Traditional Jewelers

ACCENT/THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

FALL/WINTER 2014

JEWELRY TRENDS HOT OFF THE RUNWAYS

HOLIDAY GOES GLAM

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fall/winter 2014-15

FEATURES 12 Welcome Letter 16 Red Carpet 20 Traditional Jewelers Events 22 Children’s Hospital of Orange County 24 Watch Report 26 Fashion: It Bags 28 From the Runways 34 Scene Stealers

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40 Designers: Mikimoto 54 Golf: Jack Nicklaus in Paradise 58 Photography: I Remember When Rock Was Young 60 Wheels: A Better Mousetrap 62 Spirits: Rarities on Display 64 Perfect Gems 66 Anniversaries: Patek Philippe

BRIDAL SECTION 42 The Planning 44 The Jewelry 46 The Big Day

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52 The Honeymoon

ON THE COVER

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Model Olga Bocharova (Wilhelmina Miami) wears Fred Leighton bracelets and ring, and Reserve Collection earrings. Photography and creative by Edwin Santa. Makeup by Eliut Tarin.

Hair by Lili Rodriguez. Jewelry styling

by Jennifer Ferkenhoff. Prop design

by Lee Laurence. Assistant Federica Galli. Retouching by Sthefania Henao.

TRADITIONALJEWELERS.COM FA S H I O N I S L A N D 817 N E W P O RT C E N T E R D R I V E NEWPORT BEACH, CA ( 9 4 9 ) 721- 9 010 HOURS: M O N - F R I : 10 : 0 0 A M - 8 : 0 0 P M S AT : 1 0 : 0 0 A M - 7 : 0 0 P M S U N : 11 : 0 0 A M - 6 : 0 0 P M

MICHAEL POLLAK CEO SHEREEN POLLAK PRESIDENT DA M O N G R O SS COO BILL PETERS GENERAL MANAGER BRENT SEYLER SENIOR SALES MANAGER MAX SOTODEH SALES MANAGER JENNIFER FERKENHOFF DIRECTOR OF MARKETING M O L LY W O J C I K DIRECTOR OF INTERACTIVE MARKETING

PUBLISHED BY THE BUSINESS JOURNALS FASHION GROUP PROJECT MANAGER LISA MONTEMORRA

PUBLISHER STU NIFOUSSI

PRODUCTION MANAGER PEG EADIE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KAREN ALBERG GROSSMAN

DIRECTOR OF PREPRESS JOHN FRASCONE

C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R HANS GSCHLIESSER MANAGING EDITOR JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

PRESIDENT AND CEO BRITTON JONES

DESIGNER JEAN-NICOLE VENDITTI

CHAIRMAN AND COO MAC BRIGHTON

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: 212-686-6821; 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.

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OYSTER PERPETUAL DAY-DATE

rolex

oyster perpetual and day-date are trademarks.

welcome

It’s all about the experience.

Traditional Jewelers Flagship Store – Newport Beach

It’s said that people decide with their wallets, but purchase decisions are often determined by factors other than price alone. I believe that the experience trumps all, and that a transaction is merely the starting point in a relationship with our clients. We have a duty as purveyors of luxury products to deliver on the promise of genuine excellent service, and to provide care and guidance throughout our opportunity to serve our clients.

At the end of the day, we want to become your jeweler for life by earning your trust. When personally making an acquisition, I wish to ensure that I’m being treated fairly. But even more so, there are golden rules that impact my decision: friendliness, respect, sincerity and follow-through are musts. I want to know the merchant will be there to stand behind the authenticity of the product and will provide service if required. These are the foundations of our philosophy. If we ever fall short (I wish we were perfect), I urge you to let me know.

Since 1976, we’ve approached business every day with the following questions in mind: How can we serve our clients better? How can we enhance our company for the benefit of our employees? How can we partner with the philanthropic community for the benefit of others? We are passionate about each of these pillars of creativity, our company culture, and our social responsibility. My wife, children and I live by these principles every day.

Because of our passion to grow our business, we have completed our vision for the #newlookofluxury. We have recently opened our newest crown jewel in Fashion Island featuring precious jewelry, Swiss watches—including our Rolex, Cartier, Officine Panerai and Patek Philippe specialty shops—and a state-of-the-art bridal experience and custom design studio. We’re very proud of the results and invite each of you to visit and explore our new flagship.

As always, take time to celebrate the special moments in your lives. These memories will be the ones you treasure forever.

Warm Regards,

Michael Pollak, CEO

Watch Shops at Traditional Jewelers

ROLEX

PATEK PHILIPPE

CARTIER

OFFICINE PANERAI

traditionaljewelers.com gives you unparalled access to the latest in fine jewelry and timepieces.

Join the Traditional Jewelers community by connecting with us on social media to get insider information on all the latest trends and happenings, as well as new product unveilings and much more.

