may be classic but the color makes it modern.” For another contemporary take, brides are opting for subtle yet striking ombre designs that gradually transition from white or ivory to a color such as pink or peach. Also on-trend: gowns that highlight the bride’s back. “The back is really the focal point when the bride is walking down the aisle, so we’re accentuating it with crystals and lace, says Nattini. “Plus, jewelers are doing dramatic necklaces that trail down the back and dresses with bare backs really show them off.” Finally, taking a cue from Duchess Katherine, and more recently, Kim Kardashian, brides are opting for sleeves to the elbow or wrist. “Once considered very traditional, sleeves are becoming more modern and trendy,” says Johanna Kraft, designer and production manager at Isabelle Armstrong. Her fall collection includes gowns with detachable sleeves that give brides two looks in one dress: classic long sleeves for the ceremony and a sexy, sleeveless reception style.

WE ARE FAMILY When it comes to choosing attendants, couples are ignoring outdated rules and following their hearts. For one thing, they no longer feel obligated to have an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsmen, so there’s no pressure to fill a spot or leave out someone you’d like to include. “I’m also seeing a lot more male/female role reversals,” says Brown. A bride, for example, might have her brother or a close male friend on “her side” rather than only asking sisters or female friends. Having parents or even grandparents in the bridal party is another new twist. For her March MICHAEL CASWELL PHOTOGRAPHY

2014 wedding, Cali Solorio of Austin, Texas asked her beloved grandmother and great aunt to serve as flower girls. The ladies joyfully tossed petals as they walked down the aisle. “We got so many compliments. People couldn’t stop talking about them,” says Solorio. “I loved having them in my wedding and I’m so glad we decided to do something untraditional that people will remember.”

B R I D A L

42

S E C T I O N

FOREVER CAPTIVATING

014 KIRK KARA

014 KIRK KARA

© 2014 KIRK KARA

Wouldn't you love to try one on for sighs at a Kirk Kara retailer?

THE HONEYMOON

BY KELLY E. CARTER

LIFETIME ADVENTURES

HORSEBACK RIDE IN BOTSWANA

SURF IN THE MALDIVES Add romance to action with a stay in an over-the-water bungalow at a luxurious resort in this tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean.

Known for its spectacular whitesand beaches and shimmering turquoise waters, the Maldives are also where water-loving lovers can hang 10 together on some of the most perfect waves in the world. Surf breaks are endless but immediate access from resorts is limited. Charter a boat to reach the best breaks and escape the crowds that pack boat shuttles from hotels during the busy months. Surfing in the Maldives is available year round, but June to September are the prime months for honeymooners chasing the best swells. Avoid the masses in the Central Atoll and the more isolated South Atolls, but expect plenty of company in the Malé Atolls. TropicSurf can arrange luxury surfing experiences with five-star boats and resorts, expert guides and tailored trips such as a romantic dinner on a deserted island or a private seaplane to a secluded surf break (which would take a boat several hours to reach). Visit tropicsurf.net.

B R I D A L

44

S E C T I O N

Safaris, one of travel’s ultimate thrills, are even more exciting from the saddle.

They don’t get any better than in Botswana, where game is wide-ranging and plentiful. Home to all of the Big Five (lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros), Botswana also boasts Africa’s largest concentration of elephants. Ride through the glittering Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the expansive horizons of the Okavango Delta, where it’s possible to come across elephants, zebra, hippos and giraffes. Lovebirds who go during green season, the early part of the year and when the dry savannah turns verdant, have to put up with a little rain but benefit from the numerous birds drawn to the lush landscape. In the Kalahari they’ll have the opportunity to ride alongside the zebra, wildebeest and springbok migration, and should be able to enjoy a more personalized experience thanks to fewer crowds.

