Lee Michaels Accent Magazine Spring 2019

ACCENT • THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS • SPRING/SUMMER 2019

ACCENT: THE MAGAZINE OF LIFE’S CELEBRATIONS

LMFJ.COM

make

MOM’S DAY

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE

watch

REPORT

OUR MANAGERS’ TOP PICKS

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LEE MICHAELS •

SPRING/SUMMER 2019

WORTHY

ON-TREND INSTAGRAM PIECES

LEE MICHAELS

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SPRING/SUMMER 2019

CEO Lee Michael Berg PRESIDENTS Ryan Berg Scott Berg EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Chad Berg

4 Welcome Letter 8 Locations 10 Events 12 BUST Breast Cancer 16 Flirty Florals 20 Mother’s Day Gift Guide 28 Insta-Worthy 32 Mid-Century Modern 40 Watch Report 44 With the Band 46 Ellen Watches 48 Form & Function 50 In the Zone 54 Point Taycan 56 The Devil is in the Details 58 Rosé has its Day 60 Sunset Soirée 66 ‘I Want it Now!’ 68 Happily Ever After 72 Over the Rainbow

VICE PRESIDENT Greg Johnson VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER M A L L O F LO U I S I A N A Johnny Tate CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jane Harrington A DV E RT I S I N G M A N AG E R Amy Graham Hughes C R E AT I V E D E PA R T M E N T Mariella Brochard James Osborne E D I TO R- I N - C H I E F Rita Guarna C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R Stephen Vitarbo S E N I O R E D I TO R Daria Meoli S E N I O R A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R Darius Amos L I F E S T Y L E E D I TO R Haley Longman A RT D I R EC TO R Victoria Beall CO N T R I B U T I N G E D I TO R S Donna Rolando, Josh Sens

P U B L I S H I N G S TA F F PUBLISHER Shae Marcus ACCOUNT MANAGER Lisa Menghi D I R EC TO R O F P R O D U C T I O N A N D C I R C U L AT I O N Christine Hamel A DV E RT I S I N G S E R V I C E S D I R EC TO R Jacquelynn Fischer

LO CATIO N S BATO N RO UGE

7560 CORPORATE BOULEVARD 225.926.4644 MALL OF LOUISIANA 225.766.6000

NE W O RLE A NS LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER 504.832.0000

S HRE VE PO RT 6605 YOUREE DRIVE 318.222.2929

L A FAYE T T E 4235 AMBASSADOR CAFFERY PARKWAY 337.981.8071

JAC KSO N, MS RENAISSANCE AT COLONY PARK 601.957.6100

SAN ANTO NIO, T X

GRAPHIC DESIGNER, AD SERVICES Violeta Mulaj P R O D U C T I O N A R T A S S O C I AT E Christopher Ferrante ACCOUNTING Agnes Alves, Megan Frank

PUBLISHED BY Wainscot CHAIRMAN Carroll V. Dowden PRESIDENT & CEO Mark Dowden

NORTHSTAR MALL 210.541.9575 THE SHOPS AT LA CANTERA 210.699.9494

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS Shae Marcus, Carl Olsen

ALBUQ UE RQ UE, NM

VICE PRESIDENTS Nigel Edelshain, Thomas Flannery, Rita Guarna, Christine Hamel

ABQ UPTOWN 505.208.4500 Jewelry has been enlarged to show detail. Due to the fluctuating prices of diamonds, gold and platinum, prices are subject to change without notice and may vary depending on size, quality and availability. While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this magazine, we are not responsible for errors or omissions.

ACCENT is published by Wainscot Media, 1 Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656, in association with Lee Michaels. Copyright © 2019 by Wainscot Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

Editorial Contributions: Write to Editor, Lee Michaels, 1 Maynard Drive, Park Ridge, NJ 07656. The magazine is not responsible for the return or loss of unsolicited submissions.

Subscription Services: To change an address or request a subscription, write to Subscriptions, ACCENT, 1 Maynard Drive, Park Ridge NJ 07656, or by telephone at 201.573.5541.

Advertising Inquiries: Contact Shae Marcus at 856.797.2227 or shae.marcus@wainscotmedia.com Printed In The U.S.A. Volume 17, Issue 1. ©2019

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WELCOME We love to bring you fresh, unique, fashion-first and singular vintage discoveries. Because we want your every visit to your favorite Lee Michaels’ location to be extraordinary, we shop the world to bring its most captivating collections of luxury jewelry and watches to you. Each year we look forward to visiting design centers across the globe to view and select the most appealing, superbly crafted designs. It is one of the most demanding, but satisfying aspects of our business—ensuring that you, our valued customer, is always offered the most fashionable collections mixed with truly one-of-a-kind and rare creations at exceptional values.

We recently attended the Hong Kong Jewelry Show and the Basel Watch Fair in Switzerland and visited diamond cutters in India. We buy direct from manufacturers allowing us to personally select fresh designs in Italian-made jewelry, beautiful colored pearls from Hong Kong, handmade creations from local artisans and much more. We are thrilled for you to see what will fill our cases this spring and fall.

Our buyers have accumulated more than 100 years of combined experience in merchandising, buying, gemological expertise and knowledge, and negotiating for the best prices. We hone all those skills and travel the world so you can have confidence in Lee Michaels as your first choice for a personal jeweler.

We invite you to visit any of our nine Lee Michaels’ locations or shop online to see the treasures we’ve handpicked specifically for our valued customers.

We wish you and yours a wonderful spring and summer season and hope to see you soon.

THE LEE MICHAEL BERG FAMILY

WWW.LMFJ.COM | 1.800.543.4367

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store locations CORPORATE AT BOCAGE

MALL OF LOUISIANA

AMBASSADOR CAFFERY PARKWAY

Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge, LA

Lafayette, LA

LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER

YOUREE DRIVE AT EAST 70TH

RENAISSANCE AT COLONY PARK

New Orleans, LA

Shreveport, LA

Jackson, MS

THE SHOPS AT LA CANTERA

NORTH STAR MALL

ABQ UPTOWN

San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, TX

Albuquerque, NM

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EVENTS

PERSONAL APPEARANCES Marco Bicego in Baton Rouge & Ippolita Rostagno in New Orleans

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1. Laurie and Mark Aronson with Marco Bicego 2. Brooke, Emma Kate and Joyelle Adolph with Ippolita Rostagno 3. Jude Swenson, Linda Forest, Chad Berg and Joy North 4. Paula de la Bretonne with Marco Bicego 5. Marco Bicego hand-engraving his jewelry 6. Monica Kalozdi with Ippolita Rostagno 7. Brooke, Coya and Frank Levy with Ippolita Rostagno 8. Kim George with Ippolita Rostagno 9. Veronica and Michael Leto with Marco Bicego

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ALBUQUERQUE GRAND OPENING Albuquerque, NM

On November 9, 2018, Lee Michaels celebrated the grand opening of its Albuquerque, NM, store—the company’s ninth and newest location. On hand to mark the occasion was Lee Michaels founder Lee Berg, LMFJ presidents Ryan Berg and Scott Berg and executive vice president Chad Berg. Customers enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while viewing the elegantly appointed store and making selections from its outstanding collection of fine timepieces and designer creations. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of checks by the Bergs to Randy Royster and Perry Bendicksen of the Albuquerque Community Foundation and Agnes Noonan of Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST). Participating in the ribbon cutting were the Berg family, Ron Beauchamp, store manager Larry Chenoweth, Lee Michaels construction coordinator Ken Gikas and former president of Rolex U.S.A. Stewart Wicht.