@TraditionalJewelers

@ traditionaljewelers

@ tradjewelers

history a n d heroes.

radiomir 1940 3 days automatic (ref. 572)

red carpet Halle Berry

SHADY LADY Halle sticks to a single hue for her dress, jewels and accessories. Even her stone-studded belt is lovely in lilac.

Joanne Froggatt

PASTEL PRINCESS

HORRAY

forHOLLYWOOD

BRUMANI

Downton Abbey’s favorite nice girl shows her sweet side in a tea-length mint dress, complemented by rose gold and rainbowcolored jewels.

PASQUALE BRUNI

DOVES BY DORON PALOMA

A look at what’s sparkling on the red carpet and beyond... JILLIAN LAROCHELLE

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Sarah Silverman

STAR STUDDED Statement stud earrings are back in a big way. They’re chic enough for evening but work just as well off the red carpet.

Sarah Hyland

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

RING GAME

It’s violet for Viola, but she warms up the coolcolored dress with ruby earrings and a firey red clutch.

Choose a splitshank ring like Sarah’s or stack them yourself for maximum impact.

More is more!

Maria Menounos:

January Jones

CHIC SEPARATES

SOCIAL CLIMBER

Most ladies go for a gown, but matching isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Maria makes it work with a colorful cocktail ring and contrasting hoops.

Worn with edgy ear climbers and a black diamond knuckle ring, this dress becomes more biker, less Betty.

JACK VARTANIAN

SUAZNNE KALAN, JORGE ADELER, JACK VARTANIAN

IMAGES COURTESY OF D’ORAZIO & ASSOCIATES

SUTRA

BRUMANI

Viola Davis

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Lady Stardust Collection

EVENTS

CYSTIC FIBROSIS GUILD GALA MAY 2014, NEWPORT BEACH

GIFT OF HOPE GALA MAY 2014, NEWPORT BEACH The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Gift of Hope gala successfully raised more than $345,000 to benefit their various programs, including summer camp for kids with MD. Traditional Jewelers, the exclusive jewelry sponsor of MDA, donated a Chopard Mille Miglia GT XL GMT watch to be auctioned off at the gala.

Iman and Golnaz Nassar, Mahsa Eshraghi and Mehrad Sepanjasa

The Cystic Fibrosis Guild hosted its 31st annual gala, which raised awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis research and care.

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal, hereditary disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.

One very generous bidder took home a handsome Baume & Mercier men’s watch donated by Traditional Jewelers.

The Four Tenors perform Lead With Your Heart from their new album.

Tom and Traci Gendron and Nancy and Jeff Stack

Natalie Stack, Will O'Connor and Teresa Morris

NATALIE’S WISH CELEBRATION APRIL 2014, IRVINE The Cystinosis Research Foundation’s Natalie’s Wish Celebration raised millions of dollars for new research to improve cystinosis treatments and continue progress towards curing the rare disease.

Guests were treated to a delicious dinner, worldclass entertainment and lavish auction items.

Traditional Jewelers and luxury destination club Inspirato donated a Pick Your Paradise package.

CIRCLE 1000 BRUNCH MARCH 2014, NEWPORT BEACH The Circle 1000 committee and the Hoag Hospital Foundation were pleased to have Jamie Lee Curtis as the keynote speaker at their 27th annual Founders’ Celebration brunch. The brunch is an inspirational and priceless opportunity for cancer survivors, family, friends and Hoag supporters to connect and commemorate the strides made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. To help support Hoag Hospital and the Circle 1000 committee, Traditional Jewelers presented Jamie Lee Curtis with beautiful jewelry from designer Ippolita.

CHOC GLASS SLIPPER GUILD GALA MAY 2014, ORANGE COUNTY The Glass Slipper Guild of CHOC Hospital hosted its 20th anniversary gala to raise funds for a Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Traditional Jewelers sponsored a one-of-a-kind table raffle where guests had the opportunity to win stunning jewelry, including a Kwiat diamond and black enamel pendant, and gift cards to Traditional Jewelers. CHOC is exclusively commited to the health and wellbeing of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients.

giving back

CHOC

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF ORANGE COUNTY

C

hildren’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) is a private non-profit dedicated to providing the highest-quality, family-centered primary and specialty care to children. CHOC is devoted exclusively to the health and well-being of children, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

This is made possible thanks to generous donors, the CHOC Foundation and the 13 guilds that fundraise on behalf of CHOC. One such guild is the Glass Slipper Guild. Comprised of roughly 85 women from the coastal Orange County area, the Glass Slipper Guild participates in a variety of social and volunteer events to fundraise for CHOC, most notably the Guild’s annual Gala. The annual Gala honors former and current CHOC patients as well as generous donors who have supported CHOC, including celebrities and superstar athletes such as David Beckham and Lindsay Davenport.