Those who disdain pre-packaged tours can have Explore Africa design a highly-customized, private experience tailored to their budget, created for beginner to advanced riders, and offering accommodations ranging from luxury lodges to mobile camps, whether it be for one day or two weeks. Special honeymoon arrangements can be made as well as handcrafted, one-of-a-kind adventures.

Visit exploreafrica.net.

IMAGES COURTESY OF UNCHARTED AFRICA

During sundowner, newlyweds can toast while gazing at a spectacular sunset.

BACKROADS

TREK FROM CUSCO TO MACHU PICCHU Think of the fun newlyweds can have rubbing each other’s feet every evening after a lodge-to-lodge journey on foot from Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Machu Picchu, rising nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in a tropical mountain forest, may be one of the most famous sites in the world and is visited by countless travelers annually, but there’s still a way for couples to have a distinct experience while visiting this 15th-century Inca creation. With a voyage arranged through Backroads, honeymooners can have porters and mules transport their luggage while they tackle the trail on foot during the day. At night, they’ll sip bubbly in the outdoor hot tub of a luxurious hotel. As a way to control the tourism impact on the area, Machu Picchu mandates that all visitors take its buses to the cultural site. But honeymooners in search of romance can grab one of the early buses to enjoy the first light of the day and slip away to a quiet corner away from the crowds to take it all in. The more adventurous in search of the most impressive view can hike Machu Picchu Mountain, using a special permit from Backroads. As if the trip isn’t mind-blowing enough, the company can help make this an even more extraordinary expedition. For an additional fee, they’ll provide Champagne that guests can sneak in to the ruins and arrange for a private dinner with the chef at Sol y Luna restaurant, room upgrades at lodges, and a private meeting with a shaman to read their cocoa leaves. Visit backroads.com.

KITE SKI THROUGH ANTARCTICA This frosty, remote continent gives thrill-seeking twosomes even more reason to snuggle.

By itself, Antarctica sounds like a journey beyond the imagination of many. Toss in the exhilaration of kite-skiing and the stimulation of ice climbing and newlyweds will relish an adrenaline-pumping honeymoon on the Earth’s southernmost continent, where stunning scenery, dotted by icebergs at every turn, overwhelms.

Whisk across pristine snow while kite-skiing—more like cross-country than downhill skiing—or ascend virgin peaks while ice-climbing untouched mountains. Those who book an adventure with White Desert, which doesn’t require guests to be athletes, only in normal physical condition, follow as professional polar explorers guide them to nirvana. White Desert offers standard programs that include climbing, kite-skiing and a visit to the Emperor Penguin colony to see the real life stars of March of the Penguins, but also designs bespoke excursions to meet clients’ wishes, such as a special kite-skiing trip using 4x4 for support while out in the field.

When a couple wed last December at its camp, which fuses old-world luxury and high-tech performance, the bride wore a white dress—along with a parka. Visit white-desert.com.

B R I D A L

46

S E C T I O N

THE PLANNING

APPILY EVER AFTER First comes love, then comes engagement, then comes hours spent on Pinterest. Once you’re done cataloging unique ways to use mason jars at the reception, look beyond Pinterest to these four other wedding-planning apps—they’ll carry you from pre-planning

BY JULIANNE PEPITONE

FOR COLORCODED INSPIRATION: LOVERLY

FOR THOSE PESKY LOGISTICS: PRO WEDDING PLANNER

FOR THE OFTOVERLOOKED HONEYMOON: POCKET GUIDE

The two-year-old Loverly lets users “search, shop and save your wedding ideas.”

The search part is like Pinterest with a colorful twist: It categorizes its beautiful inspiration images by hues, which get as specific as aqua and marigold.

Users can save their favorite snaps, as well as find wedding vendors and shop for day-of items, all from the site or iOS app.

“We’ve heard stories of couples planning from their phones on their train commute to and from work and planning before bed on their phone,” says Loverly founder and CEO Kellee Khalil.

There are apps for wedding RSVPs. There are apps for reception seating charts. There are apps for wedding budgets. And then there’s Pro Wedding Planner—which bundles all of that and more into a single iOS app.