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FEATURE

2019 BUST BREAST CANCER EVENT

ARTIST INFO www.angiecrabtree.com

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Thursday, Sept. 26 in Baton Rouge, LA

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LEE MICHAELS’ JEWELED BRA HELPS

BUST BREAST CANCER

BY KAREN B. GIBBS

‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.

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ee Michaels draws raves for its exquisite gemstone jewelry, but did you hear about the standing ovation it received for its crystal-studded bra? It’s true. But don’t go looking for luxurious lingerie in the showcases at Lee Michaels. This dazzling creation was commissioned by Lee Michaels for the 2018 BUST Breast Cancer fundraiser for Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge.

The BUST Breast Cancer fundraiser began in 2012 as the brainchild of Heather Kleinpeter in response to her own health scare. To raise money for the mammography unit at Woman’s Hospital, the industrious Kleinpeter staged a fashion show featuring models wearing artist-decorated bras. The event raised $3,800. Now a much-anticipated annual affair, BUST Breast Cancer gets bigger and better each year—and so do the proceeds. In 2018, for example, under the chairmanship of Rose Marie Fife, the event netted an impressive $234,700.

“Proceeds from the fundraiser support Woman’s Hospital’s two mammography buses,” said Fife, herself a breast cancer survivor, longtime volunteer and member of the hospital’s board of trustees.

“These buses offer 3D mammograms to women all over Louisiana, whether they are insured or uninsured. This is especially helpful to those who do not have access to care.”

Since its inception, BUST Breast Cancer has been sponsored by Arkel Constructors, Capital One Bank and Entergy. Impressively, there were 50 other sponsors for last year’s gala, including Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. “This was our first year as a sponsor for the event,” says Scott Berg, president.

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LMFJ JOINS THE CAUSE

Lee Michaels’ participation was kismet! You see, months before the event, Kleinpeter and Berg ran into each other while ordering pizza. That’s when Kleinpeter shared the story of BUST Breast Cancer. After hearing it, Berg wanted to pitch in. “So many of us have dealt with cancer in our families. For me, it was my grandmother who had breast cancer. Projects like BUST Breast Cancer bring awareness to the problem, so I wanted to help— it’s our duty to help.”

Berg met with Rose Marie Fife and her committee to brainstorm how Lee Michaels could do something that would add value to the event while being tasteful and representative of their brand. Donating a $5,000 Lee Michaels shopping spree for the auction was his first decision. “It’s amazing that we can use what we know and what we do—designing fashion jewelry—to help the community, especially women in need,” says Berg.

His second decision was to select the perfect artist, Angie Crabtree of San Francisco, to create the Lee Michaels bra. Renowned for her exquisite paintings of gemstone facets, there was no one better than Crabtree to integrate gemstones throughout her design.

Crabtree was paired with model Fife, who made it known ahead of time that she was terrified about walking down the runway wearing a bra. “I wrote Angie that I was 64 and 5-foot nothing, so be careful.” Taking Fife’s fears to heart, Crabtree designed a bustier that was very modest, almost dress-like.

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It was about the courageous women—mothers, daughters, wives, sisters—who conquered this disease.They are the heroes.”

— SCOTT BERG

THE GALA

On September 26, 2018, 1,100 guests gathered at L’Auberge Hotel and Casino in Baton Rouge for an evening of sumptuous food, sensational auctions and a crowd-pleasing fashion show. For the first time ever, all 26 models were cancer survivors. These vibrant women wowed the audience in an eclectic blend of lavish, lovely and whimsical bras embellished with everything from propellers to blossoms to bling—lots of bling!

Among the “bling-iest” was the Lee Michaels/ Crabtree bra that was inspired by a perfectly cut brilliant diamond. The jewel-encrusted cups and diamond-faceted print on the midriff were complemented by a flowing cape that attached to the model’s wrists like wings. Crabtree chose the diamond motif for a reason. “Diamonds represent strength and stability as well as inner beauty,” she explains. “They inspire phrases like ‘Shine bright like a diamond,’ ‘You’re a diamond; nothing can break you’ and ‘Pressure makes diamonds.’ Like diamonds, women can be strong and unbreakable, no matter what happens.”

THE RUNWAY

Whatever fears Fife and the other models may have had before the show fell silent before the thunderous applause of the audience. “When the models walked down the runway, hearts melted and tears flowed,” says Fife.

“One model had just finished her last radiation treatment the day before. Another model had successfully fought breast cancer twice, so the artist gave each breast a different design.”

Because Fife hosted the gala, she took the audience by surprise when she appeared on the runway as a model in the grand finale accompanied by Scott Berg and Angie Crabtree. “When Rose Marie came out, the audience gave her—and the bra—a standing ovation,” says Berg. “We couldn’t have picked a better person to model the bra. Rose Marie is a community activist, donating her time, talent and treasure.”

At the end of the show, all breast cancer survivors in the audience were invited to join the models on the runway. “There were 40-50 women on stage walking to ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten,” says Fife. “Everyone stood up and cheered in their honor. There were lots of tears.”

While Berg admits that everyone at Lee Michaels was excited to be a small part of BUST Breast Cancer, he is quick to add, “This event wasn’t about us or the other sponsors. It was about the courageous women— mothers, daughters, wives, sisters—who conquered this disease. They are the heroes.”