Since the Guild’s inception, this passionate group of women has raised approximately $4 million for the hospital.

The Glass Slipper Guild was established in 1994 after 10 years as the Cinderella Guild Juniors. Its mission is to acquaint the community with the mission and needs of CHOC Children’s and to support the hospital through service and fundraising. The Guild’s current $1 million pledge is to fund the 6,400-sq.-ft. Post Anesthesia Care Unit in the new Bill Holmes CHOC Patient Tower, which opened in February of 2013. The PACU has an

estimated 13,000 children go through its doors annually. The state-of-theart space is a vital area in the hospital where families will be able to see their children following any surgical treatment.

Past pledges from the Guild have included a $1 million endowment to CHOC Children’s Neuroscience Institute, which was used towards research on curing brain tumors, advancing stem cells in the treatment of terminal diseases and funding research to discover novel treatments of hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy. Never failing to meet their pledges, the Guild donated $100,000 to an Emergency Center Urgent Care/Fast Track Exam Room on the First Floor of the Bill Holmes CHOC Tower with the surplus net proceeds from this pledge.

Thanks to the women who make up this energetic organization, the Glass Slipper Guild is able to fulfill these life-changing pledges through various fundraising events and with the partnership of generous corporate sponsors including Traditional Jewelers, Bloomingdale’s, Beauty Collection, Neige Clothing and Pal + Smith, to name a few.

Ranging from ages 25 to 45, the women of the Glass Slipper Guild represent a diverse group of people ranging from business professionals in healthcare, law and marketing to stay-at-home mothers, each of whom shares her specific skill set to help put together fabulous fundraising events

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for the hospital.

One of the beloved annual events put on by the Glass Slipper Guild, in partnership with Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza and Orange County Fire Departments, is the Bloomingdale’s Firefighter Fashion show, which features CHOC’s littlest heroes—former and current CHOC patients, many of whom are children of mothers in the Guild—and local heroes, Orange County’s firefighters. Held annually in September, this festive day celebrates fashion, children and our local firefighters in a boisterous fashion show highlighting the upcoming fall fashion trends for the year.

The CHOC Regatta, held in early November at the Balboa Yacht Club Newport Beach, is a much-loved nautical fundraising affair put on by the Balboa Yacht Club and the Glass Slipper Guild. Over the course of two days, small and large sailboats race to raise funds for CHOC Children’s. Volunteers from the Guild help organize and run the event and even the CHOCO Bear, the CHOC Children’s mascot, makes an appearance.

But the primary fundraising event for the Glass Slipper Guild is the Gala held every year in May. Working closely with CHOC neurosurgeons Dr. Michael Muhonen and Dr. William Loudon, the Guild selects CHOC patients to honor each year. Over the course of almost a year the Guild

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works hard to put together a stunning evening celebrating CHOC Children’s Hospital and the children under its care.

Featuring live and silent auctions, dinner and dancing, the Gala’s most memorable moments are always the recognition of the CHOC patient honorees and the special guest speakers who tell their stories of courage and success as their children overcame the most trying of health issues at CHOC. Often the special guest speaker is a current member of the Guild. Said eloquently by 2013 special guest speaker and Guild member Karlee Leyva, “’When life gives you something to be afraid of, that’s when life gives you a chance to be brave, and because we have CHOC Hospital in our lives, being brave is a lot easier.” It is hearing remarks like this that charges the Guild to put forth their valiant efforts to help raise funds for CHOC Children’s, which was recently ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top pediatric facilities.

Members of the Glass Slipper Guild are able to volunteer at the hospital through Hannah’s Dinners and through hosted arts and crafts days with the CHOC patients. To learn more about the CHOC Glass Slipper Guild visit chocglassslipperguild.com.

TRADITIONAL JEWELERS

WatchReport

CARTIER JAEGER-LECOULTRE

PATEK PHILIPPE

For Her BREGUET

CHANEL

JAEGER-LECOULTRE Rendez-Vous Night & Day, 36mm white gold case, gem-set dial, satin strap, water-resistant to 30 meters PATEK PHILIPPE 7121/1J-001, 33mm yellow gold case, grained silvery-white dial, yellow gold bracelet, water-resistant to 30meters CARTIER Ballon Bleu de Cartier, 33mm steel and 18K pink gold case with diamonds, flinque dial with silvered finish, steel bracelet BREGUET Reine de Naples Princesse, 43mmx34.95mm 18K rose gold case, silvered and anthracitecolored 18K gold dial, leather strap, water-resistant to 30 meters CHANEL J12 Black, 36.5mm black high-tech ceramic and 18K beige gold case with diamonds, black guilloche dial with diamonds, black high-tech ceramic bracelet, water-resistant to 100 meters