“Most wedding apps are more targeted towards research or blogs, or just have a simple checklist,” says Janel Leonor, marketing manager for Zysco, the maker of Pro Wedding Planner. “[Our app] has the complete set of modules needed to organize the wedding.”

The $4.99 price point is spendy for an app, but Pro Wedding Planner includes just about everything you need for planning logistics: a module for tracking RSVPs and thank-you notes, a menu-planning section, wedding-day timeline templates, and more.

Coordinating details for the wedding itself is so consuming that it can be tough to carve out time to plan your honeymoon. Who can think of booking a guide for the Roman ruins when the flowers still aren’t finalized?

Luckily, the highly rated Pocket Guide App for iOS and Android vows to turn your phone into a virtual tour guide, in global cities from Abu Dhabi to Zurich. “[You] don’t have to join a live guided tour group,” says Pocket Guide spokesman Istvan Sandor.

The audio content, which is recorded by local experts, provides information about landmarks and offers tips on where to eat and drink, just like a real guide. An added bonus for overseas honeymooners: Once you’ve downloaded your chosen tour, the app can work in offline mode to avoid steep roaming charges. So take your phone and your new spouse, and enjoy the sights stress-free.

inspiration to the big day and beyond.

B R I D A L

48

S E C T I O N

FOR WRANGLING THE DAY-OF DETAILS—AND PHOTOS: APPY COUPLE No computer-programming experience? No problem.

Appy Couple helps marrieds-to-be build a wedding website and app for iOS or Android—without writing a single line of code. Simply choose from beautiful templates in categories like “vintage” and “Gatsby,” upload need-to-know wedding details, and for $35 Appy Couple does the work for you. Bonus features include an RSVP management system and in-app virtual toasts.

“The product had to work for any tradition, in any country, on any platform and still be beautiful, social and personal,” says Sharmeen Mitha, Appy Couple’s cofounder and CEO. “This is the ‘mantra’ behind anything our company does.”

the ultimate wine tasting glass C H Ă‚T E A U B A C C A R AT G L A S S E S

For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global

authority on color, has sur veyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season’s most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues in women’s fashion for fall 2014.

Fashion designers are often fascinated with the beauty of the past and the spirit of the present—recreating it with color, fabric and style. This fall season is no exception as color was inspired by everything from books to artisan crafts, photography and architecture to exotic landscapes. The distinct color palette takes us on an adventure spanning 100 years—a season roused by various vantage points both past and present. First we have Sangria, an exotic red that evokes a sense of glamorous adventure and faraway destinations, which is then enhanced by Aurora Red, a more sophisticated shade that adds energy and glow.

These creative crimsons are followed by two ends of the purple spectrum that fascinate the eye and inspire the imagination.

Mauve Mist, a romantic and elegant purple shade, reminds us of the deco era and stimulates a sense of femininity and empowerment, [LMPI 6EHMERX 3VGLMH E GETXMZEXMRK ERH ÂI\MFPI WLEHI IRGLERXW the complete spectrum. Pair with Cypress, a majestic and powerful green; indicative of its name, this shade has a lofty presence and serves as a stunning favorite.

MAUVE MIST

CYPRESS

RADIANT ORCHID

ALUMINUM

SANGRIA

MISTED YELLOW

AURORA RED

R O YA L B L U E

C O G NAC

B R I G H T C O B A LT

With its faintly green undertone, Bright Cobalt offers a subtle twist SR XLI GSRZIRXMSREP GSFEPX [LMGL YRMÁIW XLMW WIEWSR¸W FPYIW Likewise, Royal Blue, which is both haunting and distinguished, provides more complexity and excitement than the traditional navy, while still remaining versatile. Pair Bright Cobalt with Sangria and Cypress, or Royal Blue with Mauve Mist and Aluminum, a futuristic stainless steel shade that serves as a complex neutral.