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ROBERTO COIN Venetian Princess 18K yellow gold, mother-of-pearl and diamond floral ring, $1,900 ROBERTO COIN Venetian Princess 18K yellow gold, mother-of-pearl and diamond floral pendant necklace, $6,550

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MARCO BICEGO Petali 18K yellow gold and diamond flower ring, $1,870

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flirty

FLORALS

ROBERTO COIN Venetian Princess 18K yellow gold, mother-of-pearl and diamond floral pendant necklace, $1,750 MARCO BICEGO Petali 18K yellow gold and diamond flower pendant necklace, $2,330

ROBERTO COIN Venetian Princess 18K yellow gold and diamond floral bangle, $7,900 18K white and yellow gold, yellow sapphire and diamond bangle, $29,500

LEE MICHAELS

MARCO BICEGO Petali 18K yellow gold and diamond flower stud earrings, $2,810

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THE ESTATE COLLECTION Our Estate Collection is like taking a trip around the world and a journey back in time. Each exquisite piece in this collection is one of a kind and has been hand selected by Katheryne Mauldin, who has more than 25 years of experience procuring antique jewelry.

COLLECTIONS

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FEATURED BANGLES ALL IN 14K YELLOW GOLD STARTING AT $3,590.

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// white

diamond double leaf bracelet // white diamond earrings // mother-of-pearl white diamond ring

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GIFT GUIDE

ON HER SPECIAL HOLIDAY, GIVE HER A SPARKLING PIECE FROM ONE OF THESE STELLAR DESIGNERS. Flowers for Mother’s Day? Sure, their fragrant, ephemeral beauty makes them a popular choice. And chocolates are wonderful too—even if they require her to suspend her diet just for the day. But this year the holiday could be your chance to make a gesture as enduring as your love—for your kids’ Mom, your own or another special mother in your life. When you’re ready, the following designers can help turn your giving impulse into an enchanting keepsake.

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DAVID YURMAN No woman is ever going to turn down a piece of jewelry on Mother’s Day, that’s just a fact. But gift-givers need to keep in mind the wearer’s personal style before making a purchase. Is her taste in jewelry classic or trendy? Does she prefer dainty or oversized? That’s why David Yurman is the perfect choice.

The brand’s ever-expanding line of masterpieces can appeal to every woman’s preference and has staying power. After all, Yurman jewels—created by David Yurman, his wife, Sybil, and now son, Evan—have been adorning women’s wrists, necks, fingers and earlobes for almost 40 years.

David Yurman jewelry is made with gold, silver or mixed metals; gemstones, diamonds or pearls. The brand offers pinky rings for risk-taker moms, statement sparklers for fans of the classics, hoop earrings that’ll become a special-occasion staple and simple studs for everyday wear. But no matter what item(s) you choose for Mom, each unique piece has the Yurman signature cable design she’ll instantly recognize and adore. The motif is used in innovative and beautiful ways, such as on a cuff, surrounding a pendant or on the inside of a ring where only the wearer can see it. Elegant and timeless, David Yurman is the Mother’s Day present the busy mom in your life deserves.

From top left: Cable Collectibles Sculpted Heart Necklace with diamonds in 18K gold, Cable Collectibles I Love You Pendant with 14K gold, Cable Collectibles Initial Necklace with diamonds, Amulets Heart Pendant with diamonds in 18K gold, The Crossover Collection Cuff bracelet with diamonds, Pearl Cluster rings with diamonds.

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SPEC: ISSUE:

Trim 9" x 10.875" April 2019

Bleed 9.25" x 11.125"

201-746-7806

Know Your Diamond COLOR GRADE

CLARITY GRADE

CUT GRADE

CARAT WEIGHT

Look for diamonds graded by GIA, the creator of the 4Cs. Learn more at 4Cs.GIA.edu CARLSBAD

ANTWERP

BANGKOK

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DUBAI

GABORONE

HONG KONG

JOHANNESBURG

LONDON

MUMBAI

NEW YORK

RAMAT GAN

SURAT

TAIPEI

TOKYO

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GIFT GUIDE

ROBERTO COIN Why not give Mom a piece of jewelry from the City of Gold itself? Roberto Coin’s eponymous brand was born in 1977 in Vicenza, Italy’s capital of gold. Soon after its official inception in 1996, Roberto Coin became world-renowned and celebrity-adored, and it’s easy to see why—each piece is unique and handcrafted in 18K gold, some with gems and some without.

Every piece in Roberto Coin’s collections also features his signature: a tiny ruby hidden inside that is the designer’s gift to his customers. Ruby is a “…romantic way to wish the best to all the people wearing my pieces,” Coin has said. The ruby also represents health, happiness and long life, and no Mom can say no to all that.

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From top: Charm Bracelet in 18K yellow gold with Sun charm, Heart charm and Butterfly charm, each in 18K yellow gold; Pois Moi Luna single row diamond pavé ring in 18K white gold, Pois Moi Luna wide ring in 18K yellow gold, Pois Moi Luna wide ring in 18K rose and white gold with diamonds, Pois Moi Luna wide diamond pavé ring in 18K white gold; Pois Moi Luna single row bangle in 18K yellow and white gold with diamonds, Pois Moi Luna two-row bangle in 18K yellow and white gold with diamonds, Pois Moi Luna wide diamond pavé bangle in 18K white gold.

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An experience elevated in the San Antonio Hill Country for those seeking soulful reflection, joyful celebration, mindful movement and vibrant living. It’s an escape that’s yours and it’s all within reach. lomadevidaspa.com | 210.558.2252

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GIFT GUIDE

MIKIMOTO If it’s a strand of pearls Mom is hoping for, Mikimoto is the obvious choice. The namesake behind the brand is Kokichi Mikimoto, who revolutionized the pearl industry when he cultured the first pearl and patented the process in the early 1900s. And now, more than a century later, Mikimoto is still refashioning how women wear pearl necklaces by introducing versatile new designs, innovative clasps and unique styles, from multi-layered strands to lariats laced with diamonds. The collections, which also include earrings, bracelets, brooches and rings, are timeless yet contemporary, classic yet cutting-edge—but universally coveted and stunning.

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Clockwise from top left: Akoya Cultured Pearl Necklace, 8x7mm in 18K white gold; Akoya Cultured Pearl Necklace, 6-6.5mm in 18K white gold; White South Sea Cultured Pearl Earrings, 10mm with 0.70cttw diamonds in 18K white gold; Akoya Cultured Pearl Earrings, 7.5mm with 0.24cttw diamonds in 18K white gold.

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Apply today for the Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry

PREFERRED FINANCING PROGRAM

INSTANT CREDIT AVAILABLE* SPECIAL FINANCING OPTIONS* LOW MINIMUM PAYMENTS *Subject to credit approval.

Minimum monthly payment required.

Initial account activation in store only.

Lee Michaels is pleased to provide the LM Preferred Financing Program with the flexibility to help your dreams come true. Our convenient and fast approval process makes it easy and safe to apply online at LMFJ.com or in store. Let our extraordinary selections, service, quality and values earn your trust for a lasting relationship with us.

