1. Underwater Love
Like a treasure plucked from the depths of the ocean, this exquisite pufferfish brooch sparkles with an astonishing 5,000 diamonds and sapphires set in titanium and white gold. The larger diamonds appear as bubbles, surrounding three pieces of conch pearls and a combination of cushion-cut and rough-slice brown diamonds. The aquatic masterpiece is the genius of contemporary Taiwanese fine jewellery artist Cindy Chao, who designed the object d’art to be worn either right-side up or upside down to create two very different silhouettes.
$POA; www.cindychao.com
Marking a departure from Lagerfeld’s signature black, gold and grey palette, the fashion house’s Kolor Summer 2015 watch collection celebrates colour, blending vivid shades of purple and reddish-pink tones with sleek neutrals for an eye-catching look. This playful Petit Stud wristwatch sports a two-tone face, stainless-steel bracelet and is powered by a quartz movement. Timekeeping has never been so fashionable.
US $285; www.karl.com
3. Birthday Jewels
Often referred to as the “king of the gemstones”, July’s birthstone – the ruby – is making waves in the form of De Grisogono’s sculptural and sensual Onde diamond ring, one of the exquisite pieces crafted by the Swiss luxury jeweller for their sea-themed collection. Set in warm pink gold with white diamonds and striking rubies, the statement piece echoes the movement of rolling waves and features a jaw-dropping 666 stones. This is one piece of jewellery that needs to be firmly anchored to your finger.
$POA; www.degrisogono.com
4. Making Waves
Embark on a voyage of jewellery discovery with Van Cleef and Arpel’s ocean-inspired haute joaillerie that captures the mysticism of the world’s storied bodies of water. Taking a tip from runway fashion, the Seven Seas Collection is the first cruise collection to be launched by any high jewellery brand.
Vibrant gemstones portray exotic sea creatures, from coral pink flamingos to pink and yellow sapphire starfish, while a white mother-of-pearl sapphire tortoise represents the warm waters of Arabia. The Benguerra Long Bracelet (pictured) marries white gold, diamonds, pearls and a sea of blue and yellow sapphires to symbolise the warm currents of the Indian Ocean meeting the chilly depths of the Atlantic.
$POA; www.vancleefarpels.com
5. Nostalgic Notes
Master British perfumer, Roja Dove, has created what is perhaps his most personal perfume to date – A Goodnight Kiss. Inspired by the lingering scent of his mother, when she came to kiss him goodnight at the tender age of six, the fragrance represents the lasting effect of a small exchange of affection between mother and child. Blending notes of aldehydes, bergamot, may flower, rose and violet, with a sparkling powdery scent and a leathery base with spice and cedar notes, this feminine perfume is a fitting tribute to the perfumer’s very special muse.
US $2,245; www.parisgallery.com
6. This time it’s personal
American leather goods purveyors Ghurka really do put the “craft” into carry-ons, with each bag lovingly handmade by master artisans in their US-based workshop. What’s more, every bag is monogrammed with the year of manufacture and individual serial number, making each piece unique. This Kilburn III rolling suitcase in vintage black leather embodies the luggage and homeware brand’s timeless, classic style with full-length interior zippers, a gusseted pocket, side cargo handles and signature brass hardware.
US $1,995; www.ghurka.com
7. Lightweight Beauty
Designed and manufactured in-house at Arnold and Son’s La Chaux-de-Fonds workshops, the UTTE Guilloche I is one of two new references unveiled by the luxury Swiss watch brand. The stunning timepiece marries refined design with superb technical prowess, featuring 18-ct solid-gold hand guilloché dials, an extended power reserve of 90 hours and a movement of just 2.97 mm thick, all combined with an elegant 8.34-mm thick case making the limited-edition timepiece one of the thinnest tourbillon watches on the market. For added bling, the watch is also available with a diamond-set bezel.
US $78,680; www.arnoldandson.com
8. Sustainable Shaving
Elegant, ergonomic, sustainable. These are not three words normally associated with a shaving set, but thanks to luxury British bathing and lifestyle company Czech & Speake, men’s grooming is getting a makeover. Crafted from sustainably sourced zebrano wood, normally used to fashion vintage speedboats and waterskis, the handsome shaving set manages to be a decorative object d’art, but also durable.
US $700; www.mrporter.com