Similar to Sangria, Cognac’s name alone leads to enchanting daydreams. This cultured brown takes a conventional autumnal color to a luxurious realm, making the shade unexpectedly ideal for evening wear. Adding a ray of sunlight and warmth, optimistic Misted Yellow alludes to the promise of spring to come.

52

golf

JACK NICKLAUS IN PARADISE Redefining the Los Cabos resort experience.

EDWARD KIERSH

O

n the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, high above sheer, windswept cliffs offering stunning panoramas of the Pacific Ocean, the legendary “Golden Bear” has collaborated with Mother Nature to design a breathtaking—and provocative—$40 million, eight-years-in-themaking golf course that promises to redefine the Los Cabos resort experience.

Opening this October, Jack Nicklaus’ challenging 7,224-yard, par-72 Quivira Golf Club, featuring three holes that “literally hang over the ocean,” will be the centerpiece of two luxury resorts and three high-end real estate communities. It will also be “unlike any other course in Los Cabos,” according to Nicklaus, who has designed five other courses in the area, since even high-handicap golfers can savor the jaw-dropping views

provided by the unique mountain-ocean-desert ecosystem.

“Many people will think it is the most spectacular golf course [in the world], while some will struggle with it,” says Nicklaus, the “Golfer of the Century” with 120 professional PGA tour victories and 18 major championship wins. And now, he’s the designer of 380 courses worldwide.

“Yet this property was far too unique to try to create a resort course that would be suited just for high-handicappers. It was a course where you had to take advantage of all the spectacular [topographic] situations, and whether they were too difficult or not, you had to employ them. This is a terrain that offers more elevation changes and oceanfront exposure than any other course in Los Cabos. If you look at golf as a fun experience and want to play in an exciting place, you will love Quivira.” (continued)

54

MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE

Indicative of that excitement, several holes that rise more than 350 feet above sea level afford views of frolicking whales and crashing waves. Yet perhaps most exhilarating is the dramatic three-quarter-mile drive to the fifth hole, which crosses arroyo-spanning bridges and traces a switchback route up the side of a mountain. An awe-inspiring climb already dubbed “the greatest drive in golf,” this marvelous ascent is more than 200 feet above sea level, and once ending at the tee at the short par-4 fifth hole, an exclamation point awaits golfers: amazing vistas of assorted wildlife, far-flung boats and white beaches far below.

The par-3 sixth, its concave clifftop green carved from the base of a massive dune, is equally dramatic. The layout then weaves through the dunes, returns to the cliffs at the dazzling par-3 13th hole, proceeds inland through the desert toward distant mountain peaks, and drops sharply from a set of elevated tees at numbers 16 and 17, a pair of thrilling par 4s. Quivira’s par-4 18th hole, stretching to 469 yards, is a classic links-style creation that plays to an infinity-edge green overlooking the sea.

In the wind, Quivira could prove bedeviling, for as even Nicklaus admits, “I am eager to play it—on a nice calm day.”

If the course proves too challenging, golfers can take solace in the other luxuries that abound at Quivira. Each of the two Pueblo Bonito Resorts & Spas offers lavish accommodations; luxury estates and residences dot this exclusive, 1,850-acre community. And the thatched-roof clubhouse, besides featuring fine dining, is the ideal place to conclude any golf adventure.

It’s a welcome oasis, a place to bask in refreshments and to celebrate this Land’s End escape with three miles of pristine creamy beaches.

56

spirits

Rarities

ON DISPLAY

Bars serve up vintage whisky, rum, tequila and more.

ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON

Rarities, a new bar in the recently renovated New York Palace Hotel, specializes in vintage and hard-to-find spirits, wines and liqueurs. enthusiastic customer) and much more, all available to drink, at a price.

“When I began collecting, it was incredibly inexpensive,” he says as he shows off pictures of an 1860 rye and a 1905 bottle of Bacardi rum. “Now a bottle I bought 15 years ago for $500 sells for $5,000.”