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GIFT GUIDE

MARCO BICEGO Marco Bicego jewelry makes 18K gold look as smooth as silk. Each piece in the various collections, many of which are named after and inspired by luxurious destinations such as Jaipur and Marrakech, are handcrafted at the designer’s atelier in Italy by goldsmiths who manipulate the metal in unique ways. Bicego has said he wants his designs to be shown off rather than stashed away in a vault somewhere, and in fact, pieces from his multiple collections are meant to be layered and worn together. But with bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings this beautiful and wearable, that won’t be too hard for Mom, right?

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From top: Jaipur bracelet in 18K yellow gold with diamonds and London blue topaz; Africa Constellation bangle in 18K yellow gold with diamonds; Africa Constellation drop earrings in 18K gold with diamonds.

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TRENDS

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HARMONY COLLECTION 14K yellow gold diamond necklace, $1,950

w o n g n i d n e r #t

insta-

WORTHY

HARMONY COLLECTION 14K yellow gold diamond hoop earrings, $1,350

FROM DELICATE DIAMONDS TO COLORFUL STACKS, THESE ON-TREND PIECES ARE INSTAGRAM WORTHY.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW

@LEEMICHAELSJEWELRY FOR CURRENT TRENDS AND JEWELRY INSPIRATION!

FREIDA ROTHMAN sterling silver and 14K yellow gold plated clear CZ bangle. Available in reconstituted turquoise, mother-of-pearl and blue, $215 each.

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#leemichaels

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JANE TAYLOR 14K yellow gold blue topaz ring, $715 JANE TAYLOR 14K yellow gold tourmaline bar necklace, $1,630

JAN LESLIE sterling silver and rose gold plated pink mother-of-pearl and enamel earrings, $450

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Left to right: Pearl and diamond ring, $375; pink sapphire eternity band, $450; pearl and diamond ring, $375; black diamond eternity band $475; pearl and sapphire ring $275; blue sapphire eternity band, $450; pearl and pink sapphire ring, $275. All in 14K gold.

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THE RESERVE COLLECTION Our Reserve Collection brings beauty to life with select, unexpected pieces ranging from graduated diamond necklaces to fashion bracelets and from diamonds-by-the-yard necklaces to the extensive collection of earrings.

The Reserve Collection represents iconic styles to wear for generations.

COLLECTIONS

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18K GOLD AND DIAMOND HINGED BANGLES STARTING AT $18,500

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ART 32 LEE MICHAELS

BRITISH PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN PARKINSON CHARTED THE CHANGING FACE OF FASHION THROUGH THE 20TH CENTURY.

Considered a trailblazer who ushered in a movement of storytelling in the genre of fashion photography, Norman Parkinson worked outside the box. He took female models away from the static poses and outside well-controlled studios common in pre-war photography and into the real world. His shoots often took place in exotic, glamorous locations where his subjects interacted with the environment. In a career that spanned from 1931 until his death in 1990—while shooting on location in Singapore—Parkinson’s work reflected our evolving society.

Model Pilar Crespi reclines on a beach in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Photographer Norman Parkinson shot the image for Town & Country magazine in 1980.

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HAMILTON 33

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ART

In 1956, Parkinson traveled across India on a photo shoot for British Vogue. Upon seeing the exotic photos, notable fashion editor Diana Vreeland remarked, “How clever of you, Mr. Parkinson, to know that pink is the navy blue of India.”

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This page: The image of statuesque model Barbara Mullen appears monochromatic save for the beautiful pop of “navy” provided by a smiling child.

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Opposite page: Fashion model Anne Gunning in a pink mohair coat by Jaeger was photographed outside the City Palace in Jaipur, India.

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C O R P O R AT E G I F T S & AWA R D S

SERVICE AWARD PROGRAMS | MILESTONE & RETIREMENT GIFTS | SALES RECOGNITION AWARDS SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS | DONOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT GIFTS 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.

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Our Harmony Collection is a modern take on classic diamond jewelry. These delicate designs are the perfect harmony of gold and diamonds. From layering necklaces to stackable bracelets and rings, each piece in this on-trend collection is the definition of effortless, chic style.

COLLECTIONS

14K GOLD AND DIAMOND NECKLACES STARTING AT $325.

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THE HARMONY COLLECTION

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TIMEPIECES

OUR MANAGERS’ TOP PICKS

KYLE WILKINSON - MANAGER Mall of Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA

VICTORIA BEAVERS - MANAGER The Shops at La Cantera San Antonio, TX

ROLEX DATEJUST 41

PANTHÈRE DE CARTIER

For me, there is nothing more iconic and classic than the Rolex Datejust 41 on a Jubilee bracelet in steel and yellow gold. The Jubilee bracelet was designed and made especially for the launch of the Oyster Perpetual Datejust in 1945. $12,700

In 18K yellow gold with diamonds on the bezel, the Panthère de Cartier watch is not only a timepiece but also a beautiful piece of jewelry. I love how stylish it is and how great it goes with my other jewelry. $27,100

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JOSÉ AWILL - MANAGER Lakeside Shopping Center Metairie, LA

TONY SANDERS - MANAGER Renaissance at Colony Park Ridgeland, MS

SANTOS DE CARTIER

TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE 5

The Santos de Cartier is a great looking timepiece with a lot of versatility. It has a steel and gold bracelet and also comes with an interchangeable calfskin strap, which is great for wearing for any occasion. I also love the 18K gold bezel. $10,400

The Carrera Calibre 5 has the classic Carrera collection trademarks of refinement and elegance. This is a nice timepiece to wear at work or on the weekends. It is a great price point too. $2,700

KIM HENRY - MANAGER Ambassador Crossing at Settlers Trace Lafayette, LA

GREG JOHNSON - MANAGER Youree Drive at East 70th Shreveport, LA

ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL 34

ROLEX AIR-KING

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34 is a nice size for me, and I like that it is simple but also has a fun pop of color with its red grape dial, which is a great feature. $5,050

The Rolex Air-King with its Oystersteel bracelet and black dial is a great everyday watch. It also pays tribute to the pioneers of aviation with the large 3, 6 and 9 numerals and a prominent minute scale for navigational time readings. $6,200

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TIMEPIECES

JACK COOTE - MANAGER Corporate at Bocage Baton Rouge, LA

PAULA SHAVER - MANAGER North Star Mall San Antonio, TX

PATEK PHILIPPE REF. 5205 Patek Philippe is the pinnacle of Swiss timepieces. The 5205 Annual Calendar with moon phases is sleek, dynamic and very contemporary. I love that the dial has two tones of blue shading to black. $48,000

LARRY CHENOWETH - MANAGER ABQ Uptown Albuquerque, NM

ROLEX DATEJUST 36 I like to wear a little bit of a larger dial, so the Rolex Datejust 36 is perfect. The diamonds and Everose gold give it a lovely feminine touch. $20,900

TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE 16 Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 is just a cool watch! A chronograph, which is essential for timing race cars, this timepiece is the classic yet contemporary sports watch inspired by motor sports. $4,350

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ALLIANCE SPORT CHRONOGRAPH MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE | ESTABLISHED 1884

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with the

SURE, YOU STILL LOVE YOUR METAL BRACELETS (WE ALL DO). BUT SPRING AND SUMMER ARE THE PERFECT TIMES TO TRY A WATCH THAT FEATURES A STRAP IN A NEW COLOR, TEXTURE OR MATERIAL.

