1. Côte d’azur amour
Cartier’s latest high jewellery collection celebrates the magical light and rich colours of the French Riviera, taking cues from mid-century Mediterranean influences. Fittingly named “Etourdissant”, which translates to “stunning”, each of the 60 exquisite pieces, which includes statement rings, architectural bangles and bold chokers, fuse a classic quartet of precious gems – diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies are mixed with a saturated colour palette of opals, corals, tanzanites, garnets and chrysoprases. These striking Hyderabad earrings blend carved garnets of mandarin, tsavorite and tanzanites in the maison’s signature “tutti frutti” style of the mid-1920s, anchored by brilliant diamonds and opals.
$POA; www.cartier.com
2. Dear diary
Despite the digital age, the pastime of diary keeping and note taking stands the test of time, and craftsmanship and attention to detail is more important than ever. When it comes to stylish stationery, nobody does it better than iconic British leather purveyor Smythson – the favoured brand of European royalty and timeless beauties like Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn. This striking Soho-clasp, poinsettia-red diary is the latest offering from Smythson’s Mara collection.
Crafted from glossy, croc-effect calf leather, the diary is bound with the brand’s signature featherweight paper, sporting a sleek enamel gold fastening and gilt-edged pages, with a week-to-week view on the left and a full to-do list on the right. And for the ultimate in personalisation, you can select from a range of lettering, motifs and stamping locations for that authentic, handcrafted effect.
US $370; www.net-a-porter.com
3. Members-only scent
What do Italians, dressage and bergamot have in common? Answer: Colonia Club, Acqua di Parma’s new Colonia fragrance, which evokes the ambience of a private sports club – in particular, the equestrian style and elegance of dressage. The woody and aromatic unisex scent combines top notes of bergamot, lemon and mandarin, with middle notes of geranium and lavender, and a base of ambergris and Haitian vetiver. Packaged in the Italian brand’s hallmark green, art-deco bottle, the fragrance will put you right at home in an exclusive members’ club.
US $143; www.acquadiparma.com
4. Sinuous beauty
No jewellery house has a stronger association with the snake than Bulgari. The Italian jeweller’s iconic reptile first appeared in the form of a watch in the 1940s, and the symbol (representing wisdom, life and eternity) has been slithering its way into jewellery collections ever since.
The house’s latest Serpenti Tubogas collection fuses Bulgari’s signature Tubogas and Serpenti motifs in a necklace, double-coiled bracelet and a pair of earrings. Embodying the collection’s feminine sinuosity, this pink-gold necklace features a pattern that alternates between mother-of-pearl and pavé diamonds, and is meticulously finished with 3.2 carats of sparklers on the serpent’s head and tail. This is one snake we wouldn’t mind having draped around our neck.
$POA; www.bulgari.com
5. The velvet hour
Channel your inner femme fatale with this sensual velvet and mink timepiece – one of 88 limited editions crafted by luxury watchmaker Roger Dubuis, known for his bold and extravagant creations. The eminently feminine wrist candy marries haute-couture looks with expert Swiss watchmaking and a generous helping of sparkle. Brilliant-cut diamonds – 496 total – adorn the watch’s pavé setting, while its striking dial is accentuated with double sapphire crystals bearing the brand’s distinctive Roman numerals.
A mechanical heart lies beneath all that bling: the timepiece boasts a self-winding RD821 setting. Aficionados of handcrafted couture won’t be disappointed, with its design from the mind of acclaimed furrier and fashion designer Daniel Benjamin, while the rest of the collection, which includes sumptuous velvet corsetry and velvet passementerie watches, has been handcrafted by ornamental trimming specialists and leather artisans.
US $96,522; www.rogerdubuis.com
6. Suite specs
Known for designing eyewear that puts an avant garde twist on classic 1960s and 70s sunglass silhouettes, designer Thierry Lasry’s latest creation of two limited-edition sunnies are part of a unique collaboration with the W Paris - Opéra hotel. Handmade in France, the women’s glasses sparkle with gold flecks that reference the hotel’s motif, while the two-tone men’s version pays tribute to the classic Haussmann architectural style of the W Paris - Opéra building.
Guests staying in one of the hotel’s Extreme WOW suites can book the “Seeing Paris Through a New Lens” package that includes an overnight stay, a set of his-and-hers sunglasses and a Paris guide revealing Lasry’s favourite city spots. With celebrities Madonna and Dita von Teese among his celebrity clients, you can count yourself in fashionable company in these collectors’ shades.
“Seeing Paris Through a New Lens” package from EU 1,470 (US $1,615) per night; www.wparisopera.com
Sunglasses EU 350 (US $385) each; +33 17 748 9494
7. Speed writing
Inspired by the Veryon supercar, Montegrappa’s Bugatti Pur Sang Duotone pen is the petrol head’s ideal writing instrument. In five striking colour combinations, including indigo blue/rhodium, pear/rose gold and matte black/ruthenium, each pen sports a dual colour scheme paying homage to the hypercar’s signature “Style de Lux” duo-tone paint that was developed in the 1920s and 30s.
The zippy design cues don’t end there: Bugatti’s logo crowns every pen cap, which is also engraved with the shape of the Veyron’s headlights, and the pen’s “dynamic quilting” pattern even references the marque’s upholstery. This is the first collaboration between the two iconic brands in about 20 years, so it’s worth revving up your engine to obtain one of the 999 limited-edition pens before it’s too late.
US $1,600; www.montegrappa.com
8. Art watch
Now your watch storage can double as a piece of art, with Jurali’s new and very-limited-edition watch box, which has been personalised by acclaimed Chinese artist, Hu Yongkai. Known for his depictions of elegant ladies at leisure in traditional Chinese houses and gardens, the Beijing-born artist fuses Chinese and Western style on the lid, which boasts a romanticised, abstract print. Handcrafted from white oak wood with elegant black sapele wood trims, the box, with a secure key lock and adjustable divider, holds 12 watches. A mix of old-world charm and sleek sophistication, it’s an ideal gift for the discerning gent with an ample watch collection.
US $1,766; www.lanecrawford.com