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BREITLING

PANERAI

TUDOR

For Him OMEGA

PATEK PHILIPPE

BREITLING Avenger Blackbird, 48mm black titanium case, black dial, military strap, water-resistant to 300 meters TUDOR Heritage Ranger, 41mm steel case with satin finish, black dial, bund leather strap, waterproof to 150 meters PANERAI Radiomir 1940 Chronograph Oro Bianco, 45mm 18K polished white gold case, black dial with luminous dots and hour markers, alligator strap PATEK PHILIPPE 5960/1A, 40.5mm steel case, silvery opaline dial with blackened gold hour markers, steel bracelet, water-resistant to 30 meters OMEGA Bullhead Co-Axial Chronograph, 43x43mm steel case, white dial, brown leather strap, water resistant to 150 meters

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fashion

IT BAGS Fall ’14 handbag must-haves.

ELISE DIAMANTINI

Whether you’re looking for boho chic or tongue in cheek, this season’s trends range in style, silhouette and function.

FESTIVAL FRINGE

Music festivals like Coachella have been a big source of fashion inspiration as of late. New York-based forecasting firm The Doneger Group has coined the trend “Frontier,” calling out festival-influenced saddlebags, pouches and anything with fringe. Fashion Snoops’ Laura Miller describes the trend as bohemian mixed with tribal influences. “We saw it on the runways from brands like Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch and Etro,” she adds.

SCHOOL GIRL

Backpacks are… well… back, and you don’t have to be a student to carry one. While silhouettes are smaller than your typical knapsack, it’s also not the mini backpack you remember from the ’90s. Backpacks can be found in various fabrications for wherever you want to carry them: try an active-influenced sling in a nylon fabric for a stylish way to hit the yoga studio, or high-fashion quilted leather for a more upscale look. And if you can’t commit, convertible backpacks (those that can be either worn on the back or converted into a satchel) are trending too.

BUCKET LIST

The drawstring bucket bag is reemerging for fall, making an important impact on the runways. “This is a nod to the ’70s trend, which is in full swing with a cleaned-up ‘mom’ look,” explains Jacqui Ma of trend-forecasting firm WGSN. Size doesn’t matter here either: go for a big “black hole” bucket or a smaller drawstring style.

SHOW US WHAT YA GOT “Transparent materials continue to be strong, as

PATTERN & PRINT

“The trend toward print and pattern on luxury bags has been led by Chanel. Painterly effects and hand-drawn styles add a new artist-casual feel to bags,” says Ma. Fashion Snoops’ Miller echoes this sentiment, noting that “billboard” bags featuring iconic graphics or even Fortune 500 company logos are trending on portfolio bags and totes.

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TOP: DVF COURTESY OF ACCESSORIESDIRECTIONS.COM. LEFT TO RIGHT: STREET STYLE, ANYA HINDMARCH, ANTEPRIMA, ALL COURTESY OF WGSN GROUP

people like to expose the inner contents of their bags,” explains Ma. This style leaves nothing to the imagination, so make sure to put the items you might not want to show the world inside a cosmetic case!

from the

RUNWAYS

COLOR CONTRAST

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MARCO BICEGO 18K yellow gold and aquamarine Lunaria necklace ZOCCAI double-drop earrings IVANKA TRUMP Patras African ruby earrings in 18K yellow gold with diamonds STEPHEN WEBSTER Magnipheasant Feathers cocktail ring in 18K white gold with citrine and garnet

from the

RUNWAYS

GRAPHIC ARTS

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MARCO BICEGO 18K yellow gold Lunaria necklace KWIAT Cobblestone Collection diamond rings in 18K rose, yellow and white gold PHILLIPS HOUSE 18K yellow gold and diamond No. 3 necklace IVANKA TRUMP Empire band in 18K yellow gold with diamonds PENNY PREVILLE 18K yellow gold and diamond deco cuff RESERVE COLLECTION 18K rose gold and diamond earrings

from the

RUNWAYS

1

WINTER WHITES

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KWIAT Round and pear-shaped diamond pendant in 18K white gold EFVA ATTLING aquamarine Bend Over ring in 18K white gold with diamonds FRED LEIGHTON rock crystal quartz and diamond trapezoid Dart earrings in 18K white gold PHILLIPS HOUSE 18K white gold and diamond bracelet MIKIMOTO white South Sea cultured pearl Prestige earrings in 18K rose gold and platinum with diamonds

from the

RUNWAYS

DARK MAGIC

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PESAVENTO DNA multi-strand necklace in black sterling silver RESERVE COLLECTION diamond, sapphire and agate chandelier earrings PRIVEE SELECTION hematite and quartz ring in 18K white gold with diamonds STEPHEN WEBSTER black ceramic link bracelet with 18K white gold and diamond clasp PRIVEE SELECTION gray jade long drop earrings in 18K white gold with diamonds BAUME & MERCIER Promesse, 30mm steel case with diamonds, black dial and black leather strap

Norman Silverman diamond earrings, necklace and rings.

scene STEALERS It’s all in the details with these decadent diamond designs.