This page: Patek Philippe Ref. 5524 Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 42mm in rose gold on vintage brown calfskin strap.

Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Rolex Cellini Date 39mm in 18K white gold with blue guilloche dial and leather strap; Shinola Runwell with 47mm stainless steel case and tan leather strap; Rolex Yacht-Master 40mm in Everose gold with Oysterflex bracelet; Shinola Runwell with 41mm stainless steel case, midnight blue dial and ocean Nappa leather strap.

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The entrepreneur owns several of the Rolex GMT-Master timepieces, including the 1675 Blueberry, the “Pepsi” red and blue bezel and the 40MM GMT-Master II in ceramic steel, shown here.

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A DEGENERES TIMEPIECE TRIO Comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres seldom leaves home without a Rolex or Patek. Here are three standouts from her enviable collection:

OBSERVING CAREFULLY BOTH HER GUESTS AND THE TIME HELPS THIS TALK-SHOW HOST KEEP HER HUMOR SHARP BUT GENTLE. SHE’S A WATCHFUL COLLECTOR TOO. It’s about more than laughs—that’s the deal with comedian-turned-talk-show-host Ellen DeGeneres.

Her generous, benign spirit is another key to her success, and her style of gentle self-mockery takes the sting out of her sendups of absurdity—hers, ours and the world’s.

While some comics make us guffaw but inwardly recoil, DeGeneres is the one we want to hang out with in our daytime living rooms. Who else could have shattered barriers as she did by coming out on her sitcom back in the ’90s (both her character and the comedian herself) while leaving us laughing and liking her so darn much?

While DeGeneres, now 60, wrestles with an exaggerated rep for being “nice,” she does achieve apparently effortless rapport with everyone who sits in the guest chair. That takes sensitivity. But each of us has an aggressive demon somewhere inside. Where’s hers?

Maybe a clue is on her wrist. There seems to be nothing demure or stammeringly apologetic about DeGeneres’ acquisition of luxury watches. She collects. And no one doubts that her bank account is good for every tick on every dial.

Oh, she’s casual enough, letting the luxury jewelry peek out beneath her left sleeve during episodes and appearances and interviews, but never actually showing it off. “I have both vintage and new models,” she remarked about a little Swiss brand called Rolex. She has, to name a wristful, the Rolex Submariner with a blue dial and ceramic bezel, the Rolex Yacht-Master Everose with an Oysterflex bracelet, the collectible Rolex Explorer II “Steve McQueen” 1655 and—her personal favorite— the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. DeGeneres, the wife

of actress Portia de Rossi, is photographed frequently wearing this classic design—she even wore one during her 2018 Netflix standup comedy special, ironically titled Relatable—and has at least seven of them.

One of the comedian’s most valuable Daytonas is surely the $175K rare 1969 Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona Reference 6241, which she debuted on a 2018 episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s Netflix series, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. (It’s OK to be jealous of both her watch and her famous pals, we promise.)

But any true collection needs variation, which is why she has also splurged on a few Patek Philippes, including the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 5271, the Nautilus Ref. 5711 and the Nautilus Annual Calendar Chronograph. She keeps her wry perspective, though.

“For centuries we’ve checked the time by looking at our phones,” she tweeted after Apple announced the Apple Watch in 2014. “Having it on your wrist? Genius.”

DeGeneres and her shows have amassed at least 30 Emmys, and she has voiced a fish in Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, written some books, hosted the Grammys, the Oscars and the Emmys, made Spectrum commercials and launched her own production company, record label, lifestyle brand and a series on HGTV. She was a spokesmodel for CoverGirl and even served as a judge on a season of American Idol. Most important, though, DeGeneres has championed generosity and kindness throughout her career, ending each show by saying, “Be kind to one another.”

If she’s as kind and generous as all that, couldn’t we borrow just one watch?

DeGeneres wore this Patek Philippe Grand Complications Ref. 5204 on a 2018 episode of her talk show. And she’ll never forget the date or time with this baby, as its functions show hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, moon phase, a leap year indicator and a perpetual calendar. Its price tag? Over $275K.

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40 is one of the comedian’s go-tos, with its elegant platinum smooth bezel and glacier blue patterned dial.

The Rolex Yacht-Master 40 Everose was introduced in 2015 and features the brand’s Oysterflex bracelet, which allows for increased comfort and mobility.

DeGeneres wore this during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.

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THE ROLEX OYSTER CASE WAS THE FIRST WATER- AND PRESSURE-PROOF WATCH CASE EVER INVENTED—AND IT’S STILL THE BEST.

The Oyster case has long been one of the determining factors in Rolex’s reputation for excellence, and it constitutes an important milestone in the history of contemporary watchmaking: Invented by Rolex in 1926, it was the world’s first waterproof case for a wristwatch thanks to its patented system of screwing down the bezel, case back and winding crown against the middle case.

In 1927, Rolex put its effectiveness to the test by equipping a young Englishwoman, Mercedes Gleitze, with a watch for her swim across the English Channel. After more than 10 hours in the water, it continued to work perfectly, providing irrefutable proof that the Oyster case was waterproof. Today, thanks to the case’s hermetic construction (solid middle case, screw-down case back and crown, friction-fitted crystal and bezel), all Rolex Oyster watches are guaranteed waterproof to a depth of at least 100 meters (328 feet), increasing to 300 meters (984 feet) for the Submariner divers’ models and up to 3,900 meters (12,795 feet) for the Rolex Deepsea.

The Oyster’s middle case (the central section of the case) is stamped and machined out of a solid block of 904L steel, 18-karat gold or 950 platinum. It is extremely robust and forms the backbone to which all the other parts of the case are securely fitted. Some professional models

feature a crown guard on the side; these shoulders are stamped as an integral part of the middle case. The sapphire crystal is mounted on a gasket, and the whole is fitted against the flange of the case and hermetically clamped tight by the bezel or a sealing ring. Oyster case backs are hermetically screwed down against the middle case.