Such is the appeal of fine and rare spirits today. At New York City’s Pouring Ribbons, hipsters order a 1951 green chartreuse liqueur ($110 per ounce), while stylish financial types and celebrities sip “Reserve” cocktails made with rare spirits at the recently expanded NoMad Hotel Bar. And San Francisco’s Hard Water has placed the emphasis on its American whiskey collection, including those classified as “Allocated and Out of Production,” all served by the ounce Seeking to replicate the vintage experience at home? Edgar Harden, of the Old Spirits Company in London, is an excellent source for a seemingly endless supply of spirits and liqueurs dating from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Or consider picking up an 1863 single-harvest tawny port from Taylor Fladgate. Repackaged in a handsome decanter and box, a limited number of bottles recently went on sale for about $4,000.

58

COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK PALACE HOTEL

I

t’s not so unusual to find a high-end bar or restaurant pouring a 50year-old Scotch whisky or cognac. But in the past few years, an increasing number of spots are collecting and offering pours of very old gins, bourbons, chartreuse and anything else that sat around unopened for decades, even centuries.

“The concept is that we are very much focused on giving something unique to the Palace guest,” says Karim Lakhani of the new Rarities bar hidden inside the New York Palace Hotel. The space—once the Helmsley Palace and originally the Villard Mansion—is now home to an elegant Belle Epoque-influenced, 25-seat lounge specializing in the rare, unusual and very old. Though the menu varies, one recent standout was a Hannisville rye whiskey, distilled in 1912 and stashed in a huge demijohn bottle during Prohibition. Individual two-ounce pours of the earthy, lightly oxidized rye ran for $175. Other recent gems included a Taylor Fladgate Scion port from 1855 and a Frapin cognac dated 1888.

The trend of specializing in vintage spirits beyond cognac may have originated with Salvatore “The Maestro” Calabrese, head bartender at the new Salvatore’s Bar in London. The collection he’s amassed is mind boggling: Orange Curacao from the 1860s, Fernet from the 1960s, a 1788 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac (accidentally shattered two years ago by an

E VWDWH THE

COLLECTION

Antique Design Modern Perspective Our Estate collection includes exquisite, RQHÄĽRIÄĽDÄĽNLQG SLHFHV FROOHFWHG E\ .DWKHU\QH 0DXOGLQ &HUWLÂż HG *HPRORJLVW Appraiser. Come in to choose a RQHÄĽRIÄĽDÄĽNLQG LWHP DV WKH SHUIHFW JLIW for that special someone or to add to your own collection.

ON THE

We know you are constantly on the go, and using every different kind of mobile device. We make it easy to stay in touch and informed through our website LMFJ.com and on Facebook and Instagram. We don’t want you to miss out on anything—from the latest jewelry trends, to new merchandise and events. Like and follow us today!

facebook.com/leemichaelsjewelry

instagram.com/leemichaelsjewelry

FINE JEWELRY & DISTINCTIVE GIFTS IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE DUCK COMMANDER INDEPENDENCE BOWL

For Sponsorship, Ticket and Event Information call 318-221-0712 or toll free 888-414-BOWL or visit our website at

duckcommanderindependencebowl.org

REWARD • RECOGNIZE • REPRESENT

C O R P O R AT E G I F T S & AWA R D S The Lee Michaels Corporate Gifts & Awards Division offers a full range of distinctive products for companies and organizations celebrating essential milestones. We communicate the right message to clients, employees, peers and communities.

Our competitive service and commitment to excellence guarantee that everyone will enjoy the Reward, Recognition and Representation of your business.

For customer service, please contact Lindsay Chustz Guerin at 225-368-3641 or lindsayg@lmfj.com

© D.YURMAN 2014

LEE MICHAELS FINE JEWELRY ACCENT THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

FALL/WINTER 2014