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y E D W I N S A N TA

Reserve Collection earrings, necklace and bracelet with Norman Silverman ring.

Reserve Collection cocktail rings

Kwiat diamond earrings, necklace and bracelet with Norman Silverman ring.

Photography and creative by Edwin Santa. Makeup by Eliut Tarin. Hair by Lili Rodriguez. Styling by Jennifer Ferkenhoff.

Model Olga Bocharova, Wilhelmina Miami.

Available at

GARYS Fashion Island Newport Beach 949.759.1622 garysonline.com

pearls

MIKIMOTO

Cultured pearls have evolved from a trademark of nobility to an icon of style, exuding a timeless elegance that will remain fashionable for decades.

P

earls are formed naturally when an intrusion, such as a shell fragment or grain of sand, lodges inside an oyster’s shell. The oyster surrounds this irritant with a protective veil of calcium carbonate, called nacre, to form a pearl. The process of cultivating pearls mimics nature’s process, and it must be done with care. A nucleus, made of shell, is manually inserted into only the healthiest oysters. This process is what distinguishes a cultured pearl from a natural pearl. When the oysters are returned to the sea in wire mesh baskets, nature takes over, coating the nucleus with pearly layers of nacre.

After many years of trials and tribulations, Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in creating the world’s first cultured pearl in 1893. He then sent artisans on missions to Europe to master the techniques of jewelry production and design. This knowledge, supplemented by the Japanese aesthetics of form, line and workmanship, produced the distinctive originality of Mikimoto designs.

In 1899, equipped with his first collection, Mr. Mikimoto opened the Mikimoto Pearl Store, Japan’s first specialty pearl shop, in Tokyo’s Ginza district. “I would like to adorn the necks of all the women of the world with pearls,” Mr. Mikimoto said shortly after he first succeeded in culturing a pearl. He seemed to be rambling on, dreaming an unachievable dream.

However, the elegant beauty of his cultured pearls was recognized by women throughout the world, and his wish would eventually be fulfilled.

After improving his cultivating and harvesting techniques, Mr. Mikimoto was able to ship his product overseas, making cultured pearls available to women everywhere.

The brand has since continued to forge a proud legacy of unique design and is internationally respected and revered for its dedication to beauty and quality. Offering the world’s finest selection of cultured pearl jewelry, the Mikimoto name is synonymous with unparalleled expertise and excellence.

As the originator of cultured pearls, Mikimoto continues to maintain the strictest quality standards. Its grading system, unique within the cultured pearl industry, is based on the luster, color, shape and surface perfection of each pearl. The Mikimoto pearl grading scale is the only qualified system which accurately and consistently defines these factors by four individual grade categories. Of all the cultured pearls harvested annually, only a small percentage meet Mikimoto’s exclusive standard of excellence, the standard that distinguishes Mikimoto pearls from all others.

For 116 years, Mikimoto jewelry has possessed a timeless quality: a perfect balance of tradition and innovation, always appropriate, always in style. Absolute attention to every detail results in jewels admired around the world, from generations past and for generations to come.

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WEDDINGS

IMAGE LARA FERRONI, COURTESY OF AK CAKE DESIGN

A SPECIAL BRIDAL SECTION FROM ACCENT MAGAZINE

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

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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 JEWELRY

BY LORRAINE D E PASQUE

from this day forward JEWELRY TO CHERISH FOR A LIFETIME.

When pop singer Ashlee Simpson got engaged to Diana Ross’ son last winter, Evan gave his bride-to-be a vintage-look platinum and gold ring of diamonds and rubies. The jeweler who made the ring said Ashlee’s fiancé “was looking for a unique ring that had everything: love, romance, beauty and character. And he didn’t want anything traditional.”

COMMITTING TO THE BAND When buying wedding bands, be sure to ask your jeweler to show you some wraps. The engagement ring and wedding band are designed to be worn together, as the band seamlessly wraps around the engagement ring shank, making the set dazzle like a single piece of jewelry.

“Another way to get that big diamond look is by buying one band with clusters of diamonds,” recommends Gizzi.

You can also get a smaller diamond set in the center of a

ENGAGING CUTS & COLOR

wider band.

If you, like Simpson, are looking for a style less traditional—even just a bit—there are many options. Sometimes the twist is in the styling, other times in the gems. “Diamond cushions, emeralds, radiants and Asschers are the hot cuts

making a big comeback,” says Amanda Gizzi of Jewelers of America.

Consider, too, alternatives to white diamonds.