All models in the Oyster collection are equipped with the Oyster case and a Twinlock or Triplock winding crown. The Twinlock screwdown winding crown, developed and patented by Rolex, comprises a double system of seals, guaranteeing waterproofness to a depth of 100 meters. The Triplock comprises 10 components made of materials selected for their inherent qualities, including 18-karat gold or 904L steel for the crown and polymers for the gaskets. Once assembled, the system is screwed down against the Oyster case, offering watertight security akin to a submarine’s hatch.

All Oyster cases are manufactured in-house by Rolex. After the final control operations, every Oyster watch is immersed in water and subjected to a pressure 10 percent greater than that found at the depth to which it is guaranteed—25 percent more in the case of divers’ watches. Robust and waterproof, this perfectly proportioned and elegant watch case blends form and function.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39 with white dial, Oyster bracelet in Oystersteel, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and 48-hour power reserve. Waterproof to 100 meters. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40 in Everose gold with Oysterflex bracelet (flexible metal blades overmolded with high-performance elastomer), scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with Cyclops lens over date and 48-hour power reserve. Waterproof to 100 meters.

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PATEK PHILIPPE’S LUXURIOUS WORLD TIME WATCHES SHOW WHAT TIME IT IS WHERE YOU ARE—AND EVERYWHERE ELSE TOO.

By Christen Fisher

LEE MICHAELS

Patek Philippe Ref. 5930G Men’s World Time Chronograph in white gold with blue opaline hand-guilloché dial center and matte navy alligator strap.

Today’s world travelers need to see the time in different time zones at a glance. World Time watches meet that need with the ultimate in mechanical ingenuity and aesthetic beauty.

Prior to the mid-19th century, time was a local matter. Towns and cities around the world relied solely on the relative position of the sun to determine the time of day, which would be displayed on a centrally located clock, perhaps on a church steeple, in the town square or in a jeweler’s window. No national or international conventions defined how time should be measured, when a day began and ended, or even the actual length of an hour. While astronomers in Greenwich, England, had established mean time (time measured by a pendulum clock) back in the 1670s, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) was of no practical use, except to sailors who used it to calculate their position at sea on transoceanic journeys. For the average citizen both in the U.S. and abroad, longdistance travel and communication were so painstakingly slow that standardized time was irrelevant. There was no such thing as a frequent traveler. Then came the railroads.

As railroad tracks began to crisscross entire countries and continents, transporting people, communications and goods at speeds heretofore unimagined, the need for an international time standard became imperative. In 1876, Sir Sandford Fleming, chief

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become ubiquitous in the years since these advances. Jet propulsion has engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway—who incidentally was also taken over from the steam engine. Email, text, phone and FaceTime have instrumental in the laying of the Pacific Cable as a way to provide faster, superseded handwritten letters and telegrams. And the need to know the cheaper communication among the British colonies—spent a frustrated local time anywhere in the world at a glance is relevant to everyone who night in an Irish train station having missed the last departure, not to dares to venture beyond their front door. Patek Philippe World Time mention a few other connections during his journey, because of the watches continue to fulfill this need in an exemplary way. unpredictable time discrepancies between towns. Fleming’s misadventure Current Patek Philippe World Time references include two offerings inspired him to solve what he knew would become a universal problem for ladies and four for gentlemen. Each piece shows all 24 time zones for the rapidly growing ranks of regular travelers. In 1884, at the at a glance with the local time prominently displayed for the time International Prime Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., he zone whose assigned city name is just above the small red arrow at 12 advocated the adoption of a standard or mean time with hourly variations o’clock—in the classic manner with the hour and minute hands. In the from it according to a system of 24 time zones around the globe. His other 23 time zones, the times are directly readable on the 24-hour ring system is still in use today. that rotates counterclockwise within the city disk. When traveling into Born in Carouge, Switzerland, 10 years after the International a different time zone, the pusher in the case at 10 o’clock is pressed as Prime Meridian Conference, Louis Cottier was a talented and soughtoften as needed to align the respective city name with the red arrow at after independent watchmaker. Having graduated from the Geneva 12 o’clock. Each time the pusher is pressed, the hour hand advances one School of Horology, Cottier won two prizes from Patek Philippe while hour while the city disk and the 24-hour ring move counterclockwise by still an apprentice. He worked as a master horologist for several one increment. major brands and was entrusted with the care and restoration For ladies, the World Time reference 7130 is available in of Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf ’s personal watch collection. white gold with a gray-blue hand-guilloched dial center on a Despite these accolades, Cottier remained humble, working shiny peacock-blue alligator strap with a diamond-set bezel in a modest atelier in the back room of his wife’s book and prong buckle, or in rose gold with an ivory opaline handand stationery shop at Rue Vautier 45 in Carouge. There guilloched dial center on a shiny taupe alligator strap, with a he made desk clocks, pocket watches, wristwatches and bezel and prong buckle also set with diamonds. Both handmade prototypes including wristwatches without references feature a caliber 240 HU self-winding hands, watches with jumping digital hours, mechanical movement. and fantastical jacquemarts (hour-striking For gentlemen, the World Time reference mechanical devices) and automata. And it 5230 is available with a charcoal gray was there, in 1931, that Louis Cottier lacquered, hand-guilloched center in white invented the “Heure Universelle,” or gold on a shiny black alligator strap or in the “World Time” mechanism. rose gold on a shiny chocolate brown First created as a pocket alligator strap. Both feature a caliber watch for a local jeweler, the 240 HU mechanical, self-winding World Time was the first movement. In addition, there is the complication to display the 5131/P World Time in white gold time in all 24 time zones with cloisonné enamel dial center simultaneously. It quickly depicting the North Pole. For those gained attention from luxury who are interested in the added watchmakers. In 1937, features of a more complicated Patek Philippe approached watch, there is also the 5930G Cottier about producing the World Time Chronograph. Offered World Time as a wristwatch, in white gold with a blue opaline and in 1940, the company hand-guilloched dial center on a matte launched the World Time Ref. navy blue alligator strap, the World Time 1415 with a cloisonné enamel dial.

Chronograph features a caliber CH 28-520 Cottier refined the design in 1953 by HU mechanical, self-winding movement. uncoupling the time-zone mechanism Patek Philippe’s World Time watches from the movement, so that the hour hand represent the ultimate in luxury and could be moved without affecting the functionality and embody the brand’s regular progression of the minute hand. Six longstanding commitment to the needs and years later Patek patented the system. In This page: The Patek Philippe 1931 “Heure Universelle” pocket watch. values of the world’s travelers. It would the years since, Patek has refined its World Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Patek Philippe Ref. 5230G Men’s World Time in rose gold with charcoal lacquered, hand-guilloche dial seem that Sandford Fleming’s night of Time watches to increase user-friendliness and chocolate brown alligator strap; Patek Philippe Ref. 5131/P Men’s frustration was worth it in the long run, and and technological precision, as well as to World Time in white gold with cloisonné enamel dial center depicting the North Pole; a plaque commemorating Louis Cottier; Patek Philippe that Louis Cottier’s innovation has stood showcase an array of breathtaking artistry.

