A. Lange & Söhne Grande Lange 1 Dial Changes At SIHH 2008 Sure To Be Welcomed By Lange Faithful

Sometimes little changes can have great import; at the watch fairs, beside all the wondrous new introductions from various luxury watch brands, we also see subtle nuances here and there applied to existant models that can be very meaningful.

That can certainly be said for A. Lange & Söhne. Having dazzled us with their complex and gorgeous Cabaret tourbillon, the renowned manufacturer turned its eye to the Grande Lange 1, the larger version of their famed Lange 1 watch–the timepiece which first made the public aware of the wonderful renaissance of watchmaking which was stirring in Germany after the collapse of the Berlin wall.

The Grande Lange 1 has been around since 2003, and to go along with the bolder size, the watches featured striking and richly contrasted dials. These have an elaborate beauty, but there’s no denying the inherent perfection in the original argente silver dials of the original Lange 1 watch. Understanding this, A. Lange & Söhne has delivered the goods. The patient Lange faithful can now obtain the Grande Lange 1 watch with dial that evokes all the sublime elegance of the original model.

Basel 2008: Bedat & Co Ref. 867 Watch Evokes Refined Masculinity

Bedat & Co has released some tantalizing press information on a very handsome new chronograph model.  The Bedat & Co Ref. 867 watch becomes the largest member of the brand’s cushion-shaped No. 8 collection, and features some really effective styling that I find very appealing; the interplay between the dynamic case design and the intricate dial create that inexplicable attraction that must be present for an object of luxury to be truly memorable. 

Less explicitly formal to my eyes than other Bedat & Co designs, this watch is stylishly provocative, with its silver-framed chronograph subdials, cleverly linked to form the “8″ logo which announces this watch’s heritage.  Bedat & Co has also effectively employed tasteful orange elements to offer just a hint of sporty provocation, which is entirely appropriate to underscore the technical appeal that invariably accompanies a chronograph watch.  At the same time, the distinctively shaped polished hands effectively call to mind the elegant yet unique aesthetic of other Bedat & Co timepieces.  Another fine detail is the concealed winding crown, which nestles beneath the unique “bridge” that connects the upper and lower chronograph controls.  

These design features give the case a great sense of symmetry and continuity that is most pleasing.  The Bedat Ref. 867 watch is a very versatile companion that I can envision dressing up or down with nearly equal facility.

Michael Beaudry Trunk Show Austin, Texas

If you do not live in or near Austin, Texas, I recommend you find a way to get there … and quick!

Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7 and 8th, 2008, Michael Beaudry will be having a trunk show held at Neiman Marcus on 3400 Palm Way.

In addition, tonight (April 4), Ken Downing, fashion director for Neiman Marcus, will share his perspective for spring 2008 over cocktails and appetizers with a live auction benefitting the Austin Children’s Shelter.  Attendees will also glimpse couture fashions.  7pm April 4, Neiman Marcus at the Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, $300, 499-0090

Beaudry is an exclusive and elite luxury jewelry brand headed by Michael Beaudry.  He combines his 10 years as a dimand cutter with his eye and passion for design and art to create amazing jewelry.  His strong collections are Fancy Colored Diamonds, Pearl Jewelry, and White Diamond Jewelry.  He prefers to set his stones in platinum and no two pieces are exactly alike.   The Michael Beaudry ring pictured here is a 14mm peach South Sea peach pearl with a delicate and masterfully set pave diamond shank (o.88 total carats) in platinum. For jewelry of an exclusive nature, Beaudry is the way to go.

de Grisogono Upgraded to Larger Booth at BaselWorld

A BaselWorld participant since 2000, de Grisogono received a bigger and better booth this year in which to display its fine watches and exotic luxury.

And, by “bigger,” I mean massively impressive.  Just like their style of jewelry, the de Grisogono booth is bold, daring, attractive and even intimidating – but in a good way.  The booth measures 1837 square feet and is located on level E 03 of the first floor of Hall 1.1.  Sitting atop a massive structure of 8792 square feet of wood and 590 square feet of glass, the booth weighs 30 tons (66,150 pounds!) and required a team of 34 people to construct it. 

The facade of the booth evokes black diamonds inlaid with white diamonds – a theme de Grisogono uses often in their jewelry – by embellishing it with 960 small incandescent light. 

The  new de Grisogono booth must look like a massive black and white sparkling diamond – no coincidence, of course!

BaselWorld: Watches, Jewelry, Receptions & Luncheons & Cocktails

When we think of BaselWorld, we think of all the new and amazing watches for 2008, the complicated and innovative movements that manufacturers developed and are displaying, and the hoards of brilliant luxury jewelry.

We think of men and women in their business suits and fancy shoes walking all over Basel, from warehouse to warehouse and booth and booth to make their next purchase. We think of retailers meeting with brand execs and brand execs checking their email every hour to stay connected to their business dealings back home.  And, of course, we think of these men and women wearing their super luxurious Swiss made watches and brand name luxury jewelry – the brand of each piece easily identifiable by thousands of people who will see that watch or piece of jewelry during the 4 day event.

In addition to all the incredible watches and jewelry which are proudly put on display in Basel – be it on someone or in a case – there is one other thing for which Basel is known: the delectable food and and refreshments at the numerous hosted parties, receptions and luncheons.

Henry Dunay will host a champagne and caviar reception on Friday to celebrate his one-of-a-kind creations.  Dunay is also celebrating and promoting the 2007 release of his first book which chronicles his life and jewelry career.  Carrera y Carrera will host a tapas hour every day at its booth, complete with sangria (the firm is Spanish, after all).  Israel Diamond Institute will serve breakfast on Friday; Swarovski, which just opened a new flagship store in the glitzy Ginza district in Tokyo, will host a luncheon from Friday through Tuesday; Yvel will host a cocktail reception to unveil it shop-in-shop concept; Stephen Webster will host a invite-only reception titled “Killer Man Jaro Blue, a Tanzanite Jewellery Launch” on Friday promising no food, but vodka.   On Thursday, the first day of BaselWorld, Hublot Geneve entertained a gathering of watch connoisseurs at Les Trois Rois – one of Basel’s few hotels.

4,000 Year Old Gold Necklace Found in Peru

Anthropologists have annouced the discovery of what they believe to be the oldest piece of gold jewelry (for the Americas) in Peru.  It seems fitting that the annoucement comes right at the start of BaselWorld – an international event that celebrates the beauty, history and inspiration of luxury watches and jewelry.

The team of anthropologists are dating the gold tube and rock necklace to be 4,000 years old.  The necklace was uncovered in a burial site near Lake Titicaca seven years ago, and kept a secret until now for concern that looters might raid the site before the excavation was complete, said the team.

The finding “was a complete shock” said Mark Aldenderfer, an anthropolgist with the University of Arizona because it had been assumed that societies need to be settled (meaning, agriculturally minded) in order to support activities such as ornamental objects.  However, these people were still primarily hunter-gatherers “who were on their way to becoming settled peoples, but were not quite there yet,” he said.

 The gold necklace was found in pieces; the researchers restrung it, alternating the nine small gold tubes with a series of round stones, identified as either greenstone or turquoise, which were also found in the same grave.  There is no way to know if this was how the original necklace was arranged.

The oldest previously known gold ornamental object dates back to about 3,500 years ago; the new gold jewelry trumps that one by 500 years.

Interesting to add is that 7 years ago, gold was priced at $300 per ounce.  Now, gold is breaking its all time record highs, costing about $900 per ounce – three times the cost at the time of the discovery.  If this gold necklace is put up for sale, the buyer will be paying a hefty sum to own this piece of jewelry history.