According to the trend-watch website fashionwindows.com, “Women have been adding birthstones to their bridal rings. Also meaningful colors. Red gems are popular, as red signifies, to many, undying love, passion, energy and power.”

Speaking of color, have you thought about

DOWN THE AISLE, SPARKLING IN STYLE This passion for personalization extends to the jewels you’ll wear on your big day. Hair

yellow gold? As fashion channels the ’70s and

jewelry is back in a big way, so look at combs and tiaras, and also brooches that can clip

’80s this fall/winter, many bridal brands, too, travel

into the hair.

back to those decades, when rings were mainly precious yellow metal.

Gizzi adds, “Men are also opening up to the idea of ‘man-gagement’ rings, thanks to Johnny Depp. Again, there are no rules; any style or metal can be used.”

Be sure to consider ear cuffs and climbers: fashionable alternatives to simple studs or classic chandeliers. As a finishing touch to your perfect manicure—and bridal rings, of course–consider high-impact knuckle rings, delicate midi-rings and hand jewelry, with its slivers of precious metal and stones expanding across the hand.

Yes, today’s bridal jewelry can sometimes be funky. But with the help of your jeweler guiding you, it will always be fashionable. And above all: jewelry you can fall in love with.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF TACORI, HARRY KOTLAR (4), TACORI, SUTRA, IVANKA TRUMP, BRUMANI

and, this year, pears and marquises are also

EMPIRE COLLECTION Diamonds 路 Prasiolite 路 Tourmaline

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.

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COURTESY OF EDMONSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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

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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.”

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S E C T I O N

LARA FERRONI

seeing individual tiers that are five to six inches or

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CHANNEL.

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.”

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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photography

I REMEMBER WHEN ROCK WAS YOUNG...

Inside the glitter with famed photographer Tom O’Neal.

COURTESY OF CASEY O’NEAL

DAVID A. ROSE

I

f you remember when music was purchased at record stores, you’ll of course also remember the striking album covers that housed those black vinyl discs embedded with your favorite tunes. One of the people responsible for that wonderful album art is Californian Tom O’Neal, best known these days for his work with Rolex, shooting photographs for their motorsports and yachting competitions as well as for other Rolexsponsored special events. Some of the stars he photographed during the early days of rock included Jimi Hendrix, The Mamas and The Papas, The Doors, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones and Joni Mitchell. Here, he remembers those times in his own words.

“It was quite a while ago but I have pretty vivid memories of working with some of the most iconic rock stars, from the beginning of their careers to when they became monstrously successful. Of all the rock stars I worked with, I am most proud of the photos I did with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

The Déjà Vu album cover is the most iconic I’ve ever done. It’s one of my

favorites but it took the most work: I spent months on it, interacting with the band rather than the record company. If you ask them, they’ll tell you this is their favorite album cover as well.

“I did nine album covers for Steppenwolf and even though the band has gone through numerous transitions over the years, their leader John Kay still has the original images I took for the Born to Be Wild album. That song, associated with the biker attitude, is considered to be the very first heavy metal song, with lyrics such as ‘heavy metal thunder.’ It’s also said to be the most commercially successful song in the history of rock and roll, used more times in television commercials than any other song.

“Many other groups preferred not to pursue commercial success in that way, opting not to make money for car companies or food products. The Doors were one such group. Even after the death of Jim Morrison, the band felt he wouldn’t have wanted to sell their songs for advertising purposes, despite the many offers. The only exception to this has been when Cadillac

58

allegedly paid the band $15 million for the use of the line ‘break on through to the other side.’

“I once spent two days with The Doors while they were rehearsing for a concert. What was most interesting was that during their breaks, Jim always sat by himself and would read or write in his little 5” x 7” black book.

When he was writing, I would leave him alone. There were times though when I thought, well, he’s got a moment, so I would go over and we would have light conversations. He was extremely quiet and very nice to me, which of course was totally different from his onstage presence. There he showed a whole other personality. He was out of control on stage...

“Mick Jagger was also different from his public persona. I met Mick at his home in London once to talk about the possibility of doing an album cover and I found him to be very professional, very businesslike and a

out with her. Hanging out with some of these artists required a lot of waiting time. Big Brother and the Holding Company was a San Francisco band but I was from Los Angeles, and there was a definite separation between the two lifestyles. Only Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were able to cross over effortlessly. I got to know those guys very well and I know Graham Nash has said the first time he jammed with Stephen Stills and David Crosby it was at Joni Mitchell’s house. Crosby and Stills had just written a song and Nash was listening, and when they finished Nash asked them to play it again, and then again. After the third time they played it Nash joined in to sing it with them and it was at that precise moment that Crosby, Stills & Nash was born. They had never heard a sound like the threepart harmony they created that day.