Ref. 7130G Ladies World Time in white gold with gray-blue handguilloche and peacock blue alligator strap. the test of time.

World travel and communication have

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AUTO

point taycan

PORSCHE ELECTRIFIES THE GREEN VEHICLE MARKET WITH ITS FIRST ELECTRIC SPORTS SEDAN. By Darius Amos

Careful what you wish for—right, Elon Musk? The Tesla chief took the auto world by storm when he rolled out his line of luxury electric cars, but little did he know his call for the globe’s other leading automakers to manufacture competitive “green” vehicles would be met head-on by Porsche. The German company, with a nearly 90-year history of producing high-end sports cars, has more than stepped up to Musk’s challenge. It is launching a new high-performance sports sedan, the Taycan (pronounced TIE-con), that will stand toe-to-toe with Tesla’s iconic Model S. The Taycan—a Eurasian word that translates loosely to “lively young horse”—is Porsche’s first all-electric vehicle. With a starting price in the $90,000-to-$100,000 range, it aims to become the leader in a market that’s been ruled by Tesla.

So what makes this colt run? For starters, it boasts two electric motors that generate a whopping 600 horsepower, which Porsche says muscles 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds. Not bad considering Porsche’s legendary 911 Turbo S does that sprint in roughly 2.5 seconds. Early track results show that the

Taycan has an electric range of about 310 miles. The car’s power source is an 800-volt supercharger battery—plug in the car for just 15 minutes and it will have enough juice to travel 248 miles, or New York to Boston, without stopping.

The Porsche power on the Taycan is tamed by all-wheel drive traction, though a rear-wheel drive version is an anticipated option for the future.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find all the luxurious amenities typically associated with the Porsche name. The driver’s position resembles a 911, with plenty of gadgets and gizmos within reach. Two touchscreens (one a 10.1-inch display) provide controls for everything from the premium infotainment system to seat adjustments. If you’re hauling family, friends or co-workers, they’ll ride in comfort—there’s ample room for them plus space for luggage in the front and back.

An old adage suggests that sometimes less is more. Without an engine, the Taycan offers fewer mechanical components for a driver to interact (play) with. No worries. Welcome to the new generation of electric sports cars.

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The Porsche Taycan will be the luxury sports car manufacturer’s first electric car when it hits the U.S. later this year. Engineers say the sports sedan can travel about 310 miles on a fully charged battery—a range that eclipses the industry leader, Tesla’s iconic Model S.

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THE CORNERSTONE COLLECTION The Cornerstone Collection offers a foundation in beauty and class, anchored by elegant baguette diamonds in white gold. These rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets build upon the qualities of our most precious gemstone.

Its classic design offers longevity of style that can easily be added to or complemented.

COLLECTIONS

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FEATURED PIECES ALL IN 18K WHITE GOLD STARTING AT $1,275.

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SPIRITS

DELEÓN WILL TEMPT YOUR PALATE WITH A UNIQUE BLEND OF FLAVORS FOUND IN ITS REPOSADO.

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Rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs notoriously poured and pranced around with bottles of Cristal when music videos were his forte, but as a businessman today, tequila is his drink of choice. Five years ago, Combs partnered with one of the world’s largest spirits distillers, Diageo, to take over and reinvent a small firm, DeLeón Tequila. They rebranded the company’s existing lineup of exclusive tequilas as its Luxury Line (maybe you’ve heard of the $820 per bottle DeLeón Leóna?), and later rolled out a new trio dubbed its Ultra-Premium Line. In the middle of the new threesome is DeLeón Reposado ($60), a refined pale gold tequila that’s aged eight months in American oak and finished in French oak casks. Pour yourself a shot. There’s an immediate and unmistakable woody presence on the nose, but there’s much more going on—you’ll detect notes of caramel, citrus and banana. On the palate, roasted agave and black pepper give way to cinnamon, caramel and oak flavors. In essence, DeLeón integrates sweet and spicy, punchy and peppery throughout—unusual characteristics of typical woody reposados. It’s a unique tequila that Mexican spirits fans should absolutely try.

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These two African themed knives feature world class hand engraving. Engraving is done completely by hand, under a binocular microscope, using tiny engraving/carving tools.

Copper and 24K gold are inlaid by hand to add color and richness to the scene.

Blades are hand-forged damascus steel and gemstones are set in the lock button and thumbstud. Exquisite work!

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WINE

rosé has its day Don’t blush—there’s no need to be embarrassed. Nowadays, it’s perfectly OK to like rosé. More than that, it’s cool. It puts you on the cusp of a cultural wave that has swept up wine lovers from coast to coast.

Call it a rosergence.

Jay-Z has rapped about it. Drew Barrymore has reveled it in, releasing her own label of pinot noir rosé. Although pink wine still represents a mere 1.5 percent of the total U.S. table wine market—a proverbial drop in the industry bucket—demand for it is swelling. From mid-2016 to mid-2017, domestic consumption of rosé increased 53 percent by volume, surging to $258 million in sales, according to a report last year by Forbes. Over that same period, sparkling rosé also enjoyed a bump, its sales jumping by nearly 20 percent.

It all adds up to a serious turnabout in reputation for a wine once snickered at by sophisticates.

Starting in the 1970s, and for the good part of a generation, rosé was widely seen as the sweet pink drink of fru-fru cocktail parties, a déclassé concoction for less-than-nuanced palates, much of it sold in jugs by the likes of Gallo and Sutter Home.

White zinfandel was the variety by which many people then came to know rosé, and it was often said that the wine’s very existence owed to an error. According to a broadly circulated story, it was born in 1975 when Sutter Home winemaker Bob Trinchero botched a production, giving rise to a high-in-sugar wine with the saccharine character of a Hallmark card.

To Trinchero’s surprise, consumers loved it. For better or worse, a phenomenon was born.

This, of course, was another era; the American market was just catching on to wine.

“In that sense, those sweet rosés were great for the industry,” says Niki Wente, a fifth-generation vintner at venerable Wente Vineyards in Livermore, California. “They got a lot of people drinking and enjoying wine. And the more people learned, the more excited they became about the possibilities.”

Wente is one of a growing number of young vintners who are unabashed in their embrace of rosé. Just last year, she expressed that fondness through the first release of Niki’s Pinot Noir Rosé, a crisp but complex wine that bears no resemblance to the cloying blushes of decades past.