“Jim Croce was the most humble person I worked with, but Joni

Left to right: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Deja Vu album cover, 1969. Joni Mitchell Leaning, now part of the Smithsonian permanent collection, 1969.

A young Tom O’Neal, 1972. Jim Morrison in rehearsal for Smothers Brothers Show in Los Angeles, 1968. proper English gentleman. He was very sharp and knowledgeable about printing and fabrication techniques, what the album would go through when being shipped in a carton, the liability of possible damage during shipping, etc. The album cover I did for them had a raised surface with just the name ‘The Rolling Stones’ and he loved that design.

“Often when I met with the leader of a band to talk about an upcoming album cover, they would be so stoned that you couldn’t understand anything they were saying. Or they weren’t stoned but you still couldn’t understand what they were saying. Some just weren’t at all articulate and they used a lot of filler phrases like ‘I don’t know man...’ and ‘We want it to be like, you know man? Well it’s kinda like we really want it to be cool... can you do that?’ The chemistry of some of these bands was so short-lived that with just a brief moment of success, or even the possibility of success, their heads would change and massive egos would take over. Some of these bands actually started spending their money before they even signed a contract.

“I worked with Janis Joplin but it took a long time before I got to hang

Mitchell was the most fascinating. She was such a dichotomy: the more I got to know her, the more I realized how exceptionally brilliant she was. But I also saw her fragility and extreme femininity, a kind of Lady Marian from the Robin Hood stories. She had a certain princess royalty about her too, but at the same time she was very engaging and very warm. Although she seemed fragile, she had immense power about her. My portrait of her is now on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, as is an outtake from the Déjà Vu album.

“I was inside the glitter of the recording industry and for the bands, it was fun, it was romantic and they got rich. But for the record companies, it was a business: record sales were revenue buckets and not for tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars, but for millions of dollars.

And what really contributed to the selling power of these albums was the photograph or the graphic design of the cover. My job was to get a customer into a store to pick up an album, look at the album cover and think, this looks cool, then turn it over, examine it, and then take it directly to the cash register.”

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wheels

Tesla Model S

A BETTER MOUSETRAP

For Tesla Motors, reinventing the wheel doesn’t just involve a new car.

ROBERT HAYNES-PETERSON

T

he past two decades have borne witness to fantastical leaps in technology we now consider invaluable: smartphones, GPS guidance systems, tablet computers. It’s also provided its fair share of clunkers: the Segway, non-iPod MP3 players, MySpace. One innovation that appeared to straddle the hot-or-not fence several times since its introduction almost a decade ago: Tesla Motors’ luxury electric vehicles (EVs). In recent months, however, much of the doubt about Tesla’s viability and even its historic importance seems to have been erased through a flurry of investments, new products and innovative sales and intellectual property rights management.

Though founded by computer engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in 2003, it was big thinker Elon Musk who got Tesla rolling. (He’s also a driving force behind much of the commercial space travel industry and a proposed Hyperloop high-speed magnetic rail in California.) The world got its first taste of the future with the Tesla Roadster in 2006. Musk argued that the nascent electronic car industry needn’t be restricted to boxy, utilitarian vehicles. He envisioned luxury roadsters and even high-performance racecars (the Tesla Roadster was the first EV to top 200 MPH, and was soon participating in eco-races in Australia). He made a point of investing personally in American manufacturing and dropping a significant amount of his and other people’s (including the U.S. DOE’s) money into manufacturing.

Soon pundits speculated each $128,000 car rolling off the line actually cost millions more based on investments vs. actual production. Various delays, along with a 2009 Roadster recall and battery pack fires in the Model S in 2013, made it seem as if the Tesla might be another rich kid’s vanity toy destined to be tossed aside. (Remember the DeLorean?)

Flash forward to 2014, and Musk’s vision is very nearly rock solid. The company posted profits in 2013. Buliding vertically, Tesla offers a growing range of cars. The full-sized, five-door Model S, with a remarkable 97 MPG

highway, expanded sales in the U.K. and Europe significantly during the first part of the year, while the falcon-winged, dual-motor, all-wheel drive Model X is expected to reach buyers by 2015. Just as importantly, the company opened its 100th charging station in Hamilton, New Jersey (also the 22nd state to approve Tesla’s unusual direct sales approach: you can scope the models on a showroom floor, but you must buy online). The most unusual Tesla Supercharger aspect of the Supercharger Station stations? Topping off your batteries doesn’t cost a cent. With enough stations, you can now theoretically cross the country for free.

Even more mind-boggling to the traditional Carnegie-era capitalist: in a blog post dated June 12, 2014, Musk made waves by announcing that all of Tesla’s hard-earned (and expensive) patents would be released into the public domain. In an era when the concept of open-sourcing headbutts against the lucrative intellectual property universe (think patented human DNA), the announcement was a potentially world-changing one. “If we clear a path to the creation of compelling electronic vehicles,” Musk wrote, “but then lay intellectual property landmines behind us to inhibit others, we are acting in a manner contrary to that goal.”

All of this adds up to a rosy future for Tesla, which claims to have more orders than they can possibly fill. Though he’s no longer associated with the company, Tarpenning is convinced of the significant role luxury EVs play. At a 2012 Silicon Valley Band of Angels lunch, he noted that in 10 years, “all the supercars will be electric or electric assisted.”

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ABSOLUTE TOUGHNESS UNIVERSAL ACCURACY

GPS HYBRID WAVE CEPTOR

Carbon Fiber Insert Band

GRAVITYMASTER is equipped both to receive time-calibration signals by radio wave from any of the six transmission stations worldwide for use in precision time correction and to receive transmissions of position and time data from GPS satellites.

LED Light (Super Illuminator)

Fine Resin Frame Solar Powered

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.

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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

If the car in your dreams is not the car in your garage, we should talk.

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EXPLORE THE LITTLE LUXURIES THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. DONALD CHARLES RICHARDSON

ESCAPE ARTISTS

There are many opulent hotels on the glamorous island of St. Barths. Then there’s the Taiwana. Set on Flamands Beach, Taiwana is the island’s most private retreat. Within moments of your arrival, the staff knows your name and room number and is quickly learning your preferences in wine and food.

Both are superb at this resort (and if you wake up hungry in the middle of the night, you’ll find someone on duty in the restaurant to supply a snack or ice cream). The rooms are sleek and sumptuously supplied with Frette towels, robes and linens. There’s an excellent Neville hair salon and spa. But it’s the ambiance of an exclusive club that truly sets Taiwana apart and makes it one of St. Barth’s most stylish places to unwind.

RICHARD TERMINE

CAT HITS HIGH NOTE

Celebrated for producing works composed for intimate venues, New York’s Gotham Chamber Opera is now in its 12th season. Performances have included rarities from the Baroque era, such as Mozart’s Il sogno di Scipione and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and contemporary operas including I Have No Stories to Tell You by Lembit Beecher and The Raven by Toshio Hosokawa. During the 2014/2015 season, the company will present a revival of a favorite, El gato con botas (Puss in Boots), by Xavier Montsalvatge, at New York’s El Museo del Barrio. The opera tells the children’s story of a miller who inherits a mangy cat with magical talents. The cat woos a princess for the miller and, after defeating an evil ogre through trickery, happily unites the miller and princess. They marry and provide a warm home for the cat (which is probably what the cat had in mind all along).

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GATHERING THE GRAPES At the 56-acre Hestan Vineyards located at the base of Okell Hill on Napa Valley’s eastern slopes, individually farmed blocks are planted with all five Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The grapes are co-harvested and cofermented to create Stephanie Proprietary Red Wine, a Bordeaux made from a layered blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Petit Verdot, 16% Malbec, 12% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Limited to 900 cases, Stephanie is a complex wine with an intriguing nose of licorice, clove and sweet spice mingled with cedar, tobacco and black currant. And rich mocha notes unfold on the supple palate, lingering well into the long, elegant finish.

ROCK STAR

PHOTO BY NICOLA GNESI. ARTWORK © KAN YASUDA. COURTESY EYKYN MACLEAN

Sculptor Kan Yasuda’s critically acclaimed work is exhibited and installed at galleries and public spaces all over the world. The Boboli Gardens in Florence displayed the first abstract sculptures in this 500-year-old collection; a solo exhibition featured 18 large works at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park; and a 17-acre sculpture park is dedicated to him in Japan. Working in marble (his studio is in Pietrasanta in northern Italy, near the Carrara quarries), Yasuda’s creations are gentle, tranquil and contemplative, encouraging interaction with the viewer. At his recent American debut show at Eykyn Maclean Gallery, when asked how an individual should chose a sculpture, Yasada replied, “Touch it, and if it touches you back…”

UN CHÂTEAU AVEC DES ANIMAUX EXOTIQUES As you drive into the Château of Thoiry, about 30 miles west of Paris, don’t be surprised if a giraffe strolls past your car. Many animals, such as camels and zebras, roam freely. Others, like tigers, leopards and cheetahs, are kept in the château’s zoo. While touring this 16th-century, 370-acre estate, you’ll also discover a maze, several gardens, a restaurant, and possibly the current Count and Countess of La Panouse, who still live in the château (part of which is shown to the public by costumed guides). Because architect Philibert de l’Orme designed the château to be in perfect harmony with nature, the most spectacular time to visit is during the summer or winter solstice, when the center arch marks the exact position of the sun.

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anniversaries

PASSING THE TIME

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

LAURIE KAHLE

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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.”

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TRADITIONAL JEWELERS ACCENT THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

FALL/WINTER 2014