Dancing lightly on the palate, with notes of cantaloupe and orange zest, this rosé has a closer kinship to the traditionally bone-dry rosés of France, one of several countries where pink wine comes with a rich pedigree.

Wide-ranging in its provenance, with deep roots in Spain, Portugal, Germany and Italy, among other wine-producing powers, rosé is also made in myriad styles, from such varietals as pinot noir, grenache and gamay, to name just a few. It appears in shades that span the pink-hued spectrum, from the reddest raspberry to the palest salmon. But no matter its iteration, rosé, at its best, is bright, refreshing and a delicious food wine fit for all occasions.

Hence the growing popularity of a wine-world catchphrase. Say it with us: Rosé all day!

TASTING NOTES

Domaine Carneros Madame de Pompadour Rosé NV, $37 Named after the French King Louis XV’s paramour, Madame de Pompadour, this has a delicate mousse, a lacy texture and aromatics of wild strawberries, ripe peach, apricot, pomegranate, honeysuckle and exotic spices.

2018 Niki’s Pinot Noir Rosé, $30 Brimming with aromatic hints of summer melon and ripe strawberry, this refreshing wine pairs beautifully with everything from rich cow’s-milk cheeses to roasted pork.

J Vineyards Brut Rosé, $45 A vibrant sparkling rosé with a creamy mouthfeel that gives way to lively notes of blood orange and lemon.

Try it with tuna poke or grilled prawns.

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FOR WINE CONNOISSEURS, A PINK PALETTE NEED NOT MEAN A CLOYING SWEETNESS ON THE PALATE. By Josh Sens

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WEDDED BLISS

It could be a wedding gathering at the famous resort Auberge du Soleil in California’s scenic Napa Valley, as featured in Jessica Kerwin Jenkins’ The Art of Entertaining (Rizzoli New York). Or it could be another celebration somewhere far from the vineyards, but where the golden light of just-before-dusk equally illumines the guests’ cheerfully colorful attire and the sparkling Dom Pérignon equally complements the succulent treats from the sea. Here the culinary preparations are by renowned chef Robert Curry; at your event they could be your own or the work of another artist in the kitchen. What matters is the vibe of effortless delight and the way conversation seems to have an extra opportunity to sparkle.

What matters is the moment—and the mood—and the memories you’ll make.

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LET A BRIDAL PARTY IN A RESORT OVERLOOKING THE VINEYARDS OF NAPA VALLEY INSPIRE YOU— WHEREVER YOU CHOOSE TO CELEBRATE.

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This page: A raw bar offering oysters, clams and prawns is an irresistible counterpoint to sparkling wine, but keep the menu understated so as not to overpower the beverages. Chef Robert Curry of Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley recommends serving sparkling wine with salty foods such as oysters or anything that’s fried and/ or cured, or fermented dishes, such as those made with bacon, soy or olives. Opposite page: Seared scallops with zucchini, corn and basil purÊe exemplify the flavors of the season (and locale); mix Islay dry gin with vermouth and orange bitters for a change-up from champagne.

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This page: This party’s backdrop of verdant vineyards seems perfectly apropos, but the hills of Monterey Bay also have their part to play. Put dessert on wheels, as peach parfait and macarons here make the rounds of the patio on a convenient beverage cart. Opposite page: You can spruce up the balcony bar with candles and greenery in golden urns to maintain a garden feel throughout—and keep champagne flutes at the ready for whenever the bubbly mood strikes.

Photos reprinted with permission from The Art of Entertaining Relais & Châteaux: Menus, Flowers, Table Settings, and More for Memorable Celebrations by Relais & Châteaux North America and Jessica Kerwin Jenkins and photography by Melanie Acevedo and David Engelhardt.

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BRIDAL

From left: 14K white gold halo engagement ring featuring an oval diamond center with pavé diamonds on the sides. 14K white gold diamond link band. 14K white gold emerald and baguette diamond engagement ring. 14K white gold multi-shape diamond ring. 14K white gold double halo engagement ring featuring a round diamond center with diamonds on the sides.

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WE DON’T BLAME MILLENNIALS FOR GOING AFTER WHAT THEY WANT—ESPECIALLY IF IT’S FINE JEWELRY. MANY OF THESE WOMEN AREN’T WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO POP THE BIG QUESTION. THEY’RE BUYING THEIR OWN BEAUTIFUL RINGS (AND BRACELETS TOO). BUT JUST IN CASE AN ENGAGEMENT IS IN HER FUTURE, WE’VE INCLUDED SEVERAL STUNNERS THAT DO THE JOB NICELY.

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14K white gold diamond band featuring three round diamonds grouped together throughout. 14K white gold band featuring bezel-set round diamonds. 14K white gold round diamond solitaire engagement ring. 14K white gold twist-style engagement ring featuring a round diamond center with pavĂŠ diamonds on the sides.

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happily ever after

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LEE MICHAELS HAS BEEN HELPING COUPLES SAY “I DO” SINCE 1978.

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MR. & MRS. SETH LETO

MR. & MRS. THOMAS HEAP

(Bethany Ogle) November 11, 2018 | Amite, LA

(Lauren Turnage) September 24, 2018 | Lanai, HI

MR. & MRS. MATT POUTTU

MR. & MRS. VON JOHNSON

(Nicola Harchut) December 18, 2018 | New Orleans, LA

(Jessica Guinn) September 21, 2018 | Baton Rouge, LA

3/26/19 5:56 PM

MR. & MRS. DANNY JONES

MR. & MRS. WESLEY SELF

(Caroline Moody) September 8, 2018 | Lafayette, LA

(Kaye Arcement) February 2, 2019 | Mandeville, LA

Theresa Elizabeth Photography

MR. & MRS. JOSEPH MULLER

MR. & MRS. BRYAN WHALEN

(Jessica Nelson) September 8, 2018 | San Antonio, TX

(Megan Siebenkittel) November 30, 2018 | New Orleans, LA

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3/27/19 3:12 9:45 PM AM 10/5/17

LAST LOOK

From top: GOSHWARA 18K yellow gold amethyst, citrine, garnet, blue topaz, peridot, London blue topaz and diamond vertical drop post earrings, $4,950 GOSHWARA 18K yellow gold amethyst, citrine, garnet, blue topaz, peridot, London blue topaz and diamond open circle post earrings, $7,950 18K yellow gold pink, yellow and blue sapphire and diamond bracelet, $46,500

over the

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LEE MICHAELS

RAINBOW

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3/14/19 10:59 AM

T:9”

© D. YURMAN 2019

S:8.5”

2/27/19 10:44 AM

T:10.875”

S:10